Mixed digital adoption hitting talent strategies

In a talent-tight market, and with economic uncertainty ahead, it’s not surprising that businesses are prioritizing attraction, retention, and adding value.

Indeed, Unit4’s second annual Business Future Index report, of 3,450 business leaders and employees from all sectors across 12 global markets, found that for 62% of respondents talent is the biggest priority.

This is followed by 59% who say building new products to deliver added value is the top priority with the same percentage saying digital transformation is the biggest priority.

But despite respondents saying that digital tools and technology have improved everything from collaboration to productivity and wellbeing, less than 50% of respondents have still not adopted next-generation technology in a major way.

In fact, many say that the tools they currently use are not helping them manage the ways they work: over six in ten agree that the tools in place to support flexible working are not adequate.

Adoption an issue

A key issue appears to be adoption. Whilst eight in ten respondents to Unit4’s survey say there has been some adoption of data management, time-reporting tools, and some migration to the cloud, more can still be done.

Only 37% report major adoption of workflow automation and less than a third (32%) say the same regards the use of artifical intelligence (AI) or machine learning.

In addition, 17% said that the use of outdated technology is creating challenges when it comes to talent acquisition and retention.

Adoption rates also vary from region to region. The UK lags behind when it comes to the adoption of technology that can boost productivity and the employee experience with only 39% having done so. Denmark is out ahead with 58% of businesses adopting software in this area.

For those not investing in new technology, Mike Ettling, CEO at Unit4, said: “Amongst those organizations which have not yet implemented change there is a real danger they will be left behind unless they act now.”

Commit and get on with it

Whilst there appears to be reticence in some markets to invest in the latest technology, British-born Matthew Hanwell, head of HR tech at Finnish tech company TietoEVRY, previously told UNLEASH this is not the case in the Nordic countries.

He said: “What I’ve always appreciated in the Nordics is the willingness to commit to something and get on and do it, whereas in other markets I’ve seen certain decisions become much more political internally.

“In the Nordics, there is much more openness and transparency and a real willingness to jump onboard when it comes to technology adoption.”

For HR teams struggling to get the investment or buy-in for new technology, it’s a mindset that might be worth bearing in mind.

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