The WFC Group Blog

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Stepping confidently into the New Year, The WFC Group team is all abuzz over what we think 2018 will bring, from exciting new challenges to tools of the future. One common thread that seems to repeatedly pop up in conversation is expectations around ease of use, helping businesses and their employees use workforce solutions more effectively. Luckily, a lot of what we’re forecasting for this year may very well deliver. Here are five of our trends to keep a close eye on in the coming year.

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As 2017 draws to a close, we're taking a moment to look back on the important developments in workforce management. At the start of the year, we identified several trends we expected would define workforce management for the industry and the businesses who rely on the latest in workforce management solutions. Altogether, our expectations aligned pretty well with how the year played out. Here are three topics that aligned with our early year predictions.

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There’s not a business around that wouldn’t love to improve its workforce performance and productivity. These are certainly common goals that guide many of our workforce management solution implementations for our clients. But while the tools best suited to specific businesses may vary, the approach to how they are used may be the real secret to a more productive workforce. In a new report, Gallup digs into the pitfalls of traditional performance management on employee engagement and makes a convincing case for a developmental approach to cultivating great performance.

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By now, the "Cloud" is a well-established and often preferred model for business software solutions — workforce management included. As advantages of the Cloud have become clearer, many uncertainties that may have prevented businesses from adopting this model in its early stages have also been settled. While early migrators are already reaping its benefits, it's certainly not too late for businesses awaiting a confident verdict on cloud efficiency.

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Change is coming. Are you ready for it? A new study by Grand View Research projects workforce management trends through the year 2025, and the outlook is exciting. Overall, adoption of solution suites will continue to grow, but one key factor is expected to drive growth among new and existing system users alike. Just like responsive web design has met the needs of mobile-first visitors, the future of workforce solutions will be driven by mobile efficiency and mobility expectations of the incoming workforce.

The Cloud is alive and well in 2017 - and that should come as no surprise. We included the increasing normality of Cloud adoption in our workforce predictions for the new year without any hesitation, and new data about 2016 only strengthens our position. We're well versed in the ROI cloud-based systems like Kronos Workforce Central can provide (especially as a proud accredited partner), and these benefits have businesses of all sizes acclimating to the idea of change.

The tighter market for skilled workers is resulting in some interesting changes. One such change - and one of the top trends we're keeping an eye on in 2017 - is the boomerang workforce. These are employees looking to return to a former employer after choosing to take a job elsewhere. While the trend is ongoing, observed in an earlier study by Kronos in 2015, we expect the impact to play an increasingly important role in workforce management.

The conversation around wearable tech is still very much alive, though more of a cautious whisper. A lot is happening behind the scenes, and there's plenty of speculation around what new advances will be made to integrate new technological advantages into our work and daily lives. What's clear is the next evolution of compact, personal gadgets is not far off, so it's worth considering the implications they'll have for your workplace sooner rather than later.

If only one-third of your workforce could be considered “engaged,” would you be worried?

Turns out, that’s the national average according to Gallup’s latest report: State of the American Workplace. In it, Gallup claims we’re in the midst of an employee engagement crisis. That stands to reason, because when two-thirds of any employee-base is disengaged or indifferent, then productivity and profitability suffer. Striving for better employee engagement can have measurable benefits for every business. But where should you begin?