For years we’ve been helping companies around the world build better ways to work using bots, automation and digital assistants on channels like Microsoft Teams, Slack and Workplace from Meta.
From better ways to onboard staff, automated asset management systems saving millions of dollars a year, or contactless ways to pick up a turkey (yep, you read that right) – we’ve seen countless examples of expected, and unexpected, ways that bots can add huge amounts of value to businesses by automating repetitive tasks, increasing productivity and/or information delivery, improving employee engagement, building company culture, saving time and money.
Industry interest and adoption of bots at work has seen a huge increase in recent months, with more and more businesses either using or intending to use bot-related technologies in the coming months. A recent survey by Gartner, Inc. found that 80% of executives think automation can be applied to any business decision, and according to Symmetrical, HR automation has risen by 235% in a year (599% over the past 2 years).
So, to help more businesses make the most of bots in 2024 we’ve put together this list of the absolute TOP FIVE bots that you need. Bots that are relevant to every business. Bots that touch 5 core different areas of your Employee Experience. And bots that will immediately start adding huge amounts of short-term and long-term value.
Want to see the benefits of these bots at your company in 2024?
Give us a shout and we’ll get you set up in no time. 🤖
1. Employee Onboarding
Onboarding serves as an employee’s initial interaction with a company, and as the adage goes, “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” Glassdoor reports that effective onboarding can improve employee retention by 82% and boost productivity and engagement by over 70%. However, a significant gap exists between the potential benefits of onboarding and the reality many employees face.
According to The Human Capital Institute, only 12% of employees feel their organization excels at onboarding. Many programs are labeled as ‘inconsistent, informal, or reactive,’ and over half focusing primarily on processes and paperwork – both of which can easily be automated.
Build your own Onboarding Assistant
Automated onboarding assistants present an opportunity to revolutionize this critical process. These types of bots can provide consistent and quality onboarding experiences, automatically addressing frequently asked questions that new employees often have, and enrolling staff into pre-scheduled training sequences. Additionally, they enable organizations to conduct new starter surveys, ensuring ongoing feedback and potential improvements for future onboarding cycles.
From a compliance and asset management perspective, some companies are also using bots to ensure that new employees have the necessary hardware and software they need on their first day and that any compliance checklists have been completed, signed off and logged.
Bots in Action: GSK’s Onboarding Bot
One of our customers, a global biopharma company, GSK, built ‘Steven the Onboarding Bot’ – a friendly, automated digital colleague who greets new starters and ensures a personalized and comprehensive introduction for each new employee. The bot offers detailed guidance, live training sessions, and visual aids accessible from any device, at any time.
Since launching, their Onboarding Assistant has sent 41,000 messages and engaged with 14,000 people. The bot has significantly benefited GSK by saving time and resources by automating routine tasks, ensured consistency in the onboarding process, and enhanced the overall experience for new starters with 24/7 support.
Find out more about how GSK are using The Bot Platform here. 👀
2. Recognition Programs
Employee recognition is a vital element of a thriving company culture. Deloitte’s research indicates that organizations with recognition programs experience 14% higher productivity and performance. Despite this, many companies overlook or inadequately serve their employee recognition initiatives, leading to disengagement and, in some cases, talent loss.
When recognition programs are created, often they involve a separate app or complicated process that creates friction in the user experience, which reduces program participation. However, when you integrate your recognition program directly into the communication tools your staff are already using – like Microsoft Teams, Slack or Workplace from Meta – you create a user experience for your staff that can create further ripples of awareness and usage every time a submission is received.
Build your own Recognition Program
Recognition Assistants automate and enhance the employee recognition process for both frontline and office employees by seamlessly integrating with the communication platforms employees are already using. Employees can easily submit nominations tied to company values or specific achievements. These assistants also facilitate the creation of company awards around specific themes such as Unsung Hero, Team of the Year, Outstanding Contribution and more.
Automation allows for real-time notifications, comments, and reminders which contributes to a dynamic and engaging recognition experience, fostering a positive workplace culture.
Bots in Action: WANDA at Globe Telecom
Globe Telecom had been using a separate recognition app, but they wanted to rebuild their recognition program, WANDA, by integrating it with their core internal communication channel of choice – Workplace from Meta. By doing this, they were hoping to increase staff participation with their recognition program and simplify their systems.
And they were right! WANDA generated a remarkable 900% increase in recognition nominations, showcasing the transformative impact of a well-integrated recognition bot. As well as capturing ongoing peer recognition, Globe Telecom also used The Bot Platform’s broadcasting features to send recognition-based messages and prompts around key moments in the year, such as their anniversary, end of the year and employee appreciation day.
Find out more about how Globe Telecom supercharged recognition, here.
3. Employee Feedback & Ideas
Employee feedback is invaluable for understanding workplace dynamics. According to Forbes, employees who feel their voice is heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work. Zippia found that collaborating on tasks and sharing ideas is valued at $1,660 per employee each year and the quality improvements made as a result of workplace collaboration are valued at $2,517 per employee each year. Employee Voice automation enables organisations to easily conduct efficient company-wide feedback and ideas sharing, providing insights into employee satisfaction, workload, ideas and support from management.
Build your own Employee Voice bot
Employee Voice Bots act as an insightful mood ring for your organization. This type of bot can tap into the collective heartbeat of your workforce.
But how can you achieve this? There are so many ways, including implementing real-time feedback from frontline staff or specific groups of staff, providing a space for employees to share ideas or suggestions or anonymously asking questions to leadership teams.
It’s not just about asking questions; it’s about deciphering the unspoken sentiments, gauging satisfaction levels, and understanding the pulse of employee engagement.
Bots in Action: Employee Voice at Ennismore
Ennismore have effectively tackled internal communication challenges by employing innovative tools developed with The Bot Platform, placing a strong emphasis on amplifying their employee voice. Their Big News Bot ensures instant access to crucial company updates, encourages engagement through crowdsourced insights, and offers universal accessibility for a mobile workforce.
Similarly, their Press Box bot crowdsources news from staff and serves as a one-stop knowledge-sharing resource, and their Anon Bot promotes open communication by enabling employees to ask anonymous questions to the CEO and securely report concerns, which is particularly beneficial for front-line staff.
These tools not only break down communication barriers but also empower Ennismore’s employees to contribute their perspectives and concerns transparently, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative work environment.
Find out about Ennismore’s Employee Voice bots here.
4. HR and Company Benefits
Employee benefits and perks are incredibly important, and many companies put significant effort into creating partnerships, offering benefits and memberships to various perks programs. For good reason too – 78% of employees would stay with a company because they like the benefits, and 51% said benefits play a significant role in talent retention.
However, a 2022 study by The Hartford found that 70% of employers believe their employees underutilize the services, benefits and programs they make available and this lack of awareness of benefits can have a big impact on retention – with 49% of employees saying they would be likely to seek new opportunities because of confusion or dissatisfaction about benefit schemes.
Build your own Benefits Bot
An automated benefits solution can become a one-stop-shop for unravelling the intricacies of HR policies and benefits packages. It’s not just about showcasing; it’s about illuminating the path for employees to fully understand, appreciate, and make the most of the perks tailored for them.
Your staff place a large amount of value in their benefits and company perks. An HR or company perks bot can not only raise awareness and uptake of these benefits, but also collect feedback on current benefits and allow staff to request new perks. Businesses can also maintain benefit program awareness by sending annual benefit reminder broadcasts and introducing the company benefits program to new starters.
When done correctly, an effective benefit program increases loyalty, job satisfaction, engagement and retention – as well as the ROI on HR’s time and money that was spent on putting benefits together in the first place.
Bots in Action: Perks Portal
The Perks Portal Bot is a user-friendly solution designed to elevate your company’s benefits experience. Going beyond a mere perks list, this savvy digital assistant creates an interactive 24/7 journey for employees, seamlessly integrating health and wellness offerings, professional development opportunities, and so much more. With a user-friendly interface which easily integrates with the channels you are already using, it serves as a personalised guide for each team member.
Emphasizing annual benefit reminders, automated messaging for new starters, and gathering feedback, the bot actively promotes and maintains awareness of the benefits program. Its role extends to fostering a culture where every employee feels valued and supported, consolidating all benefits into one accessible platform. The Perks Portal Bot turns the workplace into a destination for a fulfilling journey, emphasizing not just perks but the overall well-being and satisfaction of the team.
5. Targeted Communications and Compliance
Overlooking targeted communications can have profound consequences for your business. According to HowNow‘s research, a staggering 67% of workers feel ‘disconnected’ from their colleagues, fostering isolated silos within departments that stand alone from the broader company mission and culture. This disengagement isn’t just a workplace woe; it’s a genuine risk that could lead to people quitting, as Gallup reports that 90% of employees say good company communication is key to a positive working environment.
Additionally, targeted communications serve as a vigilant compliance guardian, seamlessly integrating regulatory requirements into the organizational fabric. This type of communication is becoming imperative, with malware and ransomware attacks skyrocketing by 358% and 435% and the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey revealing that approximately four out of ten businesses experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months.
Build your own Employee Comms bot
In today’s fast-paced communication landscape, having a top-notch communications bot is key for handling important employee interactions and company-wide messages. By using targeted communications to streamline risk management and incorporating instant broadcasts with automated reminders, organizations can quickly share crucial information, boost visibility, and ensure prompt action.
This smart approach promotes transparency, teamwork, and quick responses, creating a strong foundation for tackling compliance challenges and achieving success.
Bots in Action: Brunswick News at Brunswick Group
Built in just one week, the Brunswick News at Brunswick Group keeps 1,400 employees globally updated on company news, enhancing connectivity and information dissemination.
Their tailor-made daily internal news system shares news of their client work, almost as it happens. As well as making it easier to connect dots within the firm, it has been designed to keep colleagues up to date in a concise, relevant and timely manner.
The News bot has enabled Brunswick to create a dedicated team, with a streamlined and consistent process for collecting and sharing #bestofbrunswick news, and with 58% of staff using the bot daily, it has been an instant success.
Find out more about Bruswick Group’s News Bot here.
Bots in Action: Captain Compliance
Here at The Bot Platform we have our own internal Compliance Bot, ‘Captain Compliance’, which has been specifically created to communicate security updates, test our knowledge and implement effective systems to help us tackle risk management. The bot helps unify risk management processes and functions, helping us achieve strategic alignment, greater efficiency, and actionable risk intelligence across the whole organisation.
Find out more about Captain Compliance, here.
As the digital working landscape continues to evolve, the integration of bots and digital assistants will emerge as a transformative force. From streamlining onboarding processes to fostering employee recognition, ensuring compliance, and enhancing targeted communications, these 5 bots offer real, practical solutions to challenges that every business faces, while also putting a focus on enhancing their overall employee experience. Embracing these technologies in 2024 could be the key to creating a more engaged, productive, and connected workforce.
Get in touch today to get your company set up for success with The Bot Platform.
