automation & robotics
How to bring tHe industrial frontline into tHe digital workplace?
Frontline industrial workers have been critical during the pandemic producing everything from essential PPE, sanitiser and ventilators to keeping our supermarket shelves full. The need for fast and effective communication for this workforce has never been greater. Here Intoware’s CEO Keith Tilley explains how to bring industrial workers into the digital workplace as we move out of lockdown.
confined to a desk for the majority of the working day – these are our assembly line workers and plant engineers that provide the very backbone to many businesses that have been forgotten in the digital era. but with coVid-19 having accelerated
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the digitalisation of work, the frontline experience has been brought into sharp focus. it has meant that instant, collaborative, safe and contactless working has never been more needed. by empowering frontline workers in this way has become an essential part of ensuring they can do their jobs well, while maintaining efficient, cost effective and quality service. intoware’s new white paper, produced in
partnership with realwear, providers of wearable computers for industry, explores how businesses are enhancing the frontline experience post-pandemic through workflow software integrated with wearable headsets for better, connected working.
WHy dIgITIsE THE FrOnTlInE? a lot of communication between frontline workers and their supervisors is unstructured with paper trails, tick lists, text messages or even whatsapp being used to fill the gap. this can mean insufficient reporting, a lack of transparency and ultimately, poor productivity. this is where digitisation delivers, as to
enable frontline workers to be more productive and make on-the-spot decisions, businesses need to replace out-of-date manual processes. but how do you digitise when frontline workers do not even have access to a computer or email? the latest assisted reality headsets
integrated with workflow software, such as workfloplus from intoware provides an effective solution to productivity and gives frontline workers access to the ‘tools’ they need to speed up productivity. according to realwear, “as companies move on from old ways of working, wearable computers present an opportunity to have an immediate impact on the workforce of those who implement them.” so, how do you begin your digital
frontline journey? Here are some top tips to get you started.
stimated to make up approximately 80 per cent of the workforce, frontline workers are the employees that are not
dOn’T lImIT THE sCOPE OF yOur dIgITal PrOjECT TO sEnIOr managErs
Harnessing the benefits digitalisation can provide still remains a challenge for many businesses, with the pandemic only highlighting their existing vulnerabilities. it helps to identify specific business problems to apply digitisation to otherwise they may risk wasting time, effort and money. they need to prioritise the critical processes that will deliver maximum value, which means a willingness to adopt a digital transformation strategy focused on frontline needs.
sHadOW yOur FrOnTlInE WOrKFOrCE
businesses need to understand both the roles and capabilities of their workers before they design, trial and deploy new digital technologies if they are to succeed. this means shadowing employees to understand their work better and what has not worked to date so managers can determine which specific procedures need to be addressed and allows frontline workers to be central to the digital transformation.
22 july/august 2021 | factory&Handlingsolutions
some research has suggested that large-scale projects result in faster adoption, however smaller projects aimed at “low hanging fruit” are more likely to see measurable benefits and do not cost so much. these smaller projects can then be used as learning exercises and building blocks before scaling up digital solutions so they are embedded right across your business.
alWays bE OPEn TO CHangE
to make your digitalisation strategy a success it will hinge on your ability to accept change. when change becomes embedded and proven your frontline team will wonder how they managed before the new connected way of working. but do not be afraid to take some risk, embrace it and learn from it, this is not just about digitising existing processes it is about creating entirely new processes to solve a problem.
IT maKEs sEnsE TO sTarT small
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