Your how-to: Analysing engagement data to improve digital tool offerings

Category
Technology and Tools
Sub-category
Innovative Tools for Engagement
Level
Maturity Matrix Level 2

Analysing engagement data to improve digital tool offering refers to the process—centred in HR analytics—of examining employee interaction and usage data from digital tools utilised within your organisation. These digital tools may include project management software, communication platforms, or learning and development systems, among others.

In essence, this analysis aims to gain insights into which tools are providing value, enhancing productivity and contributing to a stronger workplace culture, and conversely, which tools may not be meeting these objectives. 

There are multiple ways to accumulate this data; for example, time spent on a tool, frequency of use, level of interaction with features, etc. Additionally, surveys or personal feedback can provide qualititive data to supplement the more numbers-driven quantitative data.

The purpose of this activity is to identify opportunities to streamline or expand your organisation's digital tool suite for the betterment of employee experience and mental wellbeing. This also aids in prioritising HR's strategic initiatives towards tool investment, training programs, and other associated tasks.

In the context of Australia, compliance with Australia's Privacy Act (1988) must be ensured when collecting and analysing this sort of data, to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of employee personal data. This further underlines the importance of zero personal data exploitation when the primary focus stays on improving the mental wellbeing of employees.

Step by step instructions

Step 1

Identify Key Metrics: Start by establishing the metrics that you want to focus on. These could include tool usage frequency, time spent on the tool, interaction levels with specific features, etc. All these metrics can provide insight into the usefulness and effectiveness of your digital tools.

Step 3

Gathering Qualitative Data: Besides statistics, it's important to collect qualitative data as well. Send out surveys, conduct meetings or interviews to gather personal feedback from your staff about how they perceive the usefulness of the digital tools and any problems they might be experiencing.

Step 5

Identify Opportunities for Improvement: Using the insights from your data analysis, identify areas where improvements or changes can be made. This could be anything from investing in new tools, modifying existing ones, or scheduling training programs for employees.

Step 7

Review and Assess: Post implementation, continuous monitoring and assessment should be done to evaluate the effectiveness of the changes made. Collect feedback, analyse data and ensure the changes indeed served the purpose they were made for.

Step 2

Collection of Quantitative Data: Once you have defined your metrics, the next step involves collecting quantitative data from your chosen digital tools. This can include usage stats, time spent, number of active users, level of interaction etc.

Step 4

Data Analysis: After collecting data, the analysis phase begins. This part involves deciphering the data to draw conclusions about where improvements can be made. For example, if a digital tool is not being used frequently, it might be an indication that employees don't find it useful or are having difficulty using it.

Step 6

Implementation of Changes: Once you've identified opportunities for improvement, the next step is the implementation phase. This might involve purchasing new tools, modifying existing ones or scheduling training sessions for employees. The changes should aim to enhance productivity, improve the user experience and foster a stronger workplace culture.

Step 8

Compliance with Privacy Act: While collecting and analysing the data, it is crucial to ensure compliance with Australia's Privacy Act (1988). This will maintain employee trust by assuring them of their data security and privacy.

Use this template to implement

To ensure you can execute seamlessly, download the implementation template.

Pitfalls to avoid

Lack of Clear Objectives

Without setting clear and specific objectives for your analysis, you risk wasting time and resources. Ensure your objectives align with your business’s overall strategy and that they are measurable and achievable.

Ignoring Data Privacy Laws

With the advent of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU and similar regulations worldwide, it’s crucial to ensure that your data collection and analysis adhere to all pertinent laws. In Australia, you must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) as outlined in the Privacy Act 1988. Ignoring these regulations could lead to significant fines and damages to your business' reputation.

Neglecting Data Quality

The quality of your data immensely impacts the accuracy of your results. Clean, complete and relevant data is necessary for trustworthy and helpful insights. Handle missing, incorrect, or outdated data promptly to ensure your analysis is based on reliable data.

Lack of Skills or Training

Data analytics requires a certain level of expertise. If your team lacks the necessary skills or training, your analysis might be flawed, leading to erroneous conclusions. Consider investing in proper training or hiring a skilled data analyst.

Overlooking the Importance of Context

Data taken out of context can lead to misleading results. It's essential to consider the broader business environment, industry trends, and customer behaviour when interpreting your data.

Dependence on a Single Data Source

Relying on a single data source may lead to biased or limited insights. Consider utilising various data sources for a more comprehensive understanding of customer engagement.