Tech for Progress 360 is a three-part series about how companies are using technology to drive impact beyond the bottom line. Enhancement of workforce culture is one of three objectives examined by the series.

Tech for Progress 360: engage employees, strengthen company culture examines the challenges and opportunities businesses face as they embrace new working models Technology’s role in employee engagement and organizational culture is highlighted in a study by 500 senior executives from large global enterprises. More than 70% of the organizations that were the biggest adopters of new technologies agree that their company can maintain its culture in a hybrid environment.

Similarly, executives who say their companies’ business performance improved significantly over the past two years are more likely to see the potential of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced analytic tools to empower people to learn and grow.

The rapid shift to remote work is one of the most important management innovations of the past two decades. It can be done remotely at scale. In a post-pandemic world, leading companies will be defined by their ability to create hybrid work environments that allow culture and creativity to thrive, according to Tiger Tyagarajan, chief executive officer, Genpact. “To lead through this shift, businesses must combine digital technologies and smart data to drive actionable insights that integrate employees into company culture, enable collaboration, and maintain learning and wellbeing.”

There are many lessons that can be learned in workplace innovation. A large communications company created an enterprise social site within its intranet that connects employees, including those who might never have otherwise met, to share stories, discuss best practices, socialize and collaborate, allowing associates and leaders to connect on a more human level. The business is updating its conference spaces with cameras and monitors to make sure that people have the same experience regardless of where they are.

Future risks in corporate culture are highlighted by the lessons of Pandemic.

The report highlights fundamental areas businesses need to address, which if left untouched could jeopardize their ability to maintain a community of shared values and positive employee experience:

  • Network building – Almost everyone (91%) agrees that since the pandemic’s onset, employee interactions have shifted toward problem-solving and away from socializing. While there are some positive benefits to this problem-solving focus, casual exchanges with colleagues enable people to build their networks and integrate with the culture.
  • New-hire integration – Having opportunities for employees to connect and form relationships are critical to the onboarding experience and instilling shared values from the start. Almost half (48%) of executives surveyed say increased remote working has negatively impacted their organization’s ability to integrate new hires into their culture.
  • Cross-level relationship building – The bonds between colleagues across different levels of the organization are not being nurtured, potentially hindering development of future leaders. In fact, 42% of respondents say remote working has negatively impacted the connection between senior and junior leaders.
  • Effective collaboration – In the hybrid world, people working in the office and remotely must be able to collaborate quickly and seamlessly. When asked which technology holds the greatest potential for enhancing teamwork, 59% of executives surveyed say virtual meeting technologies, but only 11% recognize the potential that improving onsite meeting room technologies has on effective collaboration, suggesting that aligning remote and office experiences may need more experimenting.

The study’s findings challenge businesses’ ability to nurture a shared culture if they don’t take heed of lessons from the pandemic while continuing to innovate for the future.

“As people adjust to a hybrid world, companies must remember that work requires collaboration and deep human connection,” Tyagarajan said. Technology can help support a hybrid environment that works for both employees and customers, while delivering long-term business and individual success.

The next two reports in the Tech for Progress 360 series will address the role of technology in environmentalsustainability and enabling diversity, equity and inclusion. You can find more information about the employees at https://www.genpact.com/tech-for-progress/employees.

In the fall of 2021, FORTUNE Brand Studio and ResearchGenpact conducted an online survey of 500 senior executives in the US, UK, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Canada to see how companies are using technology beyond the bottom line. The finance, IT/technology, supply chain/procurement, operations/ production, compliance/risk, general management, digital innovation, business transformation, sales, marketing, and HR sectors are represented by the respondents. All respondents report annual company revenue over $1 billion.

Genpact makes business transformation real with its professional services. We drive digital-led innovation and digitally enabled intelligent operations for our clients because of our purpose, which is to pursue a world that works better for people. We drive real-world transformation at scale thanks to our experience reinventing and running thousands of processes for hundreds of clients. We think about design, dream about digital, and solve problems with data. We focus on the details because we combine our expertise in end-to-end operations and our Genpact platform. From New York to New Delhi, and more than 30 countries in between, we connect every dot, rethink every process, and change the way companies work. Each step from start to finish can make a difference in business outcomes. Whatever it is, we’ll be there with you to create bold, lasting results because transformation happens here.

Contacts for the media.

Danielle D’Angelo is from the Americas and can be reached at + .

There is a person in Australia who is called neha.chopra1@genpact.com

Europe /UK: judith.schunke@genpact.com

India :Roopanki Kalra Roopanki. Kalra@genpact.com

Satoko Hashiba is in Japan and can be reached at: SatokoHashiba@genpact.com.

Genpact was the source of the information.