As the world has become more digital, some HR functions have moved online, making life easier. This process is working; things are running smoothly because they can be accessed from anywhere in the world, providing better solutions to the modern world in which we live. The digital transformation illustrates a shift in people’s thinking and the role it plays in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
The growth of the digital space has made the work from home transition more manageable. Access to government services, businesses, and essential services such as banks have provided platforms that people can access information with ease rather than the traditional practice of queuing in long lines. Organizations that had embraced digital solutions have had a higher growth rate as they were resilient in the face of hard economic times. Workpay has been such. It has identified a need and developed an HR management solution that is growing very fast in east and western Africa. Companies can now keep track of HR processes, payroll, employee benefits, statutory compliance, and salary disbursement to banks and mobile wallets. It provides a complete overhaul to the paper-based payroll system. They have an upper hand over their competitors and are moving forward faster than those who were reluctant of the digital space.
The concept of working from home is not new, however, Covid-19 was an accelerator for companies to implement it so as to protect employees from the risk of infection and ensure continuity of businesses. Although there are some industries that were affected more than others because of the need to be on-site for work to go on. It has also been a limiting factor because of the level of human interaction which is necessary for physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being.
With the promise that digitization has brought, it has also illuminated society’s digital gap. Many low-income and rural communities lack reliable, affordable internet access. They are oblivious to what technology has to offer, as services and devices become increasingly reliant on internet connectivity. The pandemic has made the need for internet connectivity even more evident as a factor for an equitable society. For an era of connectivity, there needs to be access that will enable digital transformation for growth in the economy and society at large
It goes without saying that Covid-19 has left a mark on the way people live and in the way they work. The pandemic has become a catalyst in transforming the world for a lifetime and changing the dynamics that come to play in the world of work. Continuous engagement at different levels is critical in ensuring that measures are enforced to leverage digital tools. It is also necessary to protect people’s rights, enforcing public service delivery that is effective and trust is strengthened between employees and employers
