4Cs Blog: Happy Employees = Happy Customers

Inside HR: The Impact of AI in the Workplace

AI is already being implemented in businesses around the world, and while worries persist over whether robots will be taking over the workplace, some are predicting that it will actually improve and even create jobs in the future.

From devices in our homes to mobile apps, AI has already made its way into our daily lives. The workplace is no exception and AI has already helped businesses make better use of data and streamline processes. According to John Williams, Head of Marketing at Instant Offices here are a few AI trends you should be aware of for your business:

Artificial Intelligence on Big Data – Businesses are starting to use data to make decisions with the help of algorithms and real-time methods. AI assists with this by breaking down excessive data to help businesses make use of it. AI also uses machine learning and deep learning to improve predictive analytics, allowing businesses to offer customers exactly what they are looking for.

How to Decide Whether Agile Innovation Methods are Right for Your Team

If you find HR department routinely experiences issues and is inefficient or you find it can't keep up with the changing company culture, you might want to start thinking about ways to re-outfit it and manage day-to-day operations. What are your processes and how can they be tweaked or changed? Or should you just throw out the baby with the bathwater and try a whole new approach? 

Although it's been around since the early 2000s, the agile methodology first became popular among software developers that wanted to bring products to market faster and more efficiently. Having an agile mindset when it comes to HR certainly has its benefits, allowing for improved performance and quicker and easier processes. 

Since agile methodology worked so well for these developers, business owners and other professionals jumped on the bandwagon and started using these principles and values as part of a general approach to project management. From there, it trickled down into other departments like human resources. 

So what exactly are agile innovation methods, and how do you know if they're right for you and your HR department? Let's take a look and then we'll discuss how best to implement one using a call center in the cloud. 

What is Agile Innovation?

How Technology in the Workplace can Improve Employee Happiness

Most savvy companies know that increasing employee satisfaction can lead to decreased levels of employee turnover, which costs companies $30.5 billion annually. While there are many ways to go about ensuring that your employees are happy - and continue to be happy - one of the most effective ways to engage them at work is to play to their interests. And, with more than half of the workforce set to be made up of Millennials and younger-aged employees by 2020, the way to win their hearts and play to their interests lies in providing them with the right technology.

Giving Them The Tools Needed For Success

Eight Ways to Crush the January Blues in 2019

January can be tough. A combination of debt, cold weather, time since Christmas, low motivation and failed New Year’s resolutions sees the most depressing day of the year fell on 21 January this year. And while we know Blue Monday is just a concept, finding the enthusiasm to power through work after a long holiday can make January seem particularly gloomy.

With more employees looking to climb the career ladder in 2019, manage work-life balance and increase happiness, Insightlink together with Instant Offices give eight simple ways on how to crush the career blues and start January off with some positive changes:

1. Ask for an Increase

If you’re committed to your job but need more to keep you motivated, it’s definitely time to stop stalling and ask for a raise. Don’t turn the conversation into an ultimatum – if you’re happy with your career but not the pay, make sure to communicate that clearly.

Modernize Your Workplace With These 7 Ways to Create a Smart Office

A productive modern workplace takes advantage of smart technologies to make workers’ jobs easier and more satisfying. A smart office also utilizes technology to automate daily routines and everyday tasks, so work flows smoothly and employees have more time for creative, constructive thinking. Whether you are setting up your workspace in a new office or have an existing business that’s looking to update to more modern times, consider the following ways to create the perfect smart office.

Choose Ergonomic Furniture

Today’s health-conscious workers are fully aware of the dangers of sitting at a desk all day, so consider bringing in convertible desks that go back and forth between standing and sitting, as well as chairs that accommodate different postures and tasks. Studies have shown that standing desks can improve mood and energy levels, reduce back pain, boost productivity and reduce absenteeism, and may even lower workers’ risk of weight gain. And without the distractions of discomfort and pain, employees can connect more fully with their co-workers and the tasks at hand, creating greater engagement and satisfaction on the job.

How to Ace a Skills-Based Interview

Recruiters are at a uniquely privileged time when it comes to finding the right person for the job, and the reason is the relatively new form of interviewing candidates, which is based solely on competencies and skills. In the past, job interview questions sought to elicit a general picture of the person’s strengths and weaknesses, typically delving into past responsibilities. These days, skills-based interviews allow us to go beyond the basics, honing in on precise skills already demonstrated by candidates in past jobs or in their academic life. Skills-based job interviews work because they are objective and predictive. They essentially bring a candidate to a specific time in the past in which they demonstrated core competencies such as teamwork, conflict resolution, goal achievement, and so on.

How Implementing XR in the Workplace can Improve Staff Happiness

Virtual Reality is the simulated experience of exploring virtual worlds in 360 degrees, and the technology has recently taken the gaming industry by storm. Augmented Reality technology is the combination of the real world and the virtual in one perspective, and is also featuring prominently in new games. Both technologies now form under the umbrella term Extended Reality (XR), and are actually being used by many companies across a multitude of industries. XR can be very useful to businesses, particularly within human resources, as the technologies can help improve staff happiness. Here’s how:

Onboarding
Extended Reality is already being used by many businesses to facilitate the process of onboarding employees when they first start. At present, 63% use, or plan to use, XR for training and simulation, as companies have learnt that the technology is able to prepare new recruitments far more effectively than traditional methods. The gamification of virtual and mixed realities provides a multi-sensory experience which is sure to increase the attention span and memory retention of first-time users. New employees can find great confidence in training with XR, especially when it comes to high-pressure or dangerous jobs that require a meticulous approach. In turn, this immersive training allows staff to be more comfortable when implementing their training to their everyday role.

4 Small Things That Make a Big Difference in Employee Satisfaction

When your employees are happy, it results in your customers also feeling happy when they interact with your business. Employee satisfaction translates to better customer service, productivity, quality work and ultimately higher sales. You may be tempted to "think big" to maximize employee satisfaction, but the truth is, it's the little things that go a long way. These are the things that are often neglected. Here are four things you can do for your employees to boost their morale: 

1. Facilitate a Sense of Autonomy 

According to a Gallup poll, what employees care most about is having freedom from micromanagement. Although many employers think employee morale is solely tied to salary, the truth is, fostering a sense of autonomy in employees may achieve better results at less of a cost. Allowing employees to manage their own time and complete tasks with minimal oversight makes them feel more motivated to achieve. 

2. Alleviate Commuting Stress

Employee Engagement: The Challenge That Will Not Go Away

What does employee engagement look like at your organization? And more importantly, what is the primary reason to invest in it?

Research shows that it is worth investing in because employee engagement levels are interwoven with business outcomes. Simply put, the most important reason is because it relates directly to your employee’s willingness and ability to help you succeed.

As for what it looks like at your organization, that is a big question and difficult to answer because you can’t ask an employee if they are engaged. What does that question even mean exactly- are you engaged? Being engaged is a combination of several different attributes, that sweet spot where employees love where they work, what they do and are proud to work for you and feel they are getting something back from you that makes it all worthwhile. Engaged employees are your best employees, productive and willing to go above and beyond. If you have lots of them, you are lucky because that is what most of us are shooting for but have difficulty obtaining. We know it is important, yet the truth is most of us really have no idea what employees think or want. So, if turnover or morale is a problem for you, it might be time to get to the bottom about what is going on.

The Rise of Remote Working: Top Global Industries Leading the Way

 More business owners are swapping rigid 9-5 schedules and traditional office environments in favour of flexible space and remote working as an option for saving costs, retaining employees and encouraging a healthy work-life balance. With this in mind, Instant Offices investigates what industries are leading the way for remote working and how to overcome the typical challenges of managing a remote team.

A 2016 study conducted by Vodafone involving 8,000 global employees and employers found that three-quarters of companies worldwide have already switched to flexible working options. 61% believe that it had increased the company’s profits and 83% reported a boost in productivity. Additionally, numerous studies suggest that workers would choose flexible working over a pay rise, indicating that more people are interested in a better work-life balance and a schedule that fits their agenda.

About

Recent Posts

Categories

Favorite Links