The IT Nerd

StaffConnect today announced a new release of its enterprise employee engagement platform. StaffConnect version 2.2 includes new features and functionality designed to improve employee engagement and job satisfaction by creating an elevated employee experience. The new capabilities ensure that customers have even greater ability to provide an integrated offering for desk and non-desk employees (NDEs) to access all of the resources they need to do their jobs, and to stay in the communication loop-regardless of their location.

Other new features of version 2.2 include  extended integration into enterprise systems to allow enterprises to easily create a central access hub for their employees to access Payroll, HR and other important resources. Additionally, the new version of StaffConnect brings further security enhancements and data privacy in line with GDPR compliance requirements, customer brand expansion into new functions to increase a positive company brand across a distributed workforce, and even more key mobile features for workforce flexibility, improved job satisfaction, productivity and profitability.

In terms of security enhancements, the new version introduces disk level encryption to further protect data at rest, in addition to the encryption in transit already present throughout the platform. Version 2.2 also introduces an information security management system and risk management framework that allows StaffConnect to manage, monitor, audit, and improve its information security in line with actual user best practices. Another enhanced feature is improved transparency for users about how the platform stores and uses data, as well as about users’ individual rights. In addition to updating the privacy notice to users in accessible language, GDPR owner and processes were added to manage subject access requests.

 Employee engagement remains a priority for business leaders, who are looking for more effective ways to solve engagement-related challenges, since research has shown the direct link between the employee experience (EX) and a company’s revenue and profits, as well as expenses. New survey data from StaffConnect revealed that the vast majority of enterprise organizations-nearly three-quarters-have plans to improve EX for their workers in 2018. The study also highlighted the changing nature of the workforce, with many organizations-across a wide range of industries including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail-reporting that a significant proportion of their workforce is not desk-bound. Over one-third of respondents indicated that half or more of their workforce consists of NDEs.

 StaffConnect Mobile App Platform Version 2.2:

New Rest API for Extended Integration Into Customer Systems

• Combination of online feeds and APIs, create a central resource hub for employees regardless of their location
• Desk employees and NDEs can access everything they need from HR to online benefits, PTO and payroll, training systems, policies, etc.
• Enterprise single sign on integration: Support for Active Directory Federation Services, Azure Active Directory and other identity providers

 Further Security Enhancements

• Improved data privacy to help customers meet GDPR and compliance requirements
• Disk level encryption to protect data at rest
• Information security management system and risk management framework to manage, monitor, audit, and improve information security in line with practice
• Improved transparency to users to ensure awareness of data storage and use
• GDPR owner and processes to manage subject access requests
• Updated privacy notice to users

Improved User Experience

• Rapid adoption levels, ease of use, and speed
• Enhanced library and survey functionality

Extended Branding Capability

• Ability to use customer-branded color palettes
• Helps customers reflect their own culture and brand to improve EX with the brand

New Enhancements to Quiz Feature

• New level of scoring to Quiz feature strengthens gamification functionality
• Enhancements include images, themes, and cumulative scoring
• When combined with library and images as part of the customer’s communication strategy, this can help drive adoption

Post-Read Acknowledgements

• Useful for important alerts and policies
• Ensures policies are clearly communicated, understood, and adopted
• Can facilitate employee safety measures on the job, particularly for NDEs in distributed jobs with health and safety hazards

Additional Features for Web Version

• Survey feature, Library feature, and Directory now available in StaffConnect web version for desktop users

To learn more, please watch the following videos:

StaffConnect, has ushered in a new era of innovation in creating powerful employee experiences in the enterprise.  StaffConnect’s next generation StaffConnect Mobile App Platform version 2 (v2) features key bar-raising enhancements that transform the employee experience by enabling business, nonprofit and government organizations to better connect, communicate and engage with their entire workforce – including remote, non-desk employees.  The result is employees are more loyal, passionate and productive – leading to improved customer/client experiences, and consequently superior business outcomes.

While the foremost authorities agree regarding the business criticality of employee engagement, prevailing research demonstrates that the world is in the throes of an employee engagement crisis.  In fact, according to a recent Gallop poll, a mere 13% of employees were found to be engaged. Unfortunately, the associated costs can be truly devastating. Gallop has stated that 65% of all lost customers can be tracked to a disengaged employee.  This issue is further exacerbated by what is now being referred to as the “forgotten workforce” i.e., non-desk employees.  Surprising, given that today non-desk employees make up over 80% of the world’s workforce, and in this digital age, the non-desk employee number is only expected to rise.

Key new StaffConnect Mobile App Platform feature enhancements include:

• Chat– Seamless, secure, and easy-to-use workforce messaging
• Directory – Seamless, secure and easy-to-search employee listing featuring employee profiles
• Survey – Integrated and flexible survey tool, featuring enhanced employee voice features, for pulse and engagement surveys
• Events – Company meetings, town halls, etc. promotion
• Communities – Sophisticated user and group management

The new Management Console features:

• User Management– View, upload and manage users to ensure only current employees can access the app.
• Content Management– Powerful content management that allows admins to manage, edit and moderate app content.
• Notifications – Utilize push notifications to enhance your internal communications and app engagement levels.  Target by group/dept., location, function and/or project.  Send real-time or preschedule.
• Analytics – Measure the effectiveness of your communication channels with app analytics.  Gain valuable real-time insights, measure engagement, rank content, produce reports.

StaffConnect is offered in Standard, Professional and Enterprise Editions to meet each client’s business and budgetary requirements.

Unique to StaffConnect and a key differentiator from otherwise potential competitors is its AppSuccess, Best Practices Services. Now offered in three new and unique services bundles, Bronze, Silver and Gold, each package was designed from the ground-up to establish best practice content and communication strategies, as well as ensure smooth and successful platform implementation, fast adoption and ongoing success.

StaffConnect Group, provider of the world’s leading enterprise mobile employee engagement platform, today announced the availability of a new eBook entitled, “Can Technology Solve the Employee Engagement Crisis?”  The new eBook proves out why this is no longer just an HR issue, drawing the direct inarguable link between a lack of employee engagement and the negative impact on business performance, reflected in declining corporate profits, shareholder value and the bottom line – by as much as 202%.

The eBook states that according to Gallup, only 13 percent of employees worldwide are actually engaged at work. The situation is slightly better in the U.S. but not much-less than one-third (32 percent) of American workers report feeling involved and enthusiastic about their job. And research by Temkin Group shows that as company size increases, engagement decreases.  Comprehensive research and statistics from world renowned authorities including Bain, the Bureau of National Affairs, Deloitte, Forbes, and Glassdoor, among others, further demonstrates the employee engagement “crisis” being faced today, around the world.

However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  The eBook further substantiates that in a world that’s increasingly digitally driven and focused, the key to employee engagement is integrally connected to technology.  Today’s workforce is no longer tied to their desks, working on the road, from home offices, and from other non-traditional settings, as well as geographically distributed.  And, millennials dependence on social interactive technology to communicate and gather information has had an increasing influence in the workplace.  A slick user experience is a must, and its not just the millennials that have become expert in quickly finding an alternative if deemed otherwise.  Sleek, customizable, mobile-based solutions that support these paradigms are already available, and will be those that are most rapidly and successfully adopted.  And not surprisingly, analytics is critical.  A sincere hope and belief in an organization’s employee engagement success is no longer enough.  Organizations must employ a technology platform that allows them to effectively measure engagement, so that they can use this information to make true cultural shifts to improve their employees’ experience of the company.

To read “Can Technology Solve the Employee Engagement Crisis” please visit: https://www.staffconnectapp.com/how-can-technology-solve-the-employee-engagement-crisis/

• StaffConnect App – unites the entire workforce from the field to the boardroom – enabling all employees to engage with company communications and connect with and be inspired by corporate goals. Employees are empowered to express views and share knowledge across business-lines, titles and geographies; thereby increasing employee job satisfaction, loyalty and retention. The StaffConnect app is designed specifically to deliver a better employee experience, which ultimately leads to better served customers, greater customer loyalty and increased revenues. Discover the app: http://www.staffconnectapp.com/staffconnect-app/
• Management Console – provides authorized administrators a powerful yet simple tool to manage all aspects of the StaffConnect Platform. Reports and dashboards offer invaluable insight into employee engagement levels, in order to analyze and understand each individual, as well as the overall organizational, employee experience.  See the Management Console: http://www.staffconnectapp.com/staffconnect-admin-console/
• AppSuccess Program – consists of customized consultations with a domain expert(s) to define a winning internal communications strategy, ensure a successful program and app launch, accelerate user adoption, and provide a pathway for feedback in order to continuously maximize app and program performance.  Learn about AppSuccess: http://www.staffconnectapp.com/appsuccess/

For further information, please visit: www.StaffConnectApp.com.