Globally, companies tend to reduce operational costs without compromising on the employee’s performance and product quality. The concept of a modern workplace is an outcome of this prevalent trend. Enterprises can achieve the objectives of higher productivity and profitability by giving great workplace experiences to their employees with this concept.
Recent research has revealed that companies with higher employee engagement remain 21% more productive than those with lower engagement rates. These companies also have up to 59% less than their counterparts with less engagement. These numbers show the significance of workplace modernization, especially in the post-COVID era.In this post, we will see some interesting trends and innovations for the modern digital workplace. It will help you make an employee-centric and comfortable hybrid workplace. Let’s start with the introduction of a whole new age of hybrid productivity.
Rise of Hybrid Productivity in Modern Digital Workplace
A modern digital workplace can help businesses of all sizes to drive productivity, enhance security, and nurture a sense of inclusivity for their hybrid workforce.
Here are four key pillars of a modern digital workplace:
- Collaboration
Hybrid productivity needs better collaboration and effective communication. A modern digital workplace provides the tools and infrastructure needed for seamless collaboration, such as video conferencing, chat, and file-sharing tools.
- Security
Security is a top priority for all businesses, but it is especially important in a hybrid work environment. Security features such as two-factor authentication, data encryption, and device management can protect sensitive data and systems.
- Inclusivity
A modern digital workplace should be designed to support all employees, regardless of their location, role, or ability. This means providing accessible tools and technologies, as well as creating a culture of inclusion.
- Flexibility
Hybrid workers need the flexibility to work from anywhere, at any time. Workplace modernization makes it possible by offering tools and resources such as cloud-based applications, mobile devices, and remote work policies.
Simply put, businesses can take advantage of hybrid productivity by investing in a modern digital workplace.
Top Modern Workplace Trends Set to Rule in the Future
Flexible Work Arrangements
Flexible work arrangements have become increasingly popular in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increasing popularity of this trend became the catalyst for the rise of remote work models.We can mention several contributing factors to the rise of remote and hybrid work models. One big factor is the advancement of technology. With the advent of video conferencing, cloud computing, and other digital tools, it is now easier for employees to work remotely and collaborate with colleagues in different locations.
The impact of COVID-19 on workplace flexibility
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to adopt remote work for the first time. While some businesses were initially hesitant to allow employees to work from home, most businesses quickly realized that remote work was essential to keep their operations running during the pandemic.
The pandemic also showed that many employees are able to work productively from home. In fact, many employees reported that they were happier and more productive working remotely. A recent survey by PwC found that 87% of employers plan to offer remote work arrangements after the pandemic because of this reason.
Technology-Driven Workspaces
Technology plays a vital role in workplace modernization. From collaboration tools to cloud computing, technology is helping businesses to become more efficient, productive, and agile.
Advancing technology brings automation to many repetitive and time-consuming tasks. It facilitates collaboration and communication between employees. Collaboration tools such as Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams make it easy for employees to share ideas, and work on projects together in real time. These tools offer a variety of features, such as real-time chat, file sharing, video conferencing, and task management.
Cloud computing is another important technology that is shaping the modern workplace. Cloud computing allows businesses to store their data and applications in the cloud, rather than on their own servers.
Cloud computing is also making it easier for businesses to adopt remote work and hybrid work models. With cloud computing, employees can access their data and applications from anywhere in the world, as long as they have an internet connection.
Employee Wellbeing and Wellness
This is an important trend for both employees and employers because it can increase productivity and boost the employee's morale. Businesses are increasingly focusing on employee health and wellness in three ways-
- Mental Health Support
Many companies offer mental health support programs to their employees. These programs may include employee assistance programs (EAPs), access to mental health professionals, etc.
- Ergonomic Offices
Ergonomic office setups can help to reduce employee fatigue and discomfort, and they can also help to improve employee productivity.
- Wellness Programs
These programs may include fitness classes, nutrition counseling, and smoking cessation programs.
Hybrid and Activity-Based Workspaces
Hybrid workspaces combine traditional office space with remote work. Activity-based office design is a type of hybrid workspace design that provides employees with a variety of different workspaces to choose from, depending on their tasks. For example, an employee who needs to meet with clients regularly may need to be in the office more often, while an employee who works independently can do so from home.
Activity-based office design includes open areas for collaboration, quiet rooms for focus work, and meeting rooms of different sizes. We can mention several benefits of providing employees with different workspace options. First, it can help to improve employee productivity. Second, it can help to improve employee morale and engagement. Third, it can help to reduce stress levels.
Here are some specific examples of how different workspace options can be beneficial:
- Open areas: Great for collaboration and brainstorming.
- Quiet rooms: Good for focus work and tasks that require concentration.
- Meeting rooms: Used for one-on-one meetings and large group presentations.
- Outdoor spaces: Used for informal meetings, breaks, etc.
However, hybrid workplaces may create issues related to data security, and therefore, companies need to consider privacy and safety.
Data Security and Privacy
Data security and privacy are growing concerns in the modern workplace. Businesses of all sizes are collecting and storing more data than ever before, and this data is becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
Issues related to data security in the workplace can have a negative impact on businesses. Data breaches can lead to financial losses, fines, and permanent damage to reputation. They can also disrupt business operations and lead to the loss of sensitive data.
Businesses can implement a cybersecurity policy, educate their employees about hacking and cyberattacks, and implement robust controls to improve their data security.
These days, one of the key trends in cybersecurity is the move toward zero-trust models. These models are based on the principle of "never trust, always verify."
Zero-trust models can be complex to implement, but they offer a number of benefits. They can help to protect businesses from a variety of cyberattacks, including insider threats and supply chain attacks.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation transform workplace operations in a number of ways.
How AI Transforms Workplace Processes
Companies can use AI to identify and target potential customers, personalize marketing campaigns, and predict sales. Apart from this, AI is useful in automating tasks of different departments such as recruiting, screening resumes, quality control, and production planning.
Here are specific use cases of AI in modern workplaces.
- Chatbots
AI-powered chatbots can be used to provide customer support, answer questions, and resolve issues. They can also be used to collect data from customers and give actionable insights.
- Data Analysis
AI analyzes massive amounts of data to identify trends and patterns. This information is helpful in decision-making, launching new products and services, and identifying growth opportunities.
Concluding Remarks
Workplace modernization is an advanced and cost-efficient solution. Companies can effectively handle various challenges and remain competitive by using modern workplace technology. Trends like employee well-being, flexible work arrangements, hybrid workplaces, and technology-driven workspaces are here to stay. It is better to consult a reputed and experienced expert to get a modern workplace that can meet your business needs effectively.
FAQs
A modern workplace is a work environment that leverages technology to support employee productivity, collaboration, and well-being.
A traditional workplace is a physical office space with fixed workstations, while a modern workplace can be anywhere with an internet connection.
DXC Modern Workplace is a suite of solutions and services that help organizations create a modern workplace for their employees. It includes solutions for workplace transformation, digital workplace, and workplace security.
A modern workplace can offer a number of benefits to both employees and employers, including increased employee productivity and engagement, reduced costs, improved decision-making, and increased customer satisfaction.
Modern workplace architecture is a framework for designing and implementing a modern workplace.
