In not news, tech candidates tell us they want to work with the latest, greatest, hot new technology. Which is bad news for anyone still using MS Dos and sending facsimiles as their main means of communication. 

In the past few years as we’ve moved to remote working, there’s been a huge advancement in the work-tech available to help us do our jobs better. But whether it’s epic task management, asynchronous team collaboration, machine learning and AI, or for the super techs, quantum computing, the Internet of Things, and augmented reality, these modern technologies are emerging and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. 

What an exciting time to be alive! (if you’re technologically inclined.) 

This article will explore the big benefits for businesses who are quick to adopt AI and other new tech in the workplace. 

In this article: 

4 benefits of using AI and new technologies

• #1 Makes you a more desirable employer for top tech talent 
• #2 Streamlines efficiencies (boosting productivity) 
• #3 Fosters innovation 
• #4 Boosts collaboration and communication in a remote-first world

4 benefits of using AI and new technologies

Fun fact: Australia leads the global adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) with 76% of Australian businesses using AI daily, compared to just ​​57% globally. As candidates increasingly seek to work for organisations at the forefront of technological innovation, companies that successfully embed new tech into their operations can gain a competitive edge in both talent acquisition and market positioning. Here's how:

#1 Makes you a more desirable employer for top tech talent

We know from speaking with candidates during the job screening process that many are seeking employment with organisations that use technologies such as generative AI and machine learning. But we also have the stats to back it up more broadly. 

This year, we surveyed over 900 candidates for our 2024 Tech Talent Outlook Report and found that when asked about the five traits an ideal employer should most definitely have, 17.04% of all our candidates said, ‘uses the latest technologies available’ (an increase of 4% from 2023). 

Notably, when we focus on the technical disciplines (like Full Stack Devs and Android Devs), the desire to use new tech jumps to 28.81%. 

Tech candidates also desire employers who provide good training (24.85%) and career progression (48.66%), indicating an eagerness and awareness of the need for continuous learning and upskilling to create thriving (ever-evolving) tech careers.

#2 Streamlines efficiencies (boosting productivity)

It’s not just your desirability as an employer that makes new tech worthwhile. You can also look forward to greater productivity as tech takes on your repetitive tasks, streamlines and automates organisational workflows and processes (like onboarding or software testing) that improve the employee (and customer) experience. 

Research from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia reveals that 87% of SMEs who have introduced AI to their business operations report cost and time savings. 

For Telstra, after developing and piloting their own gen AI solution, they found that 90% of employees using the new tool saved time and increased their effectiveness, resulting in 20% less follow-up contact.

#3 Fosters innovation

It doesn’t take a genius to guess why top tech talent want to work with hot, new tech – they get to upskill on the daily while pushing the boundaries of what is possible, driving forward progress and helping to transform the way we live, work and interact with the world. ​​Like the tech candidates we placed with Service NSW who digitised the NSW driver’s license, and the BAs and Project Management candidates we placed with the NSW Department of Education to facilitate the transformation of face-to-face classroom learning into the online world to improve access to learning for rural and remote school students. 

Access to advanced tech fosters an environment of innovation and creative problem-solving, (more so if you adopt regular Hackathons that encourage it), with new tools opening up new possibilities and business improvements.

#4 Boosts collaboration and communication in a remote-first world

Modern AI-powered platforms create frictionless, asynchronous team communications and collaboration for global, dispersed teams (without sacrificing that holy grail, culture). There’s a huge difference between using group emails and duplicate Word docs with track changes, and a project management system like Asana! 

These new solutions help teams stay connected while operating across time zones and language barriers, improve task management and process efficiencies, and foster a positive, continuous feedback culture. 

Tech keeps you competitive 

Create a workplace that is quick to adopt emerging technologies and your business will benefit from increased efficiencies, team collaboration, and innovation. You’ll position your company as a leader at the forefront of change that attracts the very best tech candidates in an increasingly competitive environment! 

Want to know what else is motivating Australia’s tech talent? 

Download our 2024 Talenza Tech Talent Outlook Report.