When the working world split between those who could work from home and those who could not, the frontline transformed beyond anyone\u2019s expectations. Frontline workers\u2014the associates at the forefront of your customer interactions, the clinicians delivering patient care, and those running your operations on the ground\u2014have long been underserved by technology and are only now becoming part of the same \u201cfuture of work\u201d conversation as information workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We know those on the frontline need the right digital tools and purpose-built hardware for the specific ways they work. So, the question becomes, how do we support the frontline workers<\/a> and ensure they are included in the future of work conversations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The answer lies in continuing to innovate in ways that seek to empower frontline workers<\/a> with the right tools to give them a sense of purpose<\/strong>, the flexibility<\/strong> to adjust to the new day-to-day realities of a hybrid world<\/a>, and the knowledge<\/strong> to make on-the-ground decisions to improve business outcomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When we do this, we empower frontline workers to not only keep up with the changes of a hybrid world but to stay ahead of them. In fact, we’ve seen more than a 150 percent increase in Microsoft Teams usage among frontline workers<\/strong> over the past year in industries such as retail, financial services, healthcare, and government. <\/strong>Let\u2019s take a closer look at the three ways we are continuing to innovate for frontline workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like information workers, frontline workers equally want a sense of purpose\u2014what does this job mean for them and how are they a part of their company? This is so important. We see a lot of employee turnover because frontline workers often feel disconnected\u2014they don\u2019t receive communications from the head office, they don\u2019t know who they are working with, and they lack a strong sense of community. We think it is time to democratize company culture to bring your frontline workers closer<\/strong>\u2014and not just because it’s a good thing to do\u2014but because these employees are the faces of your company that impact your bottom line. And when employees feel they have a purpose, their loyalty increases, and they provide better services to your customers. An engaged employee equals better business results. In fact, according to research from Gallup<\/a>, companies with an engaged workforce have a 10 percent increase in customer loyalty and 23 percent higher profitability versus those with a disengaged workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Empower with a sense of purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n