Why it's important to deliver a great employee experience to deskless workers

Applications like Salesforce, Box, Microsoft Suite and Google Suite have improved workplace productivity, collaboration, and the employee experience for traditional desk workers. But what about the 80% of the global workforce who don’t work behind a desk? While companies provide countless consumer-grade applications for desk workers, non-desk workers don't have the same luxury of using applications that are purpose-built for their needs.

Deskless workers should receive the same level of service and deserve the same personalized, positive experiences with HR as other employees. These workers are less likely to know who in HR to contact for policy questions or requests they may have, so it’s important for HR to meet these employees where they already are. Some companies are already finding innovative ways to do this.

The time to invest in your employees is now

Decision makers in industries like healthcare, retail and manufacturing are beginning to realize the need to empower deskless workers through technology. According to a survey by VentureBeat of more than 100 companies in these industries, 82% of respondents plan to increase spending on deskless workers by an average of 31%. The main drivers: increased productivity, improved employee experience, and cost savings.

Some organizations are providing HR services to deskless employees, like truckers, with mobile-friendly applications. Some manufacturers even have kiosks installed so employees can easily connect with HR.

Communicating with deskless employees where they already are and enabling them to easily connect with HR can positively impact their job satisfaction and overall work experience. But it's not just deskless employees who benefit from personalized service. Gig and remote workers deserve special attention, too.

According to Intuit, gig workers currently represent 34% of the workforce and will grow to be 43% by 2020. The number of US workers who work at least part-time remotely is growing too, approaching almost 40%. As today's workforce continues to evolve, it's clear that HR's strategy for service delivery will have to change with it.

To learn how an HR Service Delivery platform helps HR support today's diverse workforce, check out the eBook, Serving the Changing Workforce: How HR Service Delivery Software Supports Every Type of Workforce.