Transforming your company to digital is not as complicated as it sounds. Much of the integration involved in bringing better connectedness involves internal technologies.
Tech like artificial intelligence and other automation tools work through specific business platforms. These tools are built in to help bring better knowledge to all your employees. Getting everyone on the same page during work-from-home scenarios will require technologies linking everyone through video chat, or other means of sharing information.
Having AI in the equation makes connecting with team members more accessible. It works this way thanks to machine learning, which enables AI to learn from prior experience.
Through this technology, you can set up tools like automated chatbots, feedback surveys, and methods to get humans into the communication mix.
How do automated chatbots work during COVID?
An automated chatbot is controlled directly by AI and, essentially, learns as humans use the chatting system. In times of COVID, a tool like this is a must when passing on pertinent information.
While customers can use chatbots to get their questions answered, they’re also used by employees to communicate. This means employees can message the bot when they need an immediate answer.
The most useful aspect is when a new hire starts working for your company. They may be forced to work from home to kick off their new job, making it tough to get questions answered in a hurry.
Many senior employees may be too busy to chat with the new hire. A chatbot is a perfect stand-in since it’s equipped with all the knowledge accumulated in your company.
Use surveys to gain feedback.
How do you know how your employees feel during their WFH life? Not everyone loves working from home. Still, you may not realize some of your employees are struggling.
Outside of complicated video meetings, a more detailed way to stay connected is via digital surveys sent to each employee. Once again, this employs the use of AI to make it a faster technological option.
Sending these surveys almost works like the above chatbots by asking pertinent questions. When employees see these questions, they can answer via text so it’s digitally saved.
Most importantly, these surveys allow employees to be more honest about their feelings. Doing face-to-face video chats might not persuade them to open up about their WFH situation as they would be answering a discreet and anonymous survey.
The human side of your digital transformation.
Perhaps you have concerns about maintaining a human angle to stay connected during COVID. Don’t fear AI superseding human intervention. Think of AI and automation like two business partners working to improve communication.
A real digital transformation is one that still utilizes human beings when AI can’t answer a question. In this case, you may want to find out more about human-in-the-loop technology (HITL).
HITL works by chatbots automatically forwarding a query to a real human when AI can’t answer a question. This way, your employees still have human contact rather than depending entirely on bots while working from home.
Employees already feel disconnected from their co-workers during COVID. Creating an opportunity for an internal subject-matter expert to talk directly to them is a major part of transforming digitally and humanly.
Create knowledge bases.
Chatbots keep your employees connected, but so does a knowledge base. If you’re new to what that is, it’s a digital repository holding all the knowledge from your customer history.
AI bots tap into this to pass on information, yet employees can use other resources to connect to the same data. When you have proper integration, workers can simply ask a question to your chatbot and receive an answer from the knowledge base.
With the right platform, AI can organize all of the information through every business tool your company uses. There isn’t any better way to stay connected with knowledge than through the development of your knowledge base.
How does staying connected in challenging times work in the real world?
COVID has affected companies of every size and across industries. Many big companies took the plunge into digital transformation a while ago, including brand names you recognize.
We posted a report recently on three significant companies that digitized their processes, making it easier for operations during COVID inconveniences. Major companies like Anheuser-Busch went into the digital landscape of creating an app for bars and restaurants to order their beverages more conveniently.
Disney did the same with digital wristbands, and Sprint created AI-powered chat features. Many small businesses are making similar moves, while sometimes needing consultants to make the right investments.
One thing you don’t want to do is invest in digital technology unless it transforms how you work. You can identify this if COVID restrictions have affected how your employees complete specific tasks and connect with colleagues.
A survey will tell you all. Once you know, a digital transformation in the current COVID era will be the best investment you ever make for your workers.