With ineffective communication often affecting the level of health and safety implementation and efficiency in industries that have stringent safety requirements, software company Wyzetalk provides more effective communication for such industries.

Wyzetalk is a cloud-based employee engagement platform that allows for communication between employers and employees. It also enables employees to share their feedback and ideas on process improvement and underlying concerns, as well as request extra information regarding health and safety.

Wyzetalk CEO Gys Kappers says companies with a blue-collar workforce often take the complex approach of scheduling face-to-face meetings with employees to communicate. “Companies would opt for sending out an email; however, more than 75% of blue-collar staff do not own a device that can access emails.”

Therefore, the Wyzetalk platform can work on any device, even the oldest of cellphone models.

According to analytics and consultancy company Gallup, an average of 87% of employees globally are disengaged from their employer, which can lead to absenteeism, increased injury and high staff turnover, owing to a lack of personalised communication. However, Kappers points out that, if communication is truthful and relevant, it is likely to lead to improvement in productivity, performance and, subsequently, increased health and safety programme effectiveness.

He adds that the platform creates peace of mind for employers, knowing that any employee can be reached or notified at any time, which would have been a timely process otherwise – involving the shift managers or supervisors to schedule meetings.

Further, Kappers points out that Wyzetalk’s professional teams work closely with clients to cultivate customised content that can be personalised for every employee, if necessary, such as during pregnancies, which can provide staff with extra precautions and work-related safety guidelines.

“Many organisations know that they need to communicate with their employees, especially pertaining to health and safety, but do not have the technology enablement to do so.”

Further, the platform can be seamlessly integrated with an existing personnel management or safety system of an organisation, Kappers highlights.

Wyzetalk can also deliver health and safety information and notifications, as well as issue surveys and questionnaires, to get feedback and suggestions from employees on how to improve health and safety practices, such as the condition of safety gear and whether practices are up to standard.

This feedback enables Wyzetalk to measure the uptake of information and interest therein for the client and adapt content accordingly.

“Companies that use this platform include gold miner AngloGold Ashanti and platinum miner Impala Platinum, which have commended Wyzetalk for helping them achieve higher safety standards and improved safety record histories.”

Kappers notes that, as Wyzetalk becomes familiar with an organisation’s culture and work ethic, the company can deliver content that is valuable for the employer and the employee on a continuous basis.

“We currently translate into six languages – isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, English and Afrikaans – so that a user can be communicated with in his or her mother tongue. “We aim to provide a richness in the communication that holds value and builds trust in the organisation.”

To evaluate the solution’s progress in an operation, Wyzetalk does statistical analysis and measurement in terms of the previous and current state of health and safety implementation and practice, which also assists in tailoring its solution going forward.

Kappers says the platform forms part of communication that is natural for an employer and employee – messaging or receiving compact bits of information on a personal device – rather than a tedious, unpersonalised mailing or meeting process.

Innovation Recognition

Wyzetalk was a finalist at financial service provider FNB’s Business Innovation Awards this year.

“We made the top ten, which is an honour, considering there were 547 other businesses invited,” avers Kappers.

He adds that this validates the company’s business and offers recognition to Wyzetalk’s teams dedicated to providing the best, relevant solutions for their clients.

“The measure of your business success is when your clients are selling your product for you,” Kappers concludes.