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Equipping Frontline Workers with Digital Tools for Success Amid Skilled Labor Shortages

  • Report

  • 112 Pages
  • December 2023
  • Region: Global
  • Frost & Sullivan
  • ID: 5932034

The Right Communications Solutions Boost Frontline Worker Productivity, Comfort, and Safety

Frontline workers are a key part of the workforce in the majority of organizations. Out of approximately 2.5 billion deskless/frontline workers around the world, an estimated one billion require tailored communications and collaboration tools to complete their job tasks.

Frontline workers comprise a diverse category of workers that typically do not perform their job tasks full-time at a desk. Other characteristics that frontline workers have in common include indoor or outdoor mobility and the need for wireless connectivity, hands-free communication tools, ruggedized communications devices and integration with vertical apps and/or IoT devices.

Frontline worker communications and collaboration requirements differ widely based on the job tasks they perform. Workflows vary significantly by industry and job function, which indicates that communications and collaboration tools must be tailored for different types of frontline workers.

Most technology vendors and service providers lack clearly defined frontline worker strategies. However, certain vendors have launched vertical strategies that aim to provide tailored capabilities to both desk and frontline workers in selected industries.

This study provides an analyst perspective on the opportunity to empower frontline workers with communications and collaboration tools. It includes data from a 2023 survey of global IT and telecom decision makers to quantify investment priorities and gain insights into tools used to enhance frontline worker productivity, comfort, compliance and safety. The study also spotlights key challenges, objectives, and growth opportunities in the healthcare vertical.

Table of Contents

Research Objectives and Methodology
  • Research Objectives and Methodology
  • Respondent Demographics
Definitions and Key Findings
  • Introduction
  • The Frontline Worker Opportunity
  • Frontline Workers Defined
  • Equipping Frontliners with the Right Tools
  • Key Findings
Technology Perceptions and Investment Plans
  • Frontline Workers in the Organization
  • Important, Very Important, and Crucial Drivers for Investment in Communications and Collaboration Solutions
  • Important, Very Important, and Crucial Capabilities to Empower Frontline Workers
  • Very Important and Crucial Capabilities to Empower Frontline Workers - by Vertical
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today - by Vertical
  • Technologies Organizations Plan to Provide to Frontline Workers by 2025
  • Technologies Organizations Plan to Provide to Frontline Workers by 2025 - by Vertical
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025
  • Technologies Organizations Do Not Plan to Provide to Frontline Workers by 2025
  • Current and Future Enterprise Telephony Adoption to Enable Frontline Workers
  • Technologies in Which Organizations Plan to Increase Investments to Enable Frontline Workers
  • Technologies in Which Organizations Plan to Sustain Investments to Enable Frontline Workers
  • Technologies in Which Organizations Plan to Decrease Investments to Enable Frontline Workers
  • Expected Change in PBX/Cloud or Mobile PBX Investments to Enable Frontline Workers
  • Expected Change in PSTN Calling Plans Investments to Enable Frontline Workers
  • Importance of Provider Capabilities When Selecting Communications Solutions to Support Frontline Workers
  • Very Important and Crucial Provider Capabilities When Selecting Communications Solutions to Support Frontline Workers - by Vertical
  • Top 3 Factors Preventing Organizations from Meeting or Exceeding Frontline Worker Empowerment Goals
  • Top 3 Factors Preventing Organizations from Meeting or Exceeding Frontline Worker Empowerment Goals - by Vertical
Industry Spotlight - Healthcare and Life Sciences
  • Key Challenges in the Healthcare Industry
  • Technology Investments Needed to Enable a Competitive Edge
  • Growth Opportunities for Communications and Collaboration Vendors in the Healthcare Industry
Appendix
  • Importance of Technology Investments to Better Support Frontline Workers - Manage Shifts and Schedules
  • Importance of Technology Investments to Better Support Frontline Workers - Access Applications and/or Data Remotely
  • Importance of Technology Investments to Better Support Frontline Workers - Work Collaboratively with Frontline Teammates
  • Importance of Technology Investments to Better Support Frontline Workers - Interact with Office Workers or Management Efficiently
  • Importance of Technology Investments to Better Support Frontline Workers - Track and Document Their Work
  • Importance of Technology Investments to Better Support Frontline Workers - Interact with Customers Efficiently
  • Importance of Technology Investments to Better Support Frontline Workers - Access Integrated Information Sources
  • Importance of Technology Investments to Better Support Frontline Workers - Improve Frontliner Safety
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Video Conferencing
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Team Spaces/ Group Chat
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Walkie-Talkie
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Paging
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Email
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - SMS
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Analog Fax
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Online Fax
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Learning & Performance Management Systems
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Tablets
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Mobile/Smartphone
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - IoT
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Mixed/Augmented/Virtual Reality
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Wearable Devices
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - Biometric Authentication Methods
  • Technologies Organizations Provide to Frontline Workers Today or Plan to Provide by 2025 - DECT or VoWLAN Phones
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Enterprise Telephony
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Video Conferencing
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Team Spaces/Group Chat
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Walkie-Talkie
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Paging
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Email
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - SMS
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Analog Fax
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Online Fax
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Learning and Performance Management Systems
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Tablets
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Mobile/Smartphones
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - IoT
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Mixed/Augmented/Virtual Reality
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Wearable Devices
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - Biometric Authentication Methods
  • Plans to Increase or Decrease Investments in Technologies to Enable Frontline Workers in the Next Two Years - DECT or VoWLAN Phones
  • Importance of Provider Deep Knowledge of Your Industry’s Challenges when Investing in Communications & Collaboration Solutions to Support Your Frontline Workers
  • Importance of Tailored Solutions for Your Frontline Workers' Unique Needs when Investing in Communications & Collaboration Solutions to Support Your Frontline Workers
  • Importance of Communications Solutions Integration with Mission-Critical Workflows when Investing in Communications & Collaboration Solutions to Support Your Frontline Workers
  • Importance of Provider Partnerships with Vertical Solution Specialists when Investing in Communications & Collaboration Solutions to Support Your Frontline Workers
  • Importance of End-to-end Solutions Portfolio when Investing in Communications & Collaboration Solutions to Support Your Frontline Workers
  • Importance of Dedicated Industry Vertical Experts within the Provider Organization when Investing in Communications & Collaboration Solutions to Support Your Frontline Workers
  • Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine™
  • Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow?
  • The Strategic Imperative 8™
List of Exhibits