In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have realized the dire need of scaling up digital integration to the workplace. The pandemic has caused a global rethink of how offices work, forcing decision-makers to adopt technology at an unprecedented rate.
Only companies that had a digital infrastructure in place proved resilient in the face of protective measures like lockdowns and curfews. Businesses that were caught unprepared had to suffer through revenue dips, loss of business, or worse.
According to Yelp's report, approximately 100,000 have shut down permanently during the pandemic.
Technologies that let teams function from home have become a priority for forward-thinking executives. According to Gartner's digital survey for the workplace, 68% believed that highest-level executives want to be involved in their digital workplace.
According to the hype cycle, here are four of the most valued trends in the digital workplace right now:
This refers to software technologies that allow employees to work from home while accessing the resources they need.
Cloud office technologies allow employees to share files, instant messages, manage documents, conduct meetings, and conferences, and collaborate on projects from their homes.
Microsoft Teams, Asana, and Slack are some examples of these technologies. They have become the bedrock of many organizations' digital workplace infrastructures, allowing employees to collaborate and communicate effectively.
Personal internet-of-things devices are also making it easier for employees to perform their duties. Modern-day smartphones are equipped with advanced processing power that allows them to take on any work assignment easily.
Additionally, accessories such as smartwatches, air filters, fitness indicators, and voice assistants make work easier and more personal for employees.
Whether you are using your tablet, smartphone, or laptop – chances are, it is equipped with a camera. These can allow people to interact with anyone from anywhere, using whatever device they are comfortable with.
Virtual meeting software such as Teams has allowed people to conduct virtual meetings with a large group of people effortlessly.
86% of companies use video conferencing tools to conduct employee interviews, and some also depend on these technologies to do meetings, one-on-ones, client pitches, and company events.
We mentioned the use of IoT devices for work as a new trend for digitizing the workplace. Technology has allowed businesses to sustain themselves. Despite strict rules on social distancing, sanitization, and health – newly-adopted SaaS products are changing our work surroundings.
Modern workplaces will look to factor in such technological trends and place an increased emphasis on promoting a healthy and clean lifestyle.
If you are looking to build a business that can prove resilient to socio-economic fluctuations, you must keep digital technology at your core.
Your business should be agile enough to adapt to changes. A digital workplace allows you to leverage technology such as collaboration software and cloud computing to enable seamless operations, even when not present in the office.