In a post-pandemic, remote work-oriented world, businesses are able to utilise SaaS to all kinds of advantage. They can become more productive, streamline the majority of their processes, and they can even boost employee engagement.
In fact, one study shows that more than half of the employees interviewed were unhappy at work because of the software they were using. When this is the case, their productivity, motivation, and engagement will suffer. In the study, 62% of employees also felt that they were not able to reach their full potential. A staggering 95% agreed that the right software would make them more productive and thus more engaged.
In this post, we’ll talk about how SaaS solutions can help you build a more engaged workforce. And why is employee engagement so important?
Well, for starters, engaged employees are more motivated, productive, and loyal to their company. This promotes a positive work culture and ultimately also reflects on customer satisfaction. On top of that, boosting employee engagement will help foster innovation and creativity in your team, making your business more profitable in the long run.
Tools like Perkbox, Unmind, Connect Team, and WorkBuzz are all great for boosting engagement rates and making your employees feel more appreciated and less stressed.
Here are the tangible benefits SaaS solutions have on employee engagement:
Making Remote Work More Accessible
Since the pandemic, remote work has first become the new normal, and then companies started insisting on a hybrid working model at the least. In fact, 90% of companies want to see everyone back at the office by the end of 2024.
However, remote work in itself can boost employee engagement, so you should still consider allowing your staff to work from home, at least part of the time.
In order to make remote work a smooth experience, you’ll need numerous SaaS solutions. Ideally, you want them to be accessible from multiple devices so that your employees can truly embrace all the benefits of remote work.
You’ll need to choose a communication app, potentially a time-tracking app, and a project management SaaS solution. You can go a step further and also use HR SaaS tools, vacation management tools, and so on.
Make sure to teach your employees all about data safety. If they use their personal computers and phones to access these SaaS tools, you’ll need to give them a crash course about device safety and the creation of safe passwords.
Choose apps that best fit your team’s needs. This will mean you need to do quite a bit of research until you find just the right solution.
You can also look into creating a custom solution for your company. This does not need to be a costly endeavor, depending on the nature of the project. For example, you can create a basic communication/task management app with the help of a small development team.
You can then also move into the SaaS space yourself, offering your solution to others. Use a good agency to help you market it and sell it, and you’ll acquire an additional source of income for your business.
Supporting Employee Wellbeing
Speaking of the pandemic, we can’t deny the effect it has had on the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce. Both employers and employees share in the responsibility of improving and maintaining it; however, employees often feel it’s up to their employer to ensure workplace wellbeing.
What can you as a company do to ensure your staff does not burn out and that they have the right kind of work/life balance? To begin with, you can use SaaS solutions to monitor your team’s performance and create realistic benchmarks. You can examine who works overtime and better understand whether they are tasked with too much or too slow at getting their tasks done.
You do, however, need to make sure that your staff does not feel micromanaged. The data you collect about their habits and performance, from time trackers of project management tools, need to be kept private.
SaaS solutions can also allow you to provide your employees with other wellness solutions. For example, paying for their monthly subscription to a meditation or fitness app is a great way to boost their engagement.
Personalising Learning and Development Experiences
Continuous learning and professional development can significantly improve employee engagement. It boosts job satisfaction and increases motivation. Overall, it’s a great way to foster innovation and collaboration.
SaaS solutions provide a simple and effective way to help your staff continue to work on themselves, their knowledge, and their skill sets. While you should naturally encourage them to get better at the work they do for you, even learning to play an instrument or to speak a new language can improve their job performance.
Platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, or Coursera offer the ideal opportunity to learn remotely and at your own pace. Providing access to them can be a fantastic way to make your staff feel appreciated and supported.
Note that you will need to provide some form of guidance and a rough set of rules. You can’t let everyone choose what they want at different price points or different tempos. Ask your staff what they would like to learn and create groups of people who will hold each other accountable. This will boost team spirit, too.
Then, choose the ideal SaaS solution for the task. You can even look into Masterclass or Skillshare, which offer more specialised courses.
Providing the Tools to Get the Job Done
Remote work has been made possible by the fact that there are now plenty of SaaS solutions available to get practically any job done. You no longer have to trust an unreliable legacy system – you can work from the cloud and access information from anywhere.
SaaS solutions can often also be more efficient and cater to the specific needs of your staff. They will feel less frustrated when the software they are using is working as expected. This will increase both their productivity and engagement.
Consider the tools your teams need. Provide easy access from the office as well as from a remote location, again being mindful of data security and privacy.
Wrapping Up
Now that you understand the relationship between SaaS and employee engagement, it’s perhaps time to consider the solutions your business would benefit from the most. Don’t forget that you can also create your own custom solutions and develop a product that will match your company’s needs perfectly.
Author: Sarah Kaminski – freelance writer and social media marketer
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock
