We commissioned a study to understand how cloud application adoption impacts the workplace engagement and satisfaction of 1,000 full-time employees in the United States and Canada. The deluge of devices and cloud apps (SaaS) into our personal and professional lives is feeding the notion that workers are overwhelmed with too much technology, tipping the scales of work-life balance and ultimately making us less engaged with work. Based on the findings in our survey, we found the contrary.

1. Tech Overload is Overblown:
Cloud Apps & the Happiness Effect

2. Introduction
Attracting and retaining talent is top of mind for organizations of all kinds.
Employers are increasingly searching for new ways to keep employees
engaged and happy in their work.
Google Searches for “Employee Engagement” (Google Trends)
Despite all that’s been said about what fuels and stifles
employee engagement, we had an inkling that it hinges
on more than the occasional catered lunch.
2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2014

3. Methodology
Softchoice, one of the largest technology solutions and managed services
providers in North America, commissioned a study conducted by The
Blackstone Group to understand how cloud application adoption impacts
the workplace engagement and satisfaction of 1,000 full-time employees
in the United States and Canada. In addition to measuring SaaS app usage,
Softchoice asked employees a variety of questions about their happiness at
work, using industry HR standards.

4. Overview
Employees today have access to more resources than ever before to be productive,
collaborate with colleagues, and find creative ways to get work done.
The deluge of devices and cloud apps (SaaS) into our personal and professional
lives is feeding the notion that workers are overwhelmed with too much
technology, tipping the scales of work-life balance and ultimately making
us less engaged with work.
Based on the findings in our survey, we found the contrary.
In this report, we’ll show:
• How cloud technology promotes employee engagement
• Which industries are leading the technology adoption curve
• How cloud apps are key to an optimal work-life balance
Only 29% of North American workers are
engaged in their jobs.
- Gallup State of the Global Workforce 2013 Data

5. For the purposes of this study, we separated SaaS app users into three groups.
‘App’lauders
‘App’etizers ‘App’stinent
App Users Non-App Users
Employees who use
6+ apps for work
Employees who use
1-5 apps for work
Employees who use
no apps for work
Defining SaaS App Users

6. Happiness-as-a-Service
Companies that embrace the cloud
are seeing above average employee
engagement, workplace satisfaction, and
even business growth.

7. Happiness-as-a-Service
Using cloud apps (SaaS) for work makes employees happier.
74%
of cloud app users
are happy at work
19%
of non-users
vs

8. Happiness-as-a-Service
The more cloud apps employees use, the more… successful their businesses are.
Employees who work for a company
that grew 9% or more in the last year
35%
7%
4%
Employees who use
6+ apps for work
Employees who use
1-5 apps for work
Employees who use
no apps for work

9. Happiness-as-a-Service
The more cloud apps employees use, the more… productive they are at work.
Employees who say they feel
more productive at work
96%
90%
77%
Employees who use
6+ apps for work
Employees who use
1-5 apps for work
Employees who use
no apps for work

10. Happiness-as-a-Service
The more cloud apps employees use, the more… excited they are about going to work.
Employees who say
they’re excited to go to work
35%
7%
4%
Employees who use
6+ apps for work
Employees who use
1-5 apps for work
Employees who use
no apps for work

11. Happiness-as-a-Service
Employees who get to choose their own apps for work are
2x as likely to be happy at work than those that don’t.

12. Recalibrating the
“Work-Life” Balance
While the cloud allows employees to
work anytime from anywhere, the vast
majority say it enhances – rather than
detracts from – their work-life balance.

13. Recalibrating the “Work-Life” Balance
Contrary to popular belief, cloud apps contribute to a better work-life balance.
Employees who say they have
an optimal work-life balance
85%
75%
59%
Employees who use
6+ apps for work
Employees who use
1-5 apps for work
Employees who use
no apps for work

14. Recalibrating the “Work-Life” Balance
Employees who use 6+ apps are 2x as likely
to have flexible work hours than non-users.

15. Recalibrating the “Work-Life” Balance
Employees who use the same apps for work and personal use
are 2x as likely to be happy at work than those who don’t.

16. Taking a Deeper Dive
Breaking down the data by gender,
geography, and industry produced results
and comparisons that all executives and
IT leaders should see.

17. What Women Want
As companies across several industries strive for
greater female representation, cloud technology
makes a positive impact on job happiness,
flexibility and balance.
Compared to non-app users, female cloud app users are more likely to:
Feel they have a
work-life balance
Feel they have flexibility
in their work day
Feel happy in
their current job
72%
59%
80%
57%
41%
60%

18. Americans are SaaSier than their Northern Neighbors
U.S. employees, who are
more likely to use cloud apps
for work, reported higher job
satisfaction than their Canadian
counterparts on multiple fronts.
Employees who use cloud apps for work:
66% 59%
Americans
Canadians
vs
Employees who feel they have
an optimal work-life balance:
70% 65%
Americans
Canadians
vs
Employees who are happy
with their current jobs:
77% 65%
Americans
Canadians
vs

19. Legal
SaaS by Sector
Employees who use 1-5 cloud apps for work:
Manufacturing
Healthcare Finance
Average
67% 66% 53% 51% 62%
Traditionally perceived as an industry that lags behind the IT times,
manufacturing businesses are actually leaders in the cloud.

20. Legal
50%
SaaS by Sector
Employees who can choose their own work apps:
Manufacturing
Finance
Average
54%
Healthcare
36% 34% 46%
Traditionally perceived as an industry that lags behind the IT times,
manufacturing businesses are actually leaders in the cloud.

21. Finance
Healthcare
50%
SaaS by Sector
Employees whose workplace has a cloud app policy:
Manufacturing
Legal
Average
64% 64% 55% 59%
Traditionally perceived as an industry that lags behind the IT times,
manufacturing businesses are actually leaders in the cloud.

22. Conclusions
Organizations that embrace SaaS use, and
give their employees choice, tend to create
a more flexible and engaging work culture
than those that don’t.

23. Cloud apps improve engagement
With cloud technology driving better efficiency and accessibility in our
personal lives, employees expect (and appreciate) the same capabilities
on the job.
Give employees a choice
Empowering staff to choose which apps they use enhances engagement,
however, safe SaaS use is an imperative. Allowing employees to choose
from a ‘safe list’ of IT-approved apps – used within the construct of a
compliant and safe environment – still bestows a sense of inclusivity.
You can’t spell satisfaction without IT
IT decisions have a big impact on the happiness and productivity of all
employees, demonstrating IT’s value add to the organization. As employee
expectations place new demands on SaaS sourcing competency, IT must
ensure it has the proper tools and skillsets to manage app usage.
Conclusions

24. Let us help you put the ‘app’ in happy worker!
Contact us today to learn more about how Softchoice is helping clients
source, implement and manage cloud solutions.
Contact Us
www.softchoicecloud.com | 1-800-268-7638