Analytics at the service of employee experience: how does it work?

Many employers and managers used to make decisions based on assumptions about what was good for their teams. But what is more accurate for improving your workspace and workforce experience than getting the information right from the source? To do so, workplace analytics support you in collecting data about employees’ working habits and needs. As the effects of Covid-19 and digitalization are transforming our way of working, two main changes appear: the evolution of employee expectations and the key role of technology in many industries. Yet, workforces are focusing more on experiencing a better work-life balance and a people-centric culture. Those shifts directly impact office spaces that need to be redesigned to match the New Work requirements. How can workplace technology benefit companies and enhance a better hybrid employee experience? deskbird explores how these insights can be used to level up your business!

Enhance the employee experience in a hybrid work environment

The biggest gain companies can get from collecting data is the ability to define what can help improve their experience, especially for hybrid teams. Organizations finally have access to concrete information about their employees’ working patterns. With these insights, they can determine what their staff really needs to perform best. The ultimate goal is to reduce the expectations gap. Employees are your greatest asset and focusing on their well-being can play a key factor in your success. With the increase of remote work, new ways of working appear. Yet, the needs of hybrid teams differ from those of employees working in a traditional office.

The hybrid employee experience can be fostered through many company aspects such as office space planning, workplace technology, working models, etc. Do you know if the digital communication tools provided to your workforce are matching the needs of your team? Are your employees happy about the way they plan their hybrid schedule? Or is it an issue that could potentially affect their experience? These are only examples of insights that data can deliver. Workplace analytics give access to a lot of information that supports HR teams and managers in improving employee experience in various domains.

➡️ Discover how deskbird helps you gather and leverage workspace analytics!

Use workplace analytics to optimize your offices

Redesign your workspace based on employee's needs

Why would you have an office space with a majority of single workstations if your teams are mainly using meeting rooms and collaborative zones when they come on-site? But first, how do you discover this piece of information? Office workplace analytics provided by a workspace booking app translates the preferences of your workers into a clear overview screen. Having actual data about how the working area is being used supports you in making useful changes to redesign the workspace according to your employees’ needs.

Cut down your office costs

Getting information regarding office space usage enables office executives to take key decisions about space management and, in turn, save money. According to your hybrid work policy, your employees may have to come on-site two days a week or one week a month, for example. If you pinpoint that your office occupancy is low most of the time, why would you keep renting a large office space? Also, if your hybrid model is mostly based on remote work, you may also consider implementing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) system and cut down IT expenses.

➡️Do you want to optimize your hybrid workspace and save costs? Discover the deskbird hybrid office calculator and see where you can improve!

Maximizing productivity and performance

These data-driven insights support you in analyzing which processes work best and which methods need some improvements. Reading data instead of making assumptions about what changes to implement to enhance productivity and performance will ensure more positive outcomes. Moreover, tools, methods, and concepts that function for some companies might not be appropriate for others. For this reason, it is even more important to collect information that is relevant to your own business.

Another key point that can be highlighted by workplace analytics is the working patterns of your team members. Why is it valuable? By knowing when and where your employees work the most, you can adapt your working time and location policy accordingly. We are not only talking about hybrid work, but also flexitime. Over the last few years, many businesses globally have included more flexibility in their working model. Studies are showing a genuine link between the increase in work flexibility and productivity. Of course, the most important pillar to make this work is trust. As faith and recognition are key components of an engaged workforce, it seems that this concept is a win-win.

➡️ Read our article on Gen. Z’s impact in the workplace to discover how young workers are reshaping the professional world!

Understand hybrid team expectations

You must know and understand what hybrid teams require to deliver a great employee experience and find the tools that will help them to be at the top of their game. Feedback forms are obviously the first step to garnering this information. However, surveys sometimes don’t let employees express their needs and feelings, especially if the topics are redundant or narrow.  Furthermore, you only get the answers to the questions you ask. It may not allow you to understand other areas of improvement as digital workplace analytics do.

Also, remote work requires some adjustments to the way we work. It can include changing the communication channels to enhance collaboration and efficiency between workers, for example. Do you spot an increase in online meeting cancellations when looking at your workplace analytics? Are your employees aware of Zoom fatigue and how to reduce it? The need to provide health recommendations, specifically related to the home office, might be something that arises from your data assessment. Juggling between remote and on-site work is a new concept for most of us. As with every new change, adjustments may be required to deliver a better experience.

Simplify decision-making processes

Making the right decision is sometimes a serious challenge and access to factual figures specific to your business can provide great support. They obviously help measure your workforce performance but they also give you key indicators about what works and what doesn’t. This applies to any area of your company, from HR processes to office space monitoring or communication strategies. 

For example, you might find that moving to a four-day workweek increases employee productivity by 33%, as Microsoft Japan discovered a few years ago. Observing that your employees barely use available parking spaces might make repurposing or leasing them easier. These tools are as valuable for decision-making as automation and AI are for boosting productivity.

The future of work is all about digitalization, automation, and, above all, addressing employee needs and expectations. Analytics are invaluable for establishing a successful work model and optimizing workspace management. If you're you looking for a digital tool tailored to the needs of your hybrid teams while providing actionable data, our desk booking software is built with a people-centered approach, offering all the information you need to create the best hybrid employee experience.

Request a free demo of the deskbird app and discover its many advantages!