Microsoft Turns Focus Toward Frontline Workers with Certain Tweaks in Teams
Over the past couple of decades, the pandemic has paved the way for considerable technological transformation for many businesses. A lot of companies are now focusing on making the lives of frontline workers better.
Microsoft is shifting its focus on frontline workers who do not have access to all the technology they require. According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Special Report, nearly 41% of frontline workers do not have access to the right technology to work remotely.
The research is primarily focused on enabling business leaders to understand the changing workplace requirements. According to Jared Spataro, Vice President for modern work, Microsoft, the firm has predominantly focused on the information task force until now. However, Microsoft is now looking to extend help to frontline workers. He also said that frontline workers account for almost 80% of the global workforce – around 2 billion worldwide.
Frontline workers are made of workers who are on the front line in manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, and retail.
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Pandemic opens up new opportunities and avenues for Microsoft
There is no doubt that the onset of the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of new applications to ensure employees can work from home effectively. Microsoft is tapping into this opportunity by expanding its scope of services to frontline workers, who have been overlooked by tech companies for several years.
Mircosoft aims to empower these workers with their solutions and help them achieve more. Besides, technology has been one of the major plus points for frontline workers over the course of the pandemic.
The pandemic has exposed the importance of a large group of workers to businesses. Besides, they were the ones who kept businesses ticking and also faced the different challenges put forward by the pandemic from a business standpoint. Unlike other employees, frontline workers were at a higher risk of getting infected as they were not working remotely.
Technology to make life easier for frontline workers
Frontline workers from around the world have cited better pay, flexible working, benefits, and work-life balance as some of the major reasons to change jobs. Despite a host of challenges, a majority of the frontline workers believe that technology solutions such as Microsoft Teams could enhance their daily job experience.
Although technology innovation has predominantly focused on desk-based employees, particularly to improve collaboration and productivity. This is why tools for frontline workers have not evolved at a rapid pace.
Major tech companies such as Microsoft are looking to offer personalized off-the-shelf solutions that are developed for a large group of workers.
How will Microsoft Teams help?
Microsoft Teams is increasingly being used as a primary communication hub across organizations. Telemetry data has shown that from March 2020 to November 2021, Microsoft Team’s monthly use increased by around 400 percent.
Typically, applications such as Microsoft Teams are not developed solely for frontline workers; a lot of non-desk-based employees use tools that are traditionally seen in corporate offices.
In line with the increasing demand for new technologies from frontline employees, Microsoft has announced new updates to its Microsoft Teams and Viva platforms.
Microsoft has introduced virtual appointments to Teams, offering real-time updates on missed appointments, staffing delays, and wait times.
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