Member Article

79 per cent of employees demand social media integration with back-office solutions to improve workplace productivity

79 per cent of employees demand social media integration with back-office solutions to improve workplace productivity

Employees see social media as key to improving collaboration, recruitment and supplier engagement

30 October 2014 – 79 per cent of employees in UK mid-market businesses believe social media integration with back-office solutions is essential to improving productivity, employee collaboration, supplier engagement and streamlining recruitment processes. These are key findings of research carried out by Source for Consulting in partnership with Advanced Business Solutions (Advanced).

The report is based on a survey of finance, HR and IT staff from 160 mid-market UK organisations, carried out to examine changing attitudes to the use of social media as a means of improving productivity.

The survey reveals that 86 per cent of organisations currently use social media to market themselves externally and 75 per cent to understand what is being said about them in the public domain. 69 per cent also respond to queries and comments from existing customers, potential prospects and suppliers who are using these communication channels.

In contrast, just 17 per cent of organisations surveyed in the report are using social media tools such as enterprise social network systems and intranets to collaborate, share information sources and receive answers to queries internally.

However, almost two-thirds of respondents believe that their organisations should be doing more with internal social networks in order to drive employee collaboration. 69 per cent also feel that using internal social networks can help to cut down on unnecessary email.

Simon Fowler, Managing Director, Advanced Business Solutions (Commercial division), comments: “Although social media is widely used for sales, marketing and customer services, it is not as well established as a means of optimising productivity by improving employee collaboration.”

“People are an organisation’s most valuable asset and social technologies enable them to collaborate and share their knowledge quickly and easily from wherever they are working. This technology is ideal for bringing disparate teams closer together, enabling them to share their expertise and build on their combined knowledge.”

The research revealed that only 13 per cent admitted that they use social media to engage with suppliers but 58 per cent stated their organisation should be doing more to leverage mutually beneficial opportunities and gain greater visibility of potential supply chain issues.

Just 21 per cent of mid-market organisations have an established approach to using it for recruitment and to engage with potential employees.

Social media can transform recruitment by enabling organisations to engage directly with potential employees via LinkedIn and online recruitment websites. Solutions such as OpenHR from Advanced include dedicated e-recruitment functionality that enables HR staff to manage online recruitment processes and record candidate information, eliminating the need to employ recruitment consultants.

“e-recruitment helps organisations identify the most suitably experienced and highly qualified potential employees and begin talking to them immediately. This reduces the time it takes to recruit new staff and the reliance on recruitment agencies which can help organisations save substantial amounts of money,” concludes Fowler.

Advanced Business Solutions provides leading integrated business applications and services for the public, private and third sectors. The company is a division of Advanced Computer Software Group plc.

The research has been published in a new white paper – Don’t forget the back office: exploiting social and mobile to make mid-sized organisations more productive. The white paper is available for download from: http://www.advancedcomputersoftware.com/collateral/abs/abssmacreportwithlink.pdf

-ENDS-

About Advanced Business Solutions www.advancedcomputersoftware.com/abs

Advanced Business Solutions (Advanced) provides leading integrated business applications and services that enable public, private and third sector organisations to retain control, improve visibility and gain efficiencies whilst continually improving corporate performance. Advanced prides itself on getting close to its customers by understanding their businesses and responding to their evolving needs.

Advanced’s software systems comprise core accounting/financial management, procurement, supply chain management, human resource and payroll systems, integrated with a range of collaborative, document management and business intelligence solutions to extend the value and effectiveness of the finance, human resource and payroll departments.

Management information systems for school and academies are also provided through Advanced’s subsidiary, Advanced Learning. Advanced also provides specialist vertical solutions for the not-for-profit and legal markets. All solutions can be delivered as a managed or bureau service.

Customers are from both the public and private sectors and include Companies House, Newcastle City Council, NHSScotland, Norfolk Constabulary, Edge Hill University, WH Smith, Royal Bank of Scotland, Aer Lingus, National Express Group, DFS and RSPB.

Advanced Business Solutions is a division of Advanced Computer Software Group plc, a leading supplier of software and IT services to the health, care and business services sectors.

Press contacts:

Angela Mycock and Nick Hardy, Advanced Computer Software Group

pr@advancedcomputersoftware.com

+44(0)1625 856 513

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Advanced .