Making enterprise software available to everyone in the workplace will create more flexibility and better workflows, without the need for technical coding skills. New software can adapt to each employee and be as easy to use as the technology they use in their personal lives. Will Hale, Group Director EMEA at monday.com, explains how important it is to find the right platform for your company.
This year will bring about significant changes in the way businesses implement and use their software tools. While previously, tools such as work management software were used predominantly for project management purposes, this is no longer the case. Instead, the software is becoming increasingly democratised: not only are we seeing higher levels of visual appeal, but the wide availability of low-code/no-code approach to development also means that software is now easier to build and customise than ever before. Additionally, the enduring popularity of remote or hybrid working has unlocked a new realm of flexibility across businesses, enhancing the ability to combat new challenges and tailor solutions to the user’s preference.
With this flexibility retaining its top place as a key benefit in job descriptions, companies will likely increase what they offer in this area in 2023. Organisations will look to explore more and in even bolder ways in which the democratisation of software tools can empower staff, and nowhere will this be more prevalent than in the development of cross-functional skill sets.
Here’s how the diversified uses of software will allow staff to gain knowledge beyond the limits of their function in 2023.
Autonomy in your tech job – without technical expertise
Over the last two years, we have seen how unexpected circumstances drive the development of an agile and flexible work environment. Although programming is an important skill, in non-tech companies it is only mastered by a small number of employees. However, even employees without ‘hard’ technical coding skills can be given the power to design their workflows with democratised software tools. There is no strict need to ‘educate’ people on how to use various technologies. They want their work tools to be simple and intuitive, similar to the technology they use in their personal lives.
Having the right tools helps not only employees, but also the business as a whole. IT departments and yearly budgets continue to take over the creation of different workflows and dictate the daily use of technical tools in the workplace. But as more businesses recognise that each team operates differently, they are allowing the development of a new reality through democratised software that adapts to each employee rather than the other way around. It liberates crucial technical skills in the business while also giving your workforce a feeling of empowerment – and better flexibility – when designing their workflows. With the right intuitive tools and software on your side, your workforce with no coding skills can still have control over how they work.
Low-code/no-code (LCNC) – the foundation for technical empowerment
Low-code/no-code is a critical concept when it comes to the democratisation of software, allowing employees with different levels of knowledge to engage more deeply with the tools in the workplace. With low-code/no-code, workflow development and technology tool design is no longer a skill reserved exclusively for those with extensive technical backgrounds. Additionally, LCNC creates transparency and collaboration between all areas of an organisation, eliminating silos and creating a dynamic and agile environment. Another clear advantage of empowering employees through LCNC platforms is granting them the ability to solve technical issues and reduce the strain on IT by giving existing staff the power to create solutions to a business they’re already familiar with.
Such an approach is crucial as we now welcome a new generation into our workplaces. While each person is different, many generation Z individuals have different preferences than previous generations. Born and bred with technology, they have extremely high levels of digital literacy, which means they require more freedom to choose and create their own platforms. At the same time, we must continue to cater to all employees, some of whom might be less proactive when building their tools and require some coaching. In both cases, choosing a LCNC platform is a good decision to allow different working styles to flourish at all levels, whether we mean individuals or teams working together.
Finding the right platform for your company
Finding the right platform that meets all the organisation’s requirements can take a while. To make the journey easier, here are two crucial parameters to keep an eye on:
1) Having a platform that drives agility
Having a platform that is easy to use and feels intuitive motivates employees to use it actively. Take into account its ability to scale too. Businesses should let employees try out the platform and include them in decision-making. Doing so, gives everyone on the team a sense of autonomy and voice in business decisions. This way, companies promote productivity as complex workflows can be simplified and made accessible.
2) Having a platform that unites business functions
Remote and hybrid working is the new norm, so tools for online collaboration are having a moment. Organisations need to prioritise finding the right work management software that allows all teams to use it, according to their specific and changing needs and the ability to scale with the company’s growth without incurring additional implementation costs. In addition, having access to software that could centralise different business functions, such as R&D, finance, marketing, etc. can eliminate silos and encourage communication and collaboration around comprehensive data.
As a result of software democratisation, it will continue to diversify in 2023. Businesses realise that the right tech tools can be more than just KPI trackers, whether you or your colleagues work in HR, content marketing, finance, brand consulting or even manufacturing and engineering. The continued democratisation of work-management software will pave the way to higher levels of innovation, allowing businesses to do more with the resources they already have.
Click below to share this article