Wearable technology is makings its way into the workplace. You may be intimately familiar with the idea of wearable technology and even own a personal device yourself. But, the idea of having a wearable device that you use on a daily basis at work is more of a new concept that is taking the industry by storm and creating plenty of advantages for employers.
In its infancy, wearable technologies were relegated to fitness device such as Fitbits. They have since evolved and become more commonplace with the Apple Watch and now Google Glasses. In the workplace, these devices have the ability to transform the way that you do business, making you more efficient and effective at your daily tasks.
Breaking Down The Use Of Wearable Technology
The wearable technology industry is booming and is expected to reach staggering 75 million devices in the workforce by 2020, according to research firm Tractica. These devices are changing the way that your employees perform their responsibilities and are streamlining the equipment that they use on a daily basis.
The U.S. is making strong headway with the technology with as many as 70 percent of Americans wanting these devices at their job. In Europe, the stronghold is even deeper as 79 percent of workers are already using some kind of wearable technology to perform their job.
The Advantages Of Wearable Technology
The advent of wearables can allow your business to save money not only by making your workers more productive, but fitness trackers can actually keep your yearly health costs down. In other areas, your employees can utilize wearables to reduce their dependence on screens and tablets. This allows them to move freely through the workplace and become faster in their job role.
Wearables are also seeing increasing use as a safety device that monitors and tracks employee movement throughout your operations. Data can be transferred from device to device, allowing every employee to have real-time information that can work to save lives in dangerous environments.
The efficiency of using a wearable to perform daily jobs tasks is immeasurable with as an 8.5 percent increase productivity has been seen by those that employ the devices. Your employees will also be happier using the technology as 3.5 percent of employees report an increase in job satisfaction.
The Downside Of Wearable Technologies
With so many positive advantages it is hard to see why a company would not integrate wearables into their operations, yet many are confronted with the possibility of privacy issues being violated with their use. Many employees are concerned with the biodata that can be tracked, leaving them open to penalties or discrimination based on the information these devices can obtain with their wear.
Your company also needs to have total adoptability by your employees and staff. In order to get the most utilization out of wearable technology, your staff needs to be open to incorporating it into their job functions. When you have a team that is standoffish or unaccepting of the technology, it can be a challenge to get total adoption and take full advantage of its benefits.
Adding wearable technologies to your business can help alleviate some of the workload for your employee but needs to be introduced in a way that will gain their acceptance and trust. You need to set boundaries for its use and respect the privacy of your employees with its implementation.
When you are looking to advance your business into the future, contact the team at Resolute Technologies. We have professional consultants ready to assist you in your recruiting efforts and can help you develop a team that is ready to take the future by storm. Contact us today!