intelligent

with security , productivity , compliance and user management .

With the urgent shift to remote working behind us , companies – particularly SMEs – therefore need a robust IT infrastructure to accommodate the work from anywhere approach . Indeed , most workers now indicate they want more flexibility regarding their working hours or where they work . And SMEs are taking notice ; JumpCloud ’ s most recent SME IT Trends research indicates that 84 % of respondents agree that employee experience is an important factor in making IT purchasing decisions .

According to PwC ’ s June 2023 report , one in four ( 26 %) employees are considering changing jobs in the next 12 months , up from 19 % last year . The Great Resignation , it seems , looks set to continue .

There are many reasons why employees might quit . The same PwC research reveals that 44 % of those employees that are most likely to look for alternative employment feel overworked , with 38 % struggling to pay the bills .

Businesses are struggling too , with half of UK SMEs ( 47 %) concerned about attracting and retaining talent in the next 12 months . The industry ’ s efforts to narrow the technology skills gap can appear , on the face of it , an unattainable goal .

Central to improving job satisfaction for existing employees , and in attracting top talent , is improving their overall experience . In the age of hybrid and remote working , SMEs must create a seamless working environment , regardless of where they are based and how they work , removing friction wherever possible . They must always feel like they are ‘ in the office ’, regardless of geographical location .

Work / life balance , corporate culture , team morale and career development opportunities are some of the main factors influencing the overall employee experience within a company . However , employee experience is also profoundly influenced by human resources and IT departments .

The synergy between these departments , also known as support functions , are at the heart of user life cycle management for every employee . HR and IT departments working closely is the foremost step in creating a positive employee experience .

Misalignment between these departments , however , can cause issues

In a world of hybrid working , SMEs must modernise their infrastructure to simplify workflows and visibility . The most straightforward way to do this is through IT consolidation , which is achieved by identifying one platform that will become the core of the IT stack , integrating it with existing systems and removing irrelevant legacy tools .

Identity transformation puts identity at the heart of IT management . Unique and specific to each individual , each person ’ s identity acts as an authority . Through a unified platform , each employee ’ s identity connects their device to the wider technology stack and guarantees transparent and secure access to physical and digital resources .

Both HR and IT are vital to the philosophy of identity transformation becoming a success . Together , both departments must assess their processes regarding individual employees and embrace identity transformation as the key to a successful employee experience and a guaranteed quality of life at work . �