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MIDDLE EAST
EMPLOYEES IN MEA ARE FRUSTRATED BY THEIR WORKPLACE TECHNOLOGY
Freshworks , a leading software company empowering businesses to delight their customers and employees , has unveiled survey findings that reveal a startling divide between employee expectations and the reality of the workplace technology experience . In the wake of the pandemic , regional businesses have doubled down on Digital Transformation , however , nearly half ( 47 %) of employees in the Middle East and Africa ( MEA ) report that technology issues at work have since increased their stress levels , causing a negative impact on their mental health .
Workplace tech pivotal in the region ’ s war for talent Unsurprisingly , with employee well-being now so heavily dependent on technology , it is becoming increasingly important to stem The Great Resignation . The majority ( 69 %) of MEA Line of Business ( LOB ) leaders expressed the needed for good technology to win the war for talent , and 79 % recognise that high-calibre employees will consider looking for a new employer if their current job does not provide access to the tools , technology or information they need to do their jobs well .
This is echoed by over half ( 56 %) of employees who said their company could probably dissuade them from finding a new job if they invested in automation . Technologies that enable or support hybrid and remote working are also viewed favourably by MEA employees with half ( 51 %) saying such solutions have increased their happiness at work .
Irrespective of what innovations companies choose to deploy , it is abundantly clear that one feature is now a must have – simplicity . A staggering 86 % of LOB leaders surveyed by Freshworks said their employees have higher expectations of technology to be easier to use since the pandemic .
Reputation , productivity , employee wellbeing hang in the balance
Freshworks ’ report showed a clear correlation between employees ’ perception of their employer and the latter ’ s digital maturity , with 42 % stating that their company ’ s workplace technologies make them appear ‘ behind the times ’. Perhaps more worrisome however is that for over half ( 52 %) of employees , this shortcoming has a direct impact on productivity and nearly a third ( 30 %) report this has a negative impact on their job satisfaction .
When implementing new IT solutions to address these shortcomings , organisations would be well served to understand the barriers employees face when embracing new technologies and tools . Here too , Freshworks ’ report provided invaluable insight , highlighting that MEA LOB leaders find resistance to change ( 72 %), employees not being consulted when choosing new software applications ( 69 %) and employees not being given sufficient time to learn to use new software ( 67 %) to be the top challenges .
“ Businesses need to take a leaf out of the consumer application playbook and ensure business applications are as intuitive and convenient to use ,” said Vishal Chopra , Sr Director of Marketing at Freshworks APAC & MEA . “ The technology is already out there , delivering powerful , yet easy to use enterprise applications , all via the convenience of the cloud .” �
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