Experts list importance of technology in workplace, people management

By Benjamin Alade

Experts have identified the importance of technology as it relates to the development of the workforce and productivity with proper management of people’s skills.

The experts who spoke at a panel to conclude a two-day 2023 HREA Work Festival in Lagos, yesterday, said people need to understand the ease and flexibility that technology brings to the workspace.

Head, Enterprise Data and Analytics, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Olutoyin Ogunmola, said technology has changed banking operations and transactions.

According to him, with the coming of artificial intelligence (AI), banking activities have changed remarkably. A bank manager, he said, can monitor office operations from home using AI.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional on Data Platform, Ayodeji Folarin, said technology has helped organisations to achieve things in simpler and smarter ways.

Folarin said there is a co-pilot recently installed in the Microsoft applications that allow people to access the software seamlessly.
Chief Financial Officer, Optimus Bank, Adetutu Oludare, said the company is leveraging new and existing technologies to create new frontiers.

Oludare said they engage these technologies using AI for predictive analysis, stating that financial institutions take time to check the pitfalls and structural challenges before coming on board.

Enterprise Application Manager, Sahara Group, Tolulope Elugbadebo, said information technology could help make insightful decisions, stating that technology is improving time efficiency while boosting productivity. She said technology has helped companies remain more focused and optimising performance in Nigeria.

In her remarks, Founder, HR Expo Africa, Erefa Coker, said the theme for this year’s session came after careful examination of trends in the world of work and aligning these with the determined needs of organisations and professionals.

She said the goal is to closely look at the intersection between these concepts, revealing the strategies for seamless integration, and preparing organisations and their talents for a more impactful and sustainable drive into the future.

Lifelong Learner and Managing Partner, dbrownconsulting, David Brown, said there is a need for people to develop a growth mindset, saying he believes technology is going to take out jobs, hence people need to disrupt themselves and grow on top.

Brown said with every activity from each team in their various departments, Data is generated that holds vital information that can be harnessed for the pivotal transformation of organizations to grow exponentially.

According to him, the world of work is rapidly evolving with the infusion of Open AI, ChatGPT and machine learning and the way work is done will be greatly impacted by evolution