SYDNEY, October 11, 2022

While 83% of companies in the post-pandemic era are confident they have found the right balance in terms of people-first work models like hybrid or remote working, the reality is different altogether – according to Avanade’s global research of 2,100 business leaders in 15 countries, including 200 business leaders from Australia..

Almost everyone Avanade spoke to (98%) said that their business was taking steps to improve their employees’ workplace experience. Furthermore, 86% also claimed their business had embraced (or piloted) a remote (25%) or hybrid (61%) working model. In reality, workers are being let down by a lack of technology, security, and flexibility – according to the survey respondents:

• 55% said they have not provided their employees with genuine choice about when or where they work.
• 65% said they have yet to enable employees with more easy access to the tools and applications they need to work seamlessly from anywhere.
• 61% have not adopted cloud-based platforms for knowledge sharing
• 60% do not have a security model that enables all employees to work securely wherever they are based.

Not delivering on their promises could be costing companies millions of dollars, according to the research. Respondents estimated an average 6.87% growth from successfully implemented workplace experience programs (driven by a partnership between IT, HR and business leaders) over the last year. Based on the participant company revenues, Avanade calculates the growth opportunity could see an average increase to US$710 million.

In addition to the financial rewards, Avanade’s research also showed that organisations have been embracing broader, more progressive workplace experience strategies in the last 12 months – and have generated significant other benefits, both for their people and their business, including

• 6.67% average overall productivity improvement
• 7.14% average increase in employee retention
• 7.50% average increase in customer satisfaction scores
• 6.48% average rise in stock market valuation
• 6.34% average reduction in costs

Globally, 72% of the workplace experience top performers felt their organisations were prepared for the future of work, compared with only 33% of bottom performers. Similarly, 91% of top performers are confident that their company has already achieved the right hybrid work approach, compared with just half of those trailing behind.

“The research has proven that when it comes to workplace experience, there’s a stark difference between expectation and reality,” said Stef Shoffren, Avanade’s Regional Modern Workplace Lead for Australia. “As Australia brings a renewed focus to skills required to grow the economy, a positive employee experience – one that enables wellbeing, continuous learning, collaboration, communication, and flexible working - is crucial for businesses to nurture and grow their people.”

“Organisations with a people-first and data-driven approach to shape their workplace experience will have a competitive advantage. As employee expectations and the modern workplace environment continue to evolve, businesses need to elevate the way they work, inject the right tools and technology, and ensure this is all done with their people in mind.”