NewYork, 16.01.2019
While smartphones, tablets, and other digital technologies have made workers’ lives easier, a new GfK study shows that the effects have been decidedly mixed. Employees report facing a variety of tech-related obstacles at work -- but also hold out hope that some devices and services will ease their pain.
The research was conducted in November and December 2018 among 2,375 knowledge workers – broadly defined as employees who use a non-shared PC every day for work.
GfK’s research shows that three job-related challenges create the most frustration for these employees:
Among the 14 challenges covered in the research, four were cited as major or minor frustrations by at least 50% of knowledge workers, while the other 10 were mentioned by 44% or more. Three of the top six challenges are related to keeping up with emails, messages, and other work communications.
GfK also asked knowledge workers which of six emerging technologies – including artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) – might be most helpful in taking on everyday work problems. Roughly two-thirds (63%) of respondents said that using voice input for computers and smartphones was interesting or very interesting.
Coming in a close second (61%) among the solutions was a smartphone with a flexible screen that can be folded or expanded, followed by two different ways of using AI to analyze different aspects of work and make recommendations (55% for each).
The AI-based options, however, may be hampered by concerns about the safety and security of data and personal information. GfK – using its own syndicated assets Consumer Life and AutoMobility, in addition to other sources – generally has found elevated concern about data privacy among consumers.
The new GfK study also found that
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