Don’t wait for the government: Businesses urged to boost productivity with tech

Productivity debates have soared since the federal election as businesses across the country continue to struggle with their in-house productivity gains.

Employer groups across Australia continue to speak on the country’s flailing productivity numbers, leading to Treasurer Jim Chalmers announcing the commencement of a roundtable to address the nation’s lagging productivity growth.

The roundtable will be attended by different members of the employment landscape, with unions and business groups alike each receiving invitations.

“The roundtable is an important opportunity to build consensus for long-term economic reform,” Chalmers said in a statement.

“This initial group includes leading voices from business, unions, the community sector and our key economic institutions.”

With the roundtable not set to kick-off until August, businesses across Australia are set to reside in limbo among “woeful” productivity rates until the federal government can gather to put forward strategies that can address current performance.

HR Leader spoke with Matt Loop, VP and head of Asia at Rippling, about what businesses themselves can do to activate productivity within their organisation.

“The spectre of stagnant business productivity continues to cast a long shadow over the Australian economy, but improving efficiency and output will be key to overcoming businesses’ economic and market pressures.

“Technology will play a key role in facilitating this change, whether that be making it easier for companies to consider global expansion or improving efficiency and eliminating the time burden of administrative tasks.

“Leaders that remain open to the options and adopt a learning mindset will be better positioned to navigate these changes effectively, ensuring both productivity and employee satisfaction while fostering a culture of trust and respect.”

Speaking on the continued debate around Australia’s economic environment, Loop called on businesses to ditch the government reliance and instead implement technological strategies that can streamline processes, boosting productivity rates.

“Productivity sits at the heart of the debate around Australia’s economic growth. While government inquiries are useful for keeping the spotlight on the issue, businesses need to take practical steps now to keep pace with the rate of global technological change.

“Our recent survey of 500 business leaders shows almost three quarters (74 per cent) plan to lift productivity by investing in technology; and more than one-third (36 per cent) see that investment as the most important lever for driving gains.

“The message is clear: Aussies recognise technology as a key differentiator. The opportunity lies in acting on this knowledge. Modern HR and payroll software cuts hours of admin each week, gives leaders real-time cost visibility, and simplifies compliance across different states and markets.

“The result? More time for high-value, impactful work, leading to faster innovation and sustainable growth.”

According to Loop, technology can operate as a tool for unity when it comes to the continued debate around productivity.

“Too often, debates paint business and labour as opponents, yet better technology can raise the bar for everyone. When leaders couple the right tools with upskilling and clear goals, output rises, staff feel respected, and the wider economy benefits.”