70% UAE respondents say employer should equip workforce with best digital tools
More than 70% of respondents in the UAE said that their employer should focus on equipping the workforce with the best digital tools, according to a study by VMware. Organisations in the UAE must pay close attention to the digital experience of their employees in order to find more success in terms of growth, the establishment of a healthy and progressive work environment, and the attraction and retention of top talent, according to new research from VMware.
Covering 12 countries within the EMEA region, the annual report included 200 respondents from the UAE and explored the impact of digital workspace technologies on organisations. The digitalisation of the workplace is a particularly important factor for prospective employees in the UAE, with 92% of respondents saying that the flexibility of digital tools usage would positively influence their decision to join an organisation.
92% of respondents said that the flexibility of digital tools usage would positively influence their decision to join an organisation
Furthermore, 70.5% of respondents in the UAE agreed that their current employer should focus their efforts on equipping the workforce with the best digital tools, while only 28.5% believe that current efforts were enough.
Part of the study also focused on the biggest challenges that hindered the delivery of optimal digital experience in the workplace. The top three issues selected by respondents in the UAE were funding, 46.9%; time, 45.8%; and a lack of understanding of what employees want and need, 28.8%.
Possibly the biggest disparity is between how employees feel they contribute to their organisation’s digitisation efforts and the viewpoint of decision makers. More than half, 58.7%, of UAE employees surveyed do not believe they have a voice when it comes to what digital technologies are used in the office, while 86% of ITDMs believe they give their employees a voice within this area.
59% UAE employees surveyed do not believe they have a voice when it comes to what technologies are used in the office
The findings of the survey are especially relevant given the UAE’s ambitious economic diversification plans and ambitions to capitalise on the digital economy. VMware is committed to helping organisations in the UAE to digitally transform and so contribute to these plans.
Earlier this year, the University of Sharjah highlighted that VMware helped it create an immersive technology experience. By deploying VMware Horizon, the University has empowered students and faculty to be successful by giving access to anytime, anywhere learning. This was an important part of the university’s digital strategy to attract the best students and lecturers amid strong global competition.
“The research clearly shows that by offering modern, flexible digital tools, employers can help to deliver a positive experience for existing employees and promote growth. It can also help to attract the prospective talent who increasingly view digital workplace solutions as a key part of their work experience,” said Ahmed Auda, Managing Director, VMware METNA.
“Companies would be well-advised to better engage their employees and gain new insights into how digital tools can benefit day-to-day activities and improve the workplace environment. This may open up new avenues for investment on other digital technologies that in turn could transform the business,” he added.
