Ask Away Blog: Why Online People Platforms Are Revolutionizing the Workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the pace at which businesses adopt remote and hybrid work models. Emerging technologies like AI, automation, AR, and VR enable digital workplaces to offer boosted efficiency, enhanced customer experiences, and immersive collaboration.

Some platforms mediate existing jobs, displacing or formalizing certain services. But others create new value-creating activities that might be seen as precarious careers.

What is a People Platform?

In short, a People Platform is a tool that centralizes disparate people's data and makes it more accessible for leaders. It can track performance plans, 1:1 meetings, learning opportunities, engagement surveys, HR business partner support, compensation data, and more. This data is then visualized to create a single source of truth about an organization's people. This accessibility fuels better alignment and, in turn, a more robust bottom line.

Understanding your audience is crucial in developing an online People Platform. The best platforms are built with the user in mind and consider their habits when planning features and functionality. For example, the platform may include features such as a benefits portal so employees can view their total reward, including salary and perks, all in one place. This will encourage them to use their bonuses and ultimately be more engaged.

Thinking about how you'll measure and track your results is also vital. An online people platform such as Gusto API can save time and effort by automating processes like tracking employee data and compiling reports. This way, you can focus on what matters most: making your people proud to work for your company. To achieve this, you'll need to develop a robust, multi-channel communication strategy highlighting the key metrics and KPIs your platform is designed to deliver.

How do People Platforms Work?

People Platforms are a collection of tools that help you get work done. They can include everything from software systems to social channels and apps. These tools are the core of your work and provide the data that helps you perform, improve, and evolve.

While most people use online platforms for entertainment and to connect with others, some have also used them to earn money. Specifically, 9% of adults have made it from gig-based online media in the past year. This figure varies by age, race/ethnicity, and household income.

The nature of this type of work varies, and most users do not consider it employment under standard labor laws. As a result, these workers' working conditions and social rights are not regulated.

Many people platforms enable individuals to search public records for information regarding an individual's identity, location, and other data. As a result, these sites help verify a person's identity before entering into a romantic relationship or engaging with them professionally. They can also help identify unknown callers or contacts. This is particularly important in the era of scams, fraud, and harassment. These searches may help prevent these issues from occurring in the first place by allowing individuals to identify potentially dangerous contact information.

What are the Benefits of Using a People Platform?

People Platforms are a powerful tool for businesses and consumers to create new services that leverage network effects. This critical benefit sets them apart from traditional incumbents and has helped them gain widespread acceptance.

Online platforms are increasingly central to the economy and society, with massive reach and recasting relationships between customers, workers, businesses, and governments. However, how they use data has sparked a public debate about their economic dominance and patterns of pervasive data collection.

Employees have a lot to think about at work: meeting their KPIs, keeping up with the latest company news, and, of course, the day-to-day tasks that keep the office running. This can lead to "tool fatigue" – the loss of productivity when employees constantly switch between tools to accomplish their tasks. A workplace platform can solve this problem by integrating all digital work tools into a single, easy-to-use app.

However, if a platform doesn't have enough users to generate sufficient value for its members, it risks financial failure. For example, a customer will find Skype worth using only if there are other people to talk to. Similarly, ride-sharing platforms require drivers who are willing to accept bookings. To address this, many platforms rely on subsidies to encourage new members, similar to how businesses advertise discounts and promotions to attract consumers.

How can a People Platform Help Your Business?

Online platforms have increasingly become critical enablers of digital trade and significantly impact the economy and society. They increase consumer choice and convenience, improve the efficiency and competitiveness of industry, and enhance civil participation.

Developing and growing an online platform requires a lot of work, so many people build it with a team. This way, they can have a clear roadmap of how the platform will grow and evolve to meet their needs.

To make the platform successful, focusing on creating value for the community members is essential. This can be done by offering them a variety of tools and resources that will help them achieve their goals. In addition, a thriving online community will usually provide a range of membership options, such as subscriptions or paid access to exclusive content.

Adding social features to the platform can also accelerate growth. Similarly, discounting company offers customers free restaurant meals or spa visits if they can find three other people to buy the same service. By taking this approach, you can ensure that your platform will attract the right users at the right time.