Your tool list keeps growing. Another subscription renews. Your team hops between endless tabs. Before you know it, digital transformation feels like digital distraction.
And the result? Fragmented workflows, low adoption rates and burnt-out teams toggling between too many systems
Here’s the truth: innovation isn’t about adding more tools. The key to successful tech adoption is knowing which ones are actually working.
The tool trap no one talks about
The average UK employee now uses a mix of general and department-specific apps daily just to function. 60% rely on mobile apps for work, and nearly a quarter use dedicated business platforms. But that’s the tip of the iceberg. Every login hides unused features, staff who need more training, and platforms quietly bleeding productivity.
Recent data shows that the average worker uses only 40% of the features in their digital applications, meaning a lot of tool capabilities are left on the table. Even worse, one in four business leaders admit new software rarely achieves its goals. This mostly happens because of poor adoption and a lack of internal alignment.
It gets costlier.
Employees now switch between apps and websites up to 1,100 times a day. All that context switching adds up, costing around four hours each week. That’s five full working weeks lost every year.
Not because of slow systems or outdated infrastructure, but because of friction. The invisible kind that breaks focus, drains energy and slows progress.
What Procurement, CFOs and Ops leads should be asking
The question isn’t “Which tool should we cut?” It’s: “Which one is actually delivering?”
Procurement managers face pressure from the board to find sustainable, cost-effective solutions. They also need to ensure the rest of the business understands what is being purchased and why.
CFOs must balance increasing tech spending with real ROI. This includes not only licensing costs but also time-to-value, training and support.
And for ops leads? It’s about building systems that don’t just work but work together.
The real opportunity lies in alignment. Not only across systems, but across people, processes and purpose.
What happens when tech fits your workflow
A global shipping company approached Embrace with piles of HR files, many still on paper. They needed more than just a digital vault. They needed a solution that integrated with what they already had, reduced admin friction, and supported a mobile workforce with global reach.
Using M-Files and a tailored migration approach, Embrace built a cloud-based system with secure access, custom synchronisation, and search-ready functionality. The result? Better visibility, faster workflows, and one less reason to dread audit season.
This is about working smarter. Creating digital systems that support your team as you grow, without adding more complexity.
Thoughtful innovation wins
At Embrace, we’ve been helping companies streamline, switch on, and scale up for over a decade, turning companies into streamlined operations. What makes us different isn’t the tech we use. It’s how we use it: with intention and consistently considering the bigger picture.
We know what happens when software overpromises and underdelivers. That’s why we don’t push trends. We build solutions that last.
If this resonates…
Let’s talk. We support leaders who want to ask better questions about software, productivity, and the true ROI of digital change.
Find out how you can cut the clutter and make your tech work for your business.