In a data and AI-driven world, it is still people who matter most. However, enterprises are facing fragmented technology environments, with hard-to-access data and IT stacks that are complex and hard to manage. But at the same time, organisations have limited visibility into how their teams use technology, and how they can make tools work better for them.
In fact, just one in five knowledge workers say they have a “healthy relationship” with work, according to the latest the Work Research Index from HP. In 2024, the figure was 28%.
The decline is worse among business leaders. In 2024, over half of leaders felt they were “very happy” with their relationship with work. Last year, that had dropped to 34%. And 45% of desk-based workers say that their company prioritises profits, at the expense of their people.
Fragmentation
Technology should help. But organisations report that they face increasingly complex and fragmentated IT environments, and enterprises only have limited visibility of their employees’ relationship with technology.
And, despite its promise, AI has not yet delivered the hoped-for efficiencies and productivity gains. Organisations are struggling to scale beyond the pilot programmes to fully deliver on AI’s potential.
This is despite clear demand from the workforce for AI tools. Although four in 10 knowledge workers use AI daily, only 21% say they are proficient in the technology. And again, a significant minority (42%) say that their company lacks a clear AI strategy.
This risks leading to a growing sense of workplace dissatisfaction and represents a missed opportunity to build a more efficient and engaging workplace.
Technology can help. But investment in technology needs to go hand in hand with other improvements, in areas including recognition, collaboration and balance. Technology will then work as a force multiplier to produce a more fulfilling, and more effective workplace.
Optimism
There are also other reasons to be optimistic. AI is often portrayed as a threat to jobs. But teams who use it are positive about its impact. Half of knowledge workers are optimistic about their working life, and 42% put this down to technology, according to HP’s report. IT decision makers are even more positive. As many as 67% say technology is making them more optimistic, and 58% report that AI makes them more efficient.
And workers who use AI on a daily basis are also more optimistic about their work than those who do not.
Thoughtful use of AI will help enterprises meet their goals, and attract and retain the skilled people they need for future growth. There is still work to be done: a clear AI strategy, and access to AI training, will help workers fulfil their potential.
Employee experience continues to play an increasingly important role in business performance and workforce productivity. That’s why effective organisations need to democratise access to technology, including AI. And they need to match these investments with strong, people-centric leadership. If they do so, they will attract and retain the best talent.
To learn more about how organisations can unlock value from their tech investments to deliver better employee experiences, register for HP’s Shaping the Future of Work event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London on 17th September.