Digitization trends: over 92% of Romanians in urban areas use at least one digital device in everyday life

The changes imposed by the pandemic in the last year have reconfigured the labor market for both employers and employees. With the transition to work from home, with the emergence of work shifts to avoid crowds and many other changes, the need to implement automated systems, to digitize processes has become greater.

In fact, according to a report published by the European Commission - ICT for Work: Digital Skills in the Workplace - in recent years, investments in IT&C by large companies to improve workplace efficiency have increased significantly, including in the areas of activity which normally do not focus on digital: agriculture, clothing and construction, among others. And this is just the beginning.

92% of Romanians in urban areas use at least one digital device daily

According to a study conducted by the digital academy platform Tech Academy, 92% of Romanians in urban areas said that they use a digital device daily for work or for personal purposes. Also, 44.4% of those who do not use the internet at work claim that the lack of digital knowledge has affected their professional life, a sign that, at present, these skills are important for any industry and for any type of qualification.

Moreover, over 50% of respondents have at least one device provided by the employer to carry out their daily professional work. Most of them also received from the company one or more gadgets, such as: work laptop, smartphone, tablet and others, these being essential for performing work tasks.

Technology and communication, the pillars of performance in the workplace

In a year when discussions took place online, projects were organized on ZOOM and the distance was kept permanently, the technology came to the aid of employers and employees to support the interactions between them and their partners. The top reasons why the Internet is used in the workplace include: performing and implementing tasks (81%), communicating with customers, colleagues and suppliers (76.2%) and research (59.5%).

Among the applications and programs used at work, the most used are the Microsoft package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), mail platforms, social media platforms, ZOOM or Google Meet.

The impact of technology on workplace activity

Over 90% of the respondents to the Tech Academy questionnaire consider that their access to technology has made it easier for them to carry out their professional activity and that, through digitalisation, the tasks are completed faster than before.

Among the advantages offered by the Internet and technology, listed by those surveyed, are: quick access to information and resources of all kinds, streamlined working time and procedures (replacement of classic registers, for example), but also the ability to work from anywhere and anytime.

Tech Academy - courses for the digitalization of Romania for 660 employees. 90% of students will also obtain a diploma recognized by the ANC

Contrary to the fact that we are proud of a respectable community of IT specialists and unmatched internet speeds, Romania ranks last in Europe in terms of the general level of digital literacy of the population, according to the latest report on the digitization index made by European Investment Bank.

Tech Academy is a project whose main objective is to actively contribute to the digitalization of the Romanian workforce. Each student will benefit from 10 hours of professional counseling to determine future actions and identify training needs according to current skills. Subsequently, all students will participate in IT Bootcamp, an accelerated 80-hour digital skills development program.

Who can attend Tech Academy?

According to the project representatives, participation in the Tech Academy is voluntary, and the target group will be composed of at least 660 people, employees with individual employment contract (full time or part time), including PFA and individual companies, domiciled or residing in the South West, South and South East regions and the age between 25 and 64 years.