Ricoh Europe: European businesses forecast significant rise in the number of ‘intelligent workers’ by 2018

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The number of ‘intelligent workers’ (iWorkers) in European businesses is expected to rise sharply over the next five years, according to new research commissioned by Ricoh       Europe¹.

Currently, 4 per cent of European business leaders would describe the majority of their staff as iWorkers: reliable and skilled employees who have 24/7 access to all the necessary information to meet the needs of the business and its clients. However, business leaders predict significant change over the next five years, with 37 per cent believing that by 2018 the majority of their workforce will be iWorkers.

Acceleration of the iWorker may be connected to the growing consequences of ineffective information sharing. When asked to rank the areas that have been impacted the most, business leaders cited lost revenues in first place (49 per cent) followed by lost customers (43 per cent) in second and a lack of customer insight (27 per cent) in third. 

The study also shows there are challenges to overcome prior to       increasing the presence of the iWorker in European businesses. While       almost three quarters are investing in new technologies to improve       employee productivity inside and outside of the office, the majority       highlight the need to review existing processes so that employees can       access business critical information more easily. Over 70 per cent       believe the inability to access documents from a mobile device is       holding their business back, while two-thirds say that unsuitable search       functions are preventing employees from finding the information they       need to help the business move forward. In addition 62 per cent say that disjointed information silos are hindering the sharing of information.  

David Mills, COO at Ricoh Europe says, “The population of iWorkers is       forecast to rise significantly. The question is, are businesses ready?       Business leaders are more aware than ever before of the need to further optimise the way they use technology and eliminate the information silos occurring across the business. There is an urgency to review and change traditional ways of working and keep up with technology-led change, which will continue to bring new challenges.”    

European business leaders highlight the most important next steps to       enable the acceleration of the iWorker. The activities most effective in       enhancing employee knowledge are (ranked first) making use of       collaboration tools: enabling collaboration and knowledge sharing in       multiple locations. This is followed by optimising business processes       (joint second): reviewing the way employees work and ensuring technology is being used for maximum benefit, alongside making the transition to       the cloud. In fourth spot, leaders ranked the digitising of hard copy       documents: ensuring better access to current and historical business       critical information, which aids future decision making. Such actions       will bring significant benefits for businesses. Research from McKinsey²       highlights that companies with higher concentrations of knowledge       workers (above 35 per cent of the workforce) create, on average, returns per employee three times higher than those of companies with fewer knowledge workers (20 per cent or less of the workforce).    

      Mills continues, “Now is the time for organisations across Europe to       optimise critical business and document processes to prepare more       effectively for the future. With greater innovations and technology       led-change on the way, the establishment of the iWorker as a more       informed workforce is essential to realising business growth, improved       business agility, efficiency, productivity and responsiveness to client       needs.”    

For more insights into the impacts of technology lead change visit www.ricoh-europe.com/thoughtleadership   

About Ricoh    

Ricoh is a global technology company specialising in office imaging       equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and       IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200       countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2013, Ricoh       Group had worldwide sales of 1,924 billion yen (approx. 20 billion USD).    

      The majority of the company's revenue comes from products, solutions and       services that improve the interaction between people and information.       Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialised       industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the       exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability       initiatives.

      Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change., Ricoh helps companies       transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of       their employees.    

For further information, please visit www.ricoh-europe.com  

About the Research    

The study was conducted during May and June 2013 by Coleman Parkes       Research and commissioned by Ricoh Europe PLC. The online survey       consisted of 735 senior business and IT decision makers across 8       vertical sectors, education, legal, utilities/energy, healthcare, public       sector, retail, manufacturing and financial services sectors.       Participating respondents were from the UK, Ireland, France, Germany,       Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, the Nordics (Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark), Switzerland and Russia.   

¹ Research conducted by Coleman Parkes Research, May-June 2013    

² The       Productivity Imperative McKinsey, 2010