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- Employee Experience Report 2024: Humanised Growth In A Digital Era | KennedyFitch (2024)
Employee Experience Report 2024: Humanised Growth In A Digital Era | KennedyFitch (2024)
This report examines the current state and future trajectory of Employee Experience (EX) initiatives across industries and organisations globally, offering insights on where to focus efforts and investments to enhance EX.
Tanguy Dulac
December 14, 2024
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE & ENGAGEMENT
Employee Experience Report 2024: Humanised Growth In A Digital Era | KennedyFitch (2024) | This report examines the current state and future trajectory of Employee Experience (EX) initiatives across industries and organisations globally, offering insights on where to focus efforts and investments to enhance EX.
đź“Š DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that 82% of respondents are now actively engaged in EX initiatives, up from 55% in 2020, representing a 49% increase in just four years?
đź‘€ DID YOU SEE?
Figure: Employee Experience Maturity Model
✨ OVERVIEW
The Employee Experience Report 2024 by KennedyFitch provides a comprehensive analysis of EX initiatives globally. Building on previous studies from 2017 and 2020, the report reveals significant progress in EX adoption and maturity, highlighting persistent and emerging challenges. Key findings include a substantial increase in EX adoption, with 82% of respondents actively engaged in EX initiatives. The report emphasises EX's growing strategic importance, with 72% of respondents reporting directly to the CHRO/CPO or just one level below. It also highlights the shift towards treating EX initiatives as products to be developed and continuously improved, allowing for more agile development and closer alignment with business needs.
🧩 CONTEXT
As companies navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, including remote work trends and changing employee expectations, Employee Experience has emerged as a critical factor driving business value in attracting, retaining, and engaging top talent. The concept of EX has evolved from a novel idea about a decade ago to a more strategic function for many organisations. While progress is evident, significant opportunities remain for growth and refinement in EX strategies. The increasing focus on data-driven approaches, cross-functional collaboration, and advanced technologies suggests that EX will continue to evolve and gain prominence in shaping organisational success.
🔍 WHY IT MATTERS
↳ Strategic importance of EX—EX is increasingly viewed as a strategic function, with 72% of respondents reporting either directly to the CHRO/CPO or just one level below, underscoring its growing importance within organisations.
↳ Cross-functional collaboration—An overwhelming 92% of organisations working on EX engage in collaborative efforts, with HR (96%), Marketing & Communications (69%), and IT (67%) being the most frequent collaborators.
↳ Skills gap in emerging technologies—While project management (81%), analytical skills (78%), and survey management (76%) are currently the most used skills, there's a significant gap in AI and Machine Learning skills, with only 24% of respondents currently possessing these skills.
↳ Shift towards advanced analytics—Only 26% of organisations currently use predictive tools such as Python, R, or other advanced analytical tools or AI solutions, indicating a significant opportunity for growth in this area.
↳ Leadership buy-in challenges—Lack of budget (54%) and insufficient leadership buy-in outside HR (41%) are the top anticipated obstacles for EX in the next 12 months.
đź’ˇ KEY INSIGHTS
↳ EX adoption varies across industries—Finance & Insurance (92%), Professional Services (93%), and Technology & Telecommunications (93%) lead in EX adoption, while Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals (74%), Manufacturing & Construction (72%), and Retail & e-commerce (77%) lag behind.
↳ Organisation size impacts EX maturity—All large organisations (50,000+ employees) surveyed have initiated EX efforts, with 94% implementing EX practices and 44% fully embedding EX, compared to 13% and 8%, respectively, in 2020.
↳ Focus areas are shifting—Onboarding (74%), organisational culture and behaviours (66%), and training and development (51%) are the top current focus areas for EX initiatives.
↳ Future skill priorities—AI and Machine Learning (57%), Change Management (46%), and Advanced Analytical Skills (45%) are identified as the top future skill priorities for EX professionals.
↳ Tools evolution—Survey management platforms (83%), reporting tools and dashboards (62%), and company social and communications platforms (60%) are currently the most used EX tools. Still, there's a growing interest in predictive tools and AI solutions for the future.
🚀 ACTIONS FOR LEADERS
↳ Invest in AI and advanced analytics—Develop AI, Machine Learning, and advanced analytics capabilities to enhance EX strategies and decision-making processes. This could involve training existing staff or hiring specialists in these areas.
↳ Foster cross-functional collaboration—Create dedicated cross-functional teams to drive EX initiatives, ensuring alignment across HR, IT, Marketing & Communications, and other relevant departments. Implement regular cross-departmental meetings and collaborative projects.
↳ Develop a clear EX vision and strategy—Articulate a compelling EX vision and strategy that aligns with overall business objectives to secure leadership buy-in and necessary resources. This should include clear goals, metrics, and timelines.
↳ Prioritise skill development—Invest in upskilling and reskilling programmes to bridge the gap in critical EX skills, particularly in areas like AI, Machine Learning, and advanced analytics. Consider partnerships with educational institutions or online learning platforms.
↳ Adopt a product-based approach to EX—Treat EX initiatives as products to be developed, launched, and continuously improved. This will allow for more agile development and closer alignment with business needs. Implement agile methodologies and regular feedback loops in EX projects.
đź”— CONCLUSION
The Employee Experience Report 2024 highlights significant progress in EX adoption and maturity across organisations globally. However, it also reveals persistent challenges and opportunities for growth. As EX continues to evolve, organisations that can effectively leverage data, design thinking, and cross-functional collaboration to create impact for people and businesses will be best positioned to create meaningful and impactful employee experiences. The shift towards more personalised, real-time, and integrated approaches to EX, coupled with the growing importance of AI and advanced analytics, suggests that EX will play an increasingly critical role in shaping organisational success in the years to come.
🎯 KEY TAKEAWAY
To succeed in the evolving landscape of Employee Experience, organisations must embrace a strategic, data-driven approach that leverages advanced technologies, fosters cross-functional collaboration, and continuously adapts to meet changing employee expectations and business needs.