As I wrote this newsletter in a Google Doc, I found myself toggling between an overwhelming mix of programs with different functions: Slack, Asana, my company’s HR management software, various spreadsheets, and my Microsoft OneDrive—not to mention the AI applications ChatGPT and Perplexity. I started to wonder: Am I the only one feeling tech fatigue?
Apparently not. In a new study, software company Quickbase found that while 80% of companies are investing more in new tech to improve productivity, more than half of the 2,000 workers surveyed across 10 industries are finding it harder than ever to be productive. The reason? Too many new tools with little connection or compatibility between them—and, it seems, a lack of clarity from up top.
This is not the revolution in worker productivity that AI companies have been promising. Indeed, nearly 60% of workers surveyed said they spend 11 hours or more each week chasing down information that is located in a handful of disconnected technology solutions. That’s more than a quarter of a standard work week! And 90% reported just feeling plain overwhelmed by the number of tech programs they needed to get work done on a typical day. I certainly feel validated.
The study calls this phenomenon “gray work,” which it defines as the work done in ad-hoc situations when technology isn’t connected properly. It’s “the hidden cost of inefficiency—the manual tasks employees do to compensate for disconnected systems and rigid tools,” the report explains. Those in the financial services/insurance and professional services industries felt it the most, reporting the largest increases in this kind of work this year.
It may be costing business leaders more than they realize. In addition to wasting time, half of the workers surveyed said they’d experienced project delays, miscommunication, duplicate work, or budget overruns in the past year. Some 53% said they spend just half their week on meaningful work that drives results for key projects.
So how can companies solve this? After diagnosing where the friction is occurring, business leaders should do a full tech stack audit, cutting redundant tech and prioritizing programs that offer interoperability, the report advises. Then, decide who’s in charge of overseeing and simplifying tech systems and create a plan. Only deploy AI in areas where it offers clear advantages—and make sure employees understand how they can (and how they should not) use it.
Kristin Stoller
Editorial Director, Fortune Live Media
[email protected]
Around the Table
A round-up of the most important HR headlines.
Employees of companies that have piloted a four-day work week said they felt more productive and—shocker—less stressed at work. CNBC
As AI takes over some job functions, some CEOs are proudly vocal about their staff cuts. Wall Street Journal
Extroverts, rejoice: As AI usage increases, a premium may be placed on those with soft skills and expert communicators. Business Insider
Watercooler
Everything you need to know from Fortune.
AI raises. Job postings for non-tech roles that require AI skills are boosting salaries by $18,000 a year—despite mass layoffs in tech. —Nick Lichtenberg and Nino Paoli
Teams to-go. Mercedes-Benz has partnered with Microsoft to allow drivers of its new luxury sedan to stream Teams meetings while driving to and from work. —Nino Paoli
New tech, no problem. Some 60% of white-collar workers believe their jobs could be replaced by AI, but they’re still happy about the better work-life balance the technology has allowed them. —Jessica Coacci
