Is your Computing Function Mature Enough for DEX?

DEX is growing in popularity and you might be feeling inspired to set up your own DEX function. But are you sure that your EUC is strong enough to support it?

Maybe You Should Invest in EUC, not DEX

Many forward-thinking businesses have made Digital Employee Experience (DEX) a primary focus for 2023. These businesses aim to create a seamless, user-friendly, and efficient work environment that boosts productivity and employee satisfaction.

And that’s great! I’ll be the first to commend their efforts. 

The popularity of DEX initiatives is certainly on the rise. You may be feeling inspired to set up a DEX team in your own business.

But:

It might be too early for you to invest in DEX. Maybe you should focus on building a solid End User Computing (EUC) foundation instead.

As crucial as DEX optimization may be, its effectiveness is undermined if your End-User Computing capabilities aren’t mature enough.

In this blog post, I want to explore the intersection of EUC and DEX. What’s the relationship between them? How do you assess where best to invest your resources?

By the end of this quick read, you may have changed your mind about investing in DEX optimization, for now.

Understanding the Interplay between DEX and EUC

EUC and DEX are intricately linked. 

Essentially, the strength of your DEX initiatives rests on the robustness of your Computing function. 

As the backbone of your digital infrastructure, EUC encompasses everything from:

• The devices your employees use

• The applications they run

• The security protocols they follow

• Your whole technological infrastructure

It's the raw material from which you sculpt a successful DEX.

Imagine trying to construct a luxury car with low-quality materials. No matter how state-of-the-art your design might be, the vehicle's performance would be compromised. Similarly, without a mature EUC environment, you’ll have failed to address systemic issues that will hamper your DEX initiatives.

EUC Maturity: The Prerequisite for Effective DEX Optimization

A mature EUC environment is one where systems and tools are well-managed, secure, and streamlined. Optimized EUC ensures that employees have an efficient and effective environment to do their jobs. It provides a strong foundation, upon which you can build a compelling DEX.

Without robust EUC, your efforts to optimize DEX are akin to applying a fresh coat of paint to a house with foundational issues. It may look aesthetically pleasing, but the underlying structural problems are the real issue.You could invest heavily in cutting-edge productivity software, only to find your employees' devices or your network infrastructure are outdated and can't support the new tools. 

Despite all your DEX efforts, employee productivity and satisfaction will remain low. And that will have a serious impact on your employee retention.

A recent study commissioned by SalesForce revealed that employees who are dissatisfied with their workplace tech are more than twice as likely to leave their job in the next year. That’s a statistic you must tackle with EUC before DEX.

The Path Forward: Strengthen EUC to Boost DEX

If you want to enhance the DEX, the first step is to ensure your EUC capabilities are up to par. 

Begin by evaluating your existing EUC environment. This means assessing hardware capabilities, software efficiency, and the security measures in place. 

Once you've identified weaknesses, develop a strategy for strengthening your EUC. Keep in mind that this process will probably be gradual and iterative.

Investing in your EUC maturity is not just a technological upgrade, it's a strategic decision that directly impacts your employees and their experiences. 

How We Can Help

In addition to years of experience with EUC and DEX, Ayla Consulting has developed a useful tool for instantly rating your EUC and DEX Maturity. With this data your company can make a more informed decision currently missing from the DEX world, is my Computing function mature enough? Or are we chasing a ticket reduction target that we will never accomplish without investment elsewhere first?

Remember: A thriving DEX is contingent on a mature EUC environment. 

Let this be your guiding principle as you continue down the path to creating a DEX that turns attrition into attraction.

Optimizing DEX isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. And a robust EUC function is a significant head-start.