AI is revolutionizing the digital workplace, offering unprecedented opportunities for growth and innovation. In fact, many organizations have already seen immediate benefits, with over half of them reporting improved efficiency and productivity, increased data insights and accuracy, and/or enhanced decision-making because of AI usage.
According to a recent survey, 62% of leaders think that efficiency gains like these are the best way to measure return on investment (ROI) with AI, but leaders should understand that productivity metrics are just one piece of the ROI puzzle. That’s because AI doesn’t just impact productivity; it also has a serious effect on digital employee experience (DEX), which is critically important for a wide variety of organizations in the age of hybrid and remote work. Here are three ways to prioritize DEX to evaluate the success of your AI strategy.
1. Focus on Implementation — and Don’t Rush
When employees are empowered with technology, their experience tends to improve because their productivity is elevated. While generative AI is obviously new, it’s important to remember that it’s only the latest in a series of technological advances that have improved productivity and employee experience. In the early days of the internet or smartphones, organizations gave their people access to mobile devices because it allowed them to stay in touch with each other and keep up with new information, especially on the go. Then, with the arrival of SaaS and the cloud, employees had access to product updates and changes in real-time.
Now, with AI, we’re experiencing what Gartner refers to as “intelligence all the time,” which is poised to drive productivity to new heights. As AI continues to take hold all around the world — 80% of organizations plan to expand AI use in the coming year, per a recent report — AI-adopting organizations can expect employee productivity and DEX improve in tandem.
But, as with any new technology, the way that organizations choose to deploy AI is critically important to overall success. Proper training and thoughtful implementation across departments is key to improving employee experience, and without due consideration, you may disengage your workforce or introduce new frustrations. This undermines the potential benefits of AI and erodes the foundation upon which business success is built: a motivated and committed workforce. Instead of rushing to implement AI, leaders should take the time to understand the pain points they’re trying to address and prepare their employees for AI adoption.
2. Provide Continuous Education
The most successful organizations today acknowledge that their investments in AI are not merely about optimizing processes, but also about fostering a culture that empowers employees to thrive in an AI-driven world. This perspective recognizes that the true value of AI lies both in its ability to automate tasks and in its potential to enhance human capabilities, while also unlocking new avenues for creativity and innovation.
According to Gartner, 58% of the workforce needs new skills to get their jobs done. But the reality is that many organizations are falling behind in elevating their workforce’s skills. In a separate study, PwC found that 39% of employees are concerned about not getting sufficient training in digital and technology skills from their employer.
Investing in skills training yields tremendous gains for organizations. Two-thirds of companies that have invested in training say they expect to see ROI within a year in the areas of cross-role mobility, worker productivity, and more importantly, worker satisfaction. That’s why leaders should partner with HR or Learning and Development (L&D) teams to equip employees with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use AI.
3. Identify and Champion Model Users
Initial deployment and ongoing trainings are crucial, and so too is encouraging adoption based on model users. While training is highly useful, hearing from their peers or managers can also have a significant impact on an employee’s willingness to adopt a new tool. Leaders can identify these champions by looking at top users and collecting survey data regarding top use cases. For example, you may consider hosting department-specific or role-based meetups to share use cases, challenges, and best practices.
Ultimately, the true measure of AI success lies not in isolated metrics, but in the ability to create a workplace where technology and human potential are harmoniously aligned. When DEX is a priority, factors such as employee retention rates, job satisfaction surveys, and collaborative metrics that gauge the effectiveness of cross-functional teams should all be high, which in turn empowers organizations to maximize the full transformative power of AI.
