// EXPERT PROFILE //
Why deskless workers are at the centre
OF THE WORKPLACE TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION
The majority of deskless workers don ’ t have access to a company email address and 72 % don ’ t have access to company intranet so , how can companies keep deskless workers engaged and productive ? Mark McDermott , CEO , ScreenCloud , talks about the unique challenges of keeping deskless workers engaged and productive .
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YET , DESPITE MAKING UP
SUCH A LARGE AND IMPORTANT SECTION OF THE
WORKFORCE , DESKLESS WORKERS RECEIVE LESS THAN 1 % OF
SOFTWARE VENTURE CAPITAL
FUNDING . s the work from home hype
A that emerged as a result of the pandemic settles down , employers are now attempting to entice workers back to the office with the incentive of a modernised , tech-focused office . Alternatively , many companies that have now committed to the work from home set-up are instead rolling out seemingly endless software tools aimed at boosting productivity for those at home working behind a screen .
Yet , for a large portion of the workforce who don ’ t work in offices , there was no transformation to ways of working , there are no optimised workflow apps and , perhaps understandably , there is a growing concern that opportunities are fewer as a result . Deskless workers make up 80 % of the global workforce – this includes anyone who does not operate at a designated desk or workstation , from warehouse and factory line workers to hospitality staff and more . Yet , despite making up such a large and important section of the workforce , deskless workers receive less than 1 % of software venture capital funding .
New research recently released by ScreenCloud and Google ChromeOS found that nearly four in five frontline workers ( 78 %) believe office workers get more business opportunities than they do due to their access to multiple workplace communication applications and digital information sources .
The study aimed to uncover insights into the technological disparity between information workers and frontline workers , exploring its effects on engagement and productivity . Additionally , it set out to understand how digital signage can be best leveraged to address the prevailing productivity and engagement challenges encountered by the deskless workforce . It gathers findings from a survey that polled both decision-makers and employees from large ( 1000 + employees ) manufacturing , logistics , transportation and supply chain organisations – industries with predominantly deskless workforces .
When we consider that 78 % of the deskless workforce does not feel that they receive the communication and opportunities afforded to their information worker counterparts , it ’ s no wonder that organisations are struggling with a disengaged workforce and therefore decreased productivity . According to Gallup ’ s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report , engagement was at 23 %. However ,
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