Intermedia Workplace Report: Employees Want Virtual Assistants

A new study from Intermedia reveals knowledge worker opinions and trends relative to conferencing, mobility, and virtual assistants.

Intermedia’s 2018 Workplace Communications Report indicates 71 percent professionals say mobile applications help them assess project status. And 66 percent say business apps improve their efficiency.

Meanwhile, 51 percent say they regularly start work before reaching the office. Some 19 percent of that group feels that early start enabled by mobile technology gives them a jump on their work day. And 39 percent say working during their commute means less time in the office.

The study also notes the productivity benefits videoconferencing and other communication technologies can provide. One in five knowledge workers use videoconferencing daily, according to Intermedia. Three-quarters say  videoconferencing reduces their travel. And 59 percent indicated that they prefer videoconferencing to work travel.

Intermedia adds that videoconferencing may also help organizations attract the best candidates for job openings. Nearly a third of study participants indicated they wouldn’t work at a company that doesn’t provide a cell phone. Twenty-eight percent said they would decline an offer from an outfit without video and conferencing services. And 27 percent said they would expect an employer to provide instant messaging capabilities.

This report also suggests there’s strong demand for voice-activated virtual assistants. Forty-eight percent of those surveyed said they’d like an artificial intelligence-powered friend to provide them with calendar updates and voice prompts for calendar reminders. Forty-five percent would like to employ AI to take notes for them. Forty-four percent would like automated help to transcribe voice prompts into text so they can use that in emails. And 40 percent of millennials voiced an interest in using their voice to launch video and voice meetings.

"As technology continues to facilitate the future of work, it's time for organizations to recognize the future of employee expectations as well,” said Costin Tuculescu, vice president of collaboration product at Intermedia. “From mobile applications to videoconferencing to email and voice assistance, employees want technology that works for them, not the other way around. Simply put, organizations that leverage the unified communications technologies employees are looking for will be the ones better positioned to succeed. Additionally, as a result of these technologies removing location restrictions and promoting a more flexible work environment, companies can experience a positive impact on their ability to recruit, hire, and retain top talent."

Indeed. Leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing to enhance business communications, contact center and other customer service efforts, marketing, sales, and HR is what TMC’s upcoming Future of Work Expo is all about. To learn more, click here.

Edited by Maurice Nagle