How can digitalisation help to tackle the industry skills shortage?

Nottingham-based workflow automation specialist, Intoware, is investigating how digitalisation can help to tackle the industry skills shortage.

According to Make UK, more than a third (36%) of manufacturing vacancies are proving ‘hard to fill’ and the recent CSN Industry Outlook for 2023-2027 reported an additional 225,000 additional workers will be needed to meet construction demand by 2027, in the UK alone.

According to industry sources, factors including an uptick in the number of people retiring post-Covid is to blame, along with fewer people entering industry. And, while sector leaders are working hard to find ways to tackle the problem, employers are continuing to find it difficult to find and retrain the right people to fill their roles.

Keith Tilley, CEO of Intoware, said: “It’s no secret that many industries are facing a critical skills shortage. We’re investigating what part does digitalisation can play in addressing the challenge.

“By its very nature, workflow technology such as WorkfloPlus allows companies to capture any process and record it digitally for others to follow – and the knowledge and techniques of older more experienced workers is no exception.

“By placing the workforce at the heart of digitalisation and giving workers the chance to input into how work processes are created and carried out, businesses have the opportunity to harness the knowledge of workers who’ve been with them the longest, for the benefit of younger and more tech-savvy employees.

“From the tried-and-tested methods that workers have created themselves to carry out tasks more efficiently, to the wealth of insight and expertise they’ve accumulated over the years – all of this can be stored digitally for the purposes of upskilling and training the next wave of industry talent.”

Platforms such as WorkfloPlus enable employees to use wearable technology and use voice control. Augmented Reality (AR) can be integrated with the software and attached to safety helmets, enabling employees to watch training videos, access manuals, view mechanical drawings, and even contact experts for advice and guidance.

“By investing in these technologies, businesses are not only creating more efficient ways of working -they are also creating a skills hub for the next generation of employees and a workplace that will stand out from the crowd when trying to recruit younger team members,” added Keith.

For further information about WorkfloPlus, visit https://www.intoware.com/workfloplus