Throughout the centuries, societies have migrated to “new” and “better” places, forming new cultures. And as humanity evolved, so did lifestyles, customs, traditions, and tools. Everything became more complex and sophisticated as humans pushed the limits of invention and intelligence.
Managing cultural integration in corporate migration
Migrations have three key facets that make or break the outcome:
- How we evolve in terms of new tools and customs
- How we merge with other societies and cultures
- How we connect the two
The corporate landscape is no different. Businesses constantly migrate to new systems, processes, and frameworks but also have diverse people migrating into them. What’s really fascinating is how we integrate the former and the latter. For example, some businesses that neglect new tools and customs get left behind, whereas others fail to accommodate the “human factor” and lose top talent.
Who should create company culture?
Company culture comprises more than the occasional team-building event and internal newsletter. It is not seen nor bought but created from the inside out as an experience and a perception.
Who’s responsible for creating a company culture? Well, leaders. However, we can’t rely solely on them to achieve connection and values throughout the company. Sure, they can initiate and promote respectful environments, but it takes cooperation and a few nifty tools to make it happen.
Technology’s role in building a corporate culture
We’ve all heard the statement, “In my day, we didn’t have cell phones or the internet.” A few decades ago, companies had to make do with what they had – landlines, fax machines, and dial-up connections (if they were lucky). Still, many brands achieved a certain “feel” that remains today.
But we live in a different, virtual world now, which means we need to make do with what we have to achieve that unique “feel”.
Technology balances the scale between what is said and done, connecting people in remote, hybrid, and office-based environments and enabling leaders to implement company values that eventually develop into an overarching corporate culture.
10 Revolutionary powers of technology in corporate culture
1. Real-time data collection and sharing
Cloud software gives leaders and employees instant access to usage data, applications, performance metrics, and dashboards that provide insight into individual and team progress. This enables transparent and efficient management and data-driven decisions.
2. Enhances performance
Productivity occurs differently for each individual, and technology caters to it with various tools that empower employees to work optimally. It also reduces time spent on menial tasks while encouraging communication, collaboration, and support. Microsoft Teams, for example, offers everything teams need to chat, call, and collaborate in a single user-friendly interface. So, whether you’re running an SME or working from home, Teams helps you stay connected with colleagues, making teamwork a breeze!
3. Seamless upskilling and training
Most employees, especially top performers, strive for career progression and empowerment. Technology enables self-paced learning with access to online training modules, webinars, guidebooks, and other material necessary to promote career and intellectual advancement.
4. Hiring and onboarding
If you’ve ever hired someone, you’d know that interviewing, shortlisting, and onboarding is a full-time gig. The sheer number of applications, CVs, and cover letters is enough to make any HR professional run for the hills. Fortunately, technology can’t make a run for it and assists in collecting candidate data, filtering top choices, and onboarding new hires via online training material. Technology can even assist in finding talent that matches your existing company culture, making hiring the right people easier than ever before.
5. Quick and easy feedback
Surveys and performance tracking are becoming less of a headache now that managers and employees can instantly share their goals and concerns. What’s more, teams can more easily spot and remedy errors as they happen instead of waiting for an annual performance review to reveal weak points.
6. Enables flexibility
Teams can access work data anywhere, anytime, and from any device. Platforms like Microsoft Teams and SharePoint enable local and global internal campaigns. So, whether they’re sitting in a waiting room, travelling, or working remotely, employees can adapt and scale their work environments wherever they are.
7. So long, spreadsheets and forgotten emails
Simply put, automation gets the job done and the data in front of you without the click of a button. In the current competitive market, you can’t afford to spend hours on work that doesn’t add value. Instead, while the bot does time-consuming tasks, your employees can work more efficiently on urgent tasks. For example, by automating manual HR functions, HR teams have more time to focus on improving employee engagement and culture.
8. It’s greener
Reducing paper usage is a significant (and doable) step to reach your sustainability goals. Besides saving trees, technology and remote working also reduce the need and costs associated with a physical office, including electricity, fuel, rent, supplies, etc. In addition, employees feel prouder working at a sustainable company that cares about the environment and community, fostering a positive culture within the business.
9. Boosts employee morale and engagement
Unlike technology, employees are human with human needs, such as recognition and rewards. What technology can do, however, is enable performance tracking, recognition and reward campaigns, and goal setting to promote employee motivation and engagement.
10. Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I)
Most importantly, technology doesn’t discriminate. Connecting people from all walks of life closes the exclusion gap and creates a sense of community, regardless of geographical location, societal background, or cultural diversity.
An all-inclusive company culture
Who knew that non-human entities could encourage human connection? Irony aside, technology exists to enhance operations, not replace them. The goal is to have a company culture strong enough to withstand any geographical and physical barriers.
As business technology strategists, we specialise in helping SMEs achieve connection and put values into action through technology, get in touch today.
