According to Mercer’s Global Talent Trends 2024 report, 56% of companies say AI has improved operational efficiency. However, 39% of employees report feeling less valued and more uncertain about their job security than before. These findings highlight a critical challenge for businesses: How can we use AI for productivity while maintaining a human-centered approach?
A Human-Centric Transformation
With productivity gains increasingly tied to technology investments, Mercer’s report reveals that only 22% of companies are focusing on job design strategies to drive efficiency. Yet, among those that prioritize job design, 88% have successfully increased efficiency. While AI-driven speed and automation can enhance workflows, failing to integrate human-centric strategies can negatively impact employee motivation and engagement. This means that AI adoption isn’t just a technical shift. It requires a broader, people-first transformation.
Improving Employee Experience Increases Productivity
Sustainable productivity depends on a strong employee experience. Research in the same report shows that 45% of employees recognize the impact of physical and mental well-being programs on their job performance. Additionally, 51% of companies view upskilling employees as an important investment in productivity. These insights show that human-machine collaboration isn’t just about technological advancements, it also demands strategic investments in people. To maximize AI’s potential, organizations must make sure that while implementing AI processes, employees still feel secure, motivated, and engaged in their roles.
A Human-Centered Approach Leads to Success
While AI is a powerful driver of change in the workplace, long-term productivity and innovation require a human-centered perspective. When technology is positioned as a supporting tool to employees and integrated in ways that enhance their experience, companies achieve sustainable success in both efficiency and employee engagement with their brand. Embracing an AI strategy that puts people at the core does more than optimize workflows, it strengthens company culture by making employees feel valued. True transformation lies in creating a future where humans and technology work together in harmony.