Outdated technology wastes 42 days a year in employee productivity

Ricoh Digital Empowerment survey examines how a lack of technology investment impacts on performance, productivity and potential for employees in the modern organisation

Ricoh South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 April 2018 – The global Ricoh Digital Empowerment Survey, including a representative number of South Africans and South African companies, asked more than 3,500 employees about their views on the latest innovations and how these would impact on their roles.  Of those surveyed, the majority believed that they wasted more than 42 days a year thanks to a lack of relevant and capable technologies in the workplace and a third said that lack of investment into new technology was slowing momentum and the business would fail in five years.  

When asked about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, more than two thirds (65%) of employees felt that these technologies would positively impact the way they worked. Within the next two years, 41% predicted that they would perform fewer repetitive tasks and 40% believed that they would be able to focus on more important projects. Interestingly, 38% commented that in the future they might be in a role that doesn’t exist yet.

What was surprising was how nearly all (98%) of those surveyed were enthusiastic about the introduction of new workplace technology, placing both AI and automation at the top of the list. However, they felt management would only invest if it cut costs (72%) and one third of employees felt that they were not equipped to get the most out of the office solutions they had, much less new technologies such as AI. They recognised that these would have a potentially positive impact, but they were concerned about their lack of skills (40%) and wanted employers to place a greater emphasis on training (67%). 

Overall, employees want more immediate access to data (44%), a reduction in repetitive tasks (41%), and rated better technology higher (59%) than perks like free food (18%).  In fact, the need for better technology outweighed a pay rise. Digital empowerment is a high priority for employees and organisations with a focus on providing the right tools and technologies are highly sought after, with 62% agreeing that the best businesses spent a lot on new technology. Almost half (47%) felt that existing technology didn’t enable productivity and 46% were concerned that competitors already had an edge over their own organisation.

Jacques van Wyk, Chief Operating Officer for Ricoh South Africa, said, “Organisations are looking to find ways of staying competitive and maintaining growth and the influx of new technologies, especially as AI and automation, have made the market competitive and complex. Most business leaders are aware that digital technologies are key to unlocking greater employee productivity and engagement but are looking to solutions and partners who can help them do so intelligently and sustainably.”

The Ricoh Digital Empowerment survey examines numerous aspects around digital technologies and their impact on employees and a comprehensive can be found here.