In an age where digital proficiency has never been more important, insights gained from almost 7,500 UK workers have shed light on the areas where we are facing a digital skills gap. This research – gained through ongoing Digital Maturity Assessments carried out by Microsoft partners Hable – uncovers data on the use and application of digital tools, in the context of 12 work themes.
As organisations across the country strive to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, these insights are crucial for addressing the digital skills gap that threatens to hinder progress.
Looking at the Digital Maturity Assessments data, the area that people were found to be least mature in across all organisations surveyed was Information Management. With a huge 64% of respondents only currently using basic features to manage information in the workplace. Poor information management can create a growing data heap, making it harder to find what you need and leading to frustration among employees.
Content Creation has also been revealed as an area that needs addressing. A huge 80% of respondents reported not proactively using different types of content to make their work more engaging. This means content produced by workers within organisations is likely to be heavily text-based, potentially missing opportunities to include more engaging content such as video, audio, or animations.
Around a third of respondents to the Digital Maturity Assessment are rarely adjusting content to improve accessibility. This is likely due to people being unaware of the in-built tools available, rather than an intentional effort to exclude. Less than 8% of people are utilising all accessibility tools at work – by simply improving knowledge of these tools, UK organisations have the power to create a much more accessible environment.
In the ‘Opinions’ section of the Assessment, when asked about access to technology, 9% of people feel they still don’t have access to the technology they need to do their jobs properly. Highlighting the need for regular evaluations of technology requirements, and providing modern and efficient technology to support job functions.
More positively, there are many areas where workers who took part in the survey are excelling. Around 15% are now using advanced collaboration functionality within their workday, such as tracking changes, workflows and version control. 50% are regularly leading online meetings and using functionality such as sharing screens, reactions, and captions. 30% also expressed a high level of confidence when it comes to technology, reporting an enthusiasm for using new devices, apps or systems that will improve how things work and always promoting the use of digital with others.
“Almost 7,500 people have now taken our Digital Maturity Assessment at their workplaces,” said Nicki Harman, Services Director at Hable. “The insights gained highlight an urgent need for people in organisations to gain digital confidence. In an environment where they are able to develop their digital maturity beyond where they are today.”
While these findings highlight a lack of digital maturity and confidence in certain areas, they also show a significant opportunity. Where UK organisations can upskill their employees, bridging the gaps by investing in highly targeted training, modern devices, and the continuous assessment of digital maturity to ensure all employees can thrive.
Hable is a Microsoft partner which has been helping people get more from technology over the past decade. It is Hable’s mission to inspire people to learn new skills, embrace change, and unlock the potential of technology.
