British businesses are unprepared for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with just 3% of employers viewed as ‘leading edge’

Most British businesses are seemingly unprepared for the dramatic technology developments set to reshape the workplace in the next decade, according to the findings of a recent research report. 

The Workforces 2025 Report, finds that the majority of British workers are frustrated to find themselves in office environments where they lack access to the right level of technology to do their jobs well. Less than 1 in 5 (17%) of British employees are regularly using instant messaging services for work, indicating that few British businesses are taking advantage of established technology solutions that have been around for a decade and already shown to lower business costs and improve collaboration and productivity.

The report also reveals that only a minority of British businesses are looking to prioritise technology investment to prepare for the impact of what the WEF has termed the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The rise of machine learning, Artificial Intelligence and robotics combined with shifting employment expectations, are all predicted to significantly shift the nature and practice of work in the developed world.