{"id":11073,"date":"2023-03-21T08:42:43","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T15:42:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qad.com\/blog\/?p=11073"},"modified":"2023-09-14T09:28:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T16:28:10","slug":"introducing-the-connected-workforce-with-qad-redzone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qad.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/introducing-the-connected-workforce-with-qad-redzone","title":{"rendered":"Introducing the Connected Workforce with QAD Redzone"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”11075″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Modern businesses use software to connect every aspect of their operations, from machines on the factory floor to budgeting tools in the finance department. Unfortunately, the most important part of your business \u2013 the people \u2013 are often left out of the loop, preventing them from doing their jobs as safely and efficiently as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Closing the gap on worker productivity and, in turn, fostering a supportive work environment where employees feel fulfilled and valued requires a special set of tools, and that\u2019s just what QAD set out to deliver when it acquired <\/span>Redzone<\/span><\/a>, the #1 Connected Workforce Solution, to form QAD Redzone.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the heart of QAD Redzone is a mission to develop a <\/span>Connected Workforce<\/span><\/a> that takes the same digital technologies you use every day to unlock efficiencies on the factory floor and applies them in ways that help your people \u2013 and your business \u2013 succeed.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the Connected Workforce?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Connected Workforce (or Connected Frontline Workforce) uses digital technologies to connect and empower workers, maximize productivity, simplify daily operations and, most importantly, bring teams together for a greater sense of job satisfaction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Connected Workforce movement\u2019s human-centric approach to business isn\u2019t new, but skilled workers are becoming harder to come by, especially in manufacturing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More than <\/span>2.5 million<\/span><\/a> baby boomers are nearing retirement age and younger generations simply can\u2019t fill the gap. In addition, new machines and technologies are changing the factory environment and skilled workers are in higher demand than ever before. In 2018, Deloitte estimated that less than <\/span>50%<\/span><\/a> of available positions would be filled by 2028.<\/span><\/p>\n

The talent gap has only widened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Shutdowns displaced factory workers, many of whom found jobs in other fields and have yet to return to their former positions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By 2030, as many as 2.1 million manufacturing jobs may sit open and could become a <\/span>$1 trillion<\/span><\/a> problem for industry. The loss of just one frontline worker costs manufacturers an average of <\/span>$12,876<\/span><\/a> and puts profitability, productivity and traditional business models at risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your business probably isn\u2019t a stranger to labor shortages in recent years, but these statistics make one thing very clear. Manufacturers are experiencing a labor crisis unlike anything the world has ever seen before. A better path forward is critical, and that\u2019s the Connected Workforce movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enabling Industry 5.0 with the Connected Worker<\/span><\/h2>\n

Any solution that can help close the talent gap and enable manufacturers to do more with less is clearly beneficial from a business perspective, but early adopters have also reported huge benefits on the worker side of the equation. Simply put, people are happier and more likely to remain in their positions when they feel supported in the workplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Attitudes toward work have also shifted since the pandemic. <\/span>Sixty-five percent<\/span><\/a> of workers are rethinking the role of work in their lives and many are seeking purpose-driven jobs and expecting more from their employers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With Connected Workforce solutions, manufacturers can deliver a fulfilling experience that reduces worker turnover and motivates teams to be as effective and productive as possible. They can build a corporate culture that other organizations aspire to have and one that everyone wants to be a part of.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meeting worker demand for fulfilling, rewarding job experiences is also a hallmark of <\/span>Industry 5.0<\/span><\/a>, or the Fifth Industrial Revolution. One of the best parts of Industry 5.0 is that any business can tap into it, regardless of its digital maturity. That\u2019s because Industry 5.0 is completely different from Industry 4.0.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It applies to every business, regardless of industry, and is about taking a human-centric, sustainable approach to business that benefits society as a whole. Whether your business is just starting to explore digital transformation or is in the advanced stages of building an <\/span>Adaptive Enterprise<\/span><\/a>, the success of your efforts will be multiplied with an Industry 5.0 mindset and with Connected Workforce solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

QAD is Building the Manufacturing Workforce of the Future<\/span><\/h2>\n

QAD is committed to helping organizations build agile businesses that can adapt to change quickly, leverage the best data to make informed decisions and be proactive rather than reactive in the face of disruption. Extending this philosophy to the people who work every day to help your business grow and succeed was a natural stepping stone – and we found the perfect partner to achieve this in <\/span>Redzone<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

QAD acquired Miami-based Redzone in early 2023, which started 10 years ago as an early mover in the Connected Workforce space. Today, over 327,000 workers in more than 1,000 facilities are using Redzone and that figure is expected to grow rapidly as QAD enhances and tailors the solution for the industry verticals it serves.<\/span><\/p>\n

QAD Redzone\u2019s Connected Workforce technology has a proven ability to reduce worker turnover and enable agile operations. Manufacturers using QAD Redzone have increased productivity by <\/span>29%<\/span><\/a>, on average, and seen a <\/span>74%<\/span><\/a> improvement in employee engagement. Staff turnover rates are down by <\/span>32%<\/span><\/a>, on average. That means more uptime for plants, a greater return on investment for materials and a happier customer at the end of the value chain.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Connected Workforce market is relatively new and untapped but that\u2019s expected to change fast \u2013 and digital transformation (IX) leaders agree. As many as <\/span>91%<\/span><\/a> of IX leaders and <\/span>71%<\/span><\/a> of followers believe Connected Workforce technology adoption enables safety, productivity and quality improvements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for QAD Redzone?<\/span><\/h2>\n

QAD Redzone’s Connected Workforce solution is the perfect complement to QAD’s vision for the <\/span>Adaptive Enterprise<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Digital Manufacturing<\/span><\/a>, and companies can expect to see its technologies used in new and exciting ways.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n