We may look back at the COVID-19 outbreak and see it as the genesis of change in the way we all work. We have seen a fundamental change from physical workplaces to digital workspaces so could this be the beginning of the end of traditional working as we know it?
A lot of companies have had to change overnight and embrace new platforms to try and keep their working practices and company culture running as smoothly as they can. Typically companies may have had some sort of VDI infrastructures (virtual desktop infrastructure) to help the transformation, for over two decades the argument for using VDI platforms has been that employees can securely access the same company desktop experience from anywhere on any device. This has led to companies being able to offer flexible working for a better work-life balance.
The workplace used to be a physical space an employee went to at 9 am and left at 5 pm, even before COVID-19 those days were rapidly changing. Through the power of the Internet, today’s employees are always connected and lines between the online workspace and the physical workplace are blurred. Leading organisations were already implementing an entirely new working environment, but now all companies have been forced to implement some sort of digital workspace. Instant messaging, email programmes and virtual meeting outlets are all part of the virtual solution. Before COVID-19 you may have also noticed that there was a substantial shift towards remote working, the digital workspace that encourages collaboration, engagement and connection across the workforce, regardless of physical location.
Digital workspaces are important for many reasons -
Changing Workforce:
As Baby Boomers continue to retire; they are taking important information with them. There has therefore been an increase in the need to capture their knowledge so that Millennials and Gen-Xers can build upon the foundations that the Baby Boomers have left.
Increasing Information:
As humans, we’re always learning and developing. Information is growing at exponential rates and employees need to find the information at the touch of a button.
Speed:
The rapid pace of the workplace in today’s society means that employees need to be able to use technology to get things done quickly, efficiently and to the highest standard.
Laws and Regulations:
With recent guidelines and laws, personal data needs to be protected at all costs. Information shouldn’t need to be on paper or printed, technology is vital in ensuring the protection of personal details.
Investing In A Digital Workspace -
If you did not have a digital workspace already implemented then the Post COVID-19 rush to get one may have seemed an expensive thing to do! But, look at it this way, there are many benefits to this way of working that may have a real positive effect for the future. Let's look at some of these.
Staff Attraction:
Allowing employees to work from home to increase staff attraction, a study by Cisco Connected found that 64% of employees would opt for a lower-paid job if they could work away from the office.
Employee Productivity:
Employees are likely to be more productive when their physical workplace is accompanied by a digital workspace. Alex Pentland in ‘How Social Networks Network Best’ found that organisations with strong online social networks are 7% more productive than those without.
Employee Satisfaction:
McKinsey’s Global Survey found that businesses that used social media tools internally found a 20% increase in employee satisfaction. Happy employees improve your company.
Employee Retention:
Human Capital Institute found that when employee engagement increases, there is a corresponding increase in employee retention by up to 87%.
Crisis Ready
Whilst some businesses have been forced into change it does mean you will be ready for most future crisis’s that may happen. You have invested in your infrastructure, which means you can now work in a network-like fashion with your employees, being ready and able to work from any location. If similar things arise it will be much smoother to deal with, with far less downtime.
Of course, not every business can function purely as a digital workspace or physical workplace, but the advantages of a digital space gives you choice and in the long term can save on office costs. So the big question is, although the physical workplace is alive for now, how long will that continue? We think it is here to stay in a way that can help businesses blend home and office working to produce a well motivate and flexible workforce.
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