The other 70%: Empowering the deskless workforce

Sep 01, 2025

people
operations
professional services

While the world focuses on hybrid work, 70% of the workforce still isn’t sitting at a desk. As discussed in the Appspace post on why distributed workplaces need a mobile-first intranet, these frontline workers need flexible, mobile-first tools to develop skills, stay compliant, and feel connected to the organisation.

By Ann Roby - SAP SuccessFactors Junior Consultant at Delaware UK

At Delaware, we're working closely with SAP customers to ensure their HR technology strategy empowers the full spectrum of their workforce, especially the deskless population. Both Delaware and SAP are dedicated to promoting a sustainable workforce, supporting employee well-being through flexible work arrangements and embedding sustainability principles at the heart of HCM practices.

The overlooked majority

Deskless workers often operate in fast-paced, high-pressure environments with little time or access to HR systems. Challenges they face include:

Infrequent or inaccessible learning and development opportunities

Limited visibility into career paths or internal mobility

Lack of structured feedback and performance conversations

Poor access to HR services and tools

Systems designed around office-based roles and schedules

The result? A disconnected employee experience missed growth opportunities, and higher turnover.

Where SAP is headed next

SAP’s roadmap is packed with updates focused on inclusion, accessibility, and agility. What’s coming?

Tools that surface skills and potential.

Smarter ways to match employees to growth opportunities, shift roles, and gain recognition.

Mobile-friendly learning and performance tools that fit into real-world workflows.

Simplified, intuitive experiences designed for people who don’t have time to be “tech users”, they’re just trying to get their job done better.

SAP already provides powerful, accessible tools that support today’s diverse and flexible workforce. For example, the Talent Intelligence Hub uses AI to identify employees’ skills and potential automatically, helping them find growth opportunities and suitable roles right now.

SAP SuccessFactors offers mobile-friendly learning and performance apps designed to fit into employees’ real-world workflows, perfect for those who need simple, on-the-go access without complex technology. Additionally, SAP continuously improves its user experience to be intuitive and easy to use, ensuring even those who aren’t tech experts can quickly navigate and benefit from the system.

These features demonstrate that SAP’s advanced, inclusive technology isn’t just on the roadmap, it’s already empowering employees today.

How we’re helping SAP customers get there

At Delaware, we partner with forward-thinking organisations to bring this to life. That means:

Rolling out SAP solutions that are built for everyone, not just the desk-bound.

Designing intuitive, mobile experiences that frontline teams want to use.

Helping businesses align with SAP’s roadmap, so they’re not just catching up but they’re leading the way.

Delivering value quickly, with a future-ready foundation that can grow as you do.

Your frontline workers shouldn’t be the last to benefit from modern HR, they may not sit at a desk, but they carry your brand every day.

Making HR work for everyone

We’re recognised for delivering inclusive, mobile-first HR strategies that empower every employee, whether they’re behind a desk or out in the field. Let’s build a smarter, more connected experience that drives engagement, performance, and retention where it matters most.

Talk to us today and start the journey to transforming your frontline workforce.

Get in touch