AI-Driven Enablement Tech is Behind the Recent Growth in Remote Workforce Productivity

As the post-COVID economy takes form, authors of a recent survey of more than 30,000 American workers estimate that the re-optimization of working arrangements will boost productivity by 4.8%, relative to the pre-pandemic circumstances. Significant savings in time spent commuting is the primary source of this workforce productivity boost. Other research points to productivity boosts among remote workers – in a June 2021 survey from Fortune, 45% of U.S. workers working fully or partially remote said that they were more productive when working from home, while only 15% said they were less productive. 

To facilitate working from home (WFH), the average worker has spent $561 in home equipment and invested 15 hours of their time. Additionally, between January to September 2020, the share of new U.S. patent applications that advance WFH technologies (those in support of video conferencing, telecommuting and remote interactivity), more than doubled. “When remote work becomes a bigger share of all work, it strengthens the incentives to advance technologies that support WFH,” the authors of the same study, Why Working From Home Will Stick, noted.

In the remote distributed work environment of today, equipping employees with the adequate tools and resources to do their best work is essential. Yet, solely providing the tools is not enough – it is the combination of technologies and performance enablement tools that mix together to create optimal results. 

What Is Artificial Intelligence, Anyway?

You might be asking, what is artificial intelligence, also known as AI? Good question. It’s become quite a popular topic in today’s tech and business world.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and act like humans. It involves the development of algorithms and computer programs that can perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and natural language processing.

AI can be classified into several categories, including machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, robotics, and expert systems. Machine learning, for example, involves the use of statistical algorithms to enable machines to learn from data and make predictions or decisions based on that data. Deep learning, on the other hand, is a subset of machine learning that uses neural networks to enable machines to recognize patterns and make decisions based on complex data sets.

AI has numerous applications in various fields, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment. Some of the most common applications of AI include speech recognition, image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous vehicles. AI is also being used in the development of chatbots, virtual assistants, and other intelligent systems that can interact with humans in natural language.

X+Y = ultimate productivity: The ideal blend of performance tools for remote workforce productivity growth

Today, having an online platform that is easily accessible for employees, and encompasses everything from routine daily tasks, to learning, communications with peers and opportunities for skill development is critical. Yet, there must also be means to enable their success. Enter: performance enablement tools that consolidate every aspect of the individual’s work routine, navigating each of them towards their most fulfilling and productive work.  

Recent research from Rallyware discovered that the implementation of four performance improvement tools: learning, business activities, social engagement and right timing combine to create the perfect conditions for productivity growth, resulting in +38% productivity growth. This combination was found to be the most successful because learning was not only for the sake of learning, but for the sake of driving performance and the successful completion of business activities, as each activity is prescribed to the right individual at the right time, optimizing overall productivity.

The power a virtual tap on the shoulder: driving productivity with smart notifications 

We all receive many notifications during the workday – whether this may be incoming emails, meeting reminders and instant messages between colleagues. Yet what about a notification that urges an individual to perform a specific task at a specific time, incrementally driving their productivity? 

Another Rallyware analysis of distributed workforce productivity in large enterprises found that smart notifications drive boosts in sales productivity – that is, when users receive smart personalized notifications that prompt them to complete specific tasks, that will lead them towards higher completion rates of their goals. We found that the percentage of goal completions for those who received and viewed more than one notification increased by 29.4%.

You’re almost there Paula, you are now 65% closer to your monthly sales goal! Learn how to increase your sales to meet this target. Paula, a salesperson for a large software company, receives this notification, informing her that she has made 13 out of 20 sales targets for this month (and is 65% closer towards completion of her monthly goal). Armed with this boost of encouragement and determined to meet her monthly target, she then is prompted to perform tasks such as following up with more leads and scheduling sales calls.

The timing of such notification is also critical, as Paula received the notification and corresponding business activities at the right time – just as she made more than half of her sales for the month. We previously noted that, when ​​learning and business activities are prescribed to users when they need help to complete a task, “each smart notification serves as a personal assistant who guides workforces through customized paths, ensuring they don’t disunite themselves from current productivity goals and know what to do at each step of their journey with a company.”     

This is the power of performance enablement tools – and serves as a prime example of technology (smart notification technology) and performance enablement tools going hand-in-hand. Not only are individuals provided with the tools and resources, but also with the next steps to take in the journey to reach their own goals, while contributing to the company’s KPIs.  

Are you noticing a drop in performance among the members of your remote workforce, and are looking to boost productivity? Looking to implement enablement tools for your employees? We may have just the solution for you – schedule a demo to see Rallyware’s Performance Enablement Platform in action!