DIGITAL SIGNAGE
What's that? Digital signage networks (DSNs) are the generic name forany form of digital display system that receives its content (brandingmessages, internal communications) from a centralised control system. Atits simplest it comprises plasma screens that can be updated withdata/images.
Why is it important for HR professionals? The HR industry has beenrecognised as just one sector where digital signage has potential, notleast for internal comms. Students at the Centre for ExperientialConsumer Psychology (CECP) and the University of Wales have conductedresearch into its potential for influencing behaviour - everything fromits ability to create 'episodic' or 'semantic' memories andrecollection, to whether DSNs have better, more long-lasting results indistributing information than, say email or corporate intranets.
Who's using it? Staff at Hewlett Packard's 300-strong call centre inGlasgow have been experiencing the signage since August 2007. It allowsthem to watch and work at the same time. Four large-format projectorsdisplay a variety of communications including short videos fromexecutives and important business information and statistics.
Who's doing it? See www.wedgwood-group.com; www.dynamax.co.uk;www.onelan.co.uk; www.pixelinspiration.co.uk
PHONE-FREE DESKS
What's that? Broadband and open phone lines will change the way peoplework and make phone calls. Skype is the most well-known system, whichallows users to make calls free of charge over the internet. Thedrawback is that you can only call other people who are also logged on.Other providers trying to make the telephone-free desk a reality includeIT provider Ortiga. Its software system routes calls through a company'scomputer system and allows workers to speak hands-free via headsets.Calls can be recorded, so voice files can be emailed between teams.
Why is it important for HR professionals? Not only will the removal ofthe phone improve posture and ergonomic issues, it should have an impacton productivity. Ortiga reports clients' staff are already working moreefficiently because databases are automatically updated when a callcomes in.
Who's using it? Recruitment agency Tirebuck Career Solutions is alreadysaving 40% call costs through using IP Exchange Lines (rather than a BTline), and is reporting increased people productivity. Karen Tirebuck,MD of the agency, says: "Calls can be transferred, parked or sent tovoicemail while messages can also be recorded and emailed to recipientsif they are not available or busy at the time of the call."
LEARNING ANALYSIS SOFTWARE
What's that? IT software that measures how effectively training staffmaterial has actually been assimilated by staff.
Why is it important for HR professionals? Recent research by traininganalysis company KnowledgePool revealed that up to 70% of all knowledgeacquired during training is lost within six months of the trainingtaking place. Technology providers have been racing to devise systemsthat actually tell HR how knowledge is being retained, and the value formoney it provides. Several are taking the 'dashboard' approach, whichgraphically shows this, and among the leaders is Eedo. Its latestrelease, Eedo Dashboard, integrates with its learning content managementsystem to compare established company objectives and how results oftraining have met these. Using the information, learning managers canimprove how they transfer knowledge or report on its success, aligningknowledge transfer programmes with business strategy. The dashboard alsopromises to help managers define strategic goals and learning objectivesusing a balanced scorecard framework, align objectives to progressindicators, then collect, aggregate and report progress against definedtargets.
Who's using it? Leaseplan and Lufthansa Airlines are both using the Eedosystem.
