Next big tech disruptions

At a time when everyone is looking for wins through automation, businesses need to be wary of pushback. Consumers, for example, are expecting higher levels of bespoke customer service in compensation for automation of some previously face-to-face actions.

Some analysts predict that as we begin to realise better methods of data analytics, there may be a shift from simple automation to productivity. History has shown that automation offers new sectors and forms of employment that we haven’t been able to envision. The digital revolution led to a sudden wave of app developers, we are yet to know what industries an economy dominated by machines and AI is likely to generate.

Riding the wave

With an ever-increasing focus on digitisation, it is important to remember that an efficient workplace fuses the best people with the best technology. Firms at the top of their game utilise technology to automate and simplify some tasks, so that talent can be used to their potential in fields such as customer service and decision-making. 

So, when it comes to transforming your business from static to agile, the principles of change management are as strong as ever. Change requires support from the top down, clear focus and goals, strong communication, training and development, resistance management, and an ongoing feedback loop between management and staff.

Even for a digital native like VicSuper’s People Experience Graduate,
Anthony Loschiavo, allowing an established process to be disrupted by a technological solution took a change in mindset.

“The screening process for new employees is very important to us –
we’re a superannuation business,” he says.“ Sending requests through an app and someone who you don’t know accepting the role is a little disconcerting at first.”

Giving managers the freedom to hire as required from a trusted source brought a new culture of agility to VicSuper – along with some other unexpected changes in culture.

“Our favourite thing about Weploy, outside of its efficiency, is the people that come in and work for us. There’s a genuine enthusiasm to come into work from them. They are happy to be here, working for us today. It rubs off and makes the whole team better by having them around,” he says.

“Working with the Weploy team is easy. We can contact them and resolve an issue in the same day. It’s a streamlined process, with easy payments and low amount of admin overall, a big change from trying to manage the process of hiring for those roles directly.”

HotDoc’s business model is based on flexibility, and it is carried it into its operational work practices, too.

“We were one of the first companies to start using Weploy,” says HotDoc’s Head of Operations Ben Rule. “And we have been using it every week consistently since then. It was such a good experience that we incorporated Weploy into our day-to-day business.”

Around one day each week, Rule and his team require admin workers to do repetitive tasks, like creating welcome packs for customers and collating promotional materials to be sent around the country.

“What drove me to try Weploy was the time-saving of posting the ad,
and the high quality candidates: our two pain points from other providers,” he says. “We noticed straight away that the quality of candidates was better than when we used other providers.”

“I know that I can jump in, it takes me around 30 seconds and around four to five clicks to post what we need, and less than a minute for someone to accept. From there, I know that the Weployee is locked in, and there’s nothing to worry about and no wasted time.”

“The candidates have been of a consistently high quality the whole way through: punctual, picking up tasks quickly, knowing which questions to ask, and successfully completing the job.”

During its time with Weploy, HotDoc has used around 30 candidates, and has recently taken up a new feature that lets them create a pool of candidates by badging them with the HotDoc custom skill, like you might see on LinkedIn. 

“Using the pool has further cut down on training time, and the Weployees know the job, the people and the environment,” he says. “If you walked into the office you would think that they are part of the team.”