Jorge Ramo López
Digital Workplace Specialist & TŌGŌ Product Owner at NTT DATA
2022 has been an interesting year, analyzing the trends that have shaped the way employees interact with their peers, their company and other parties involved. Recent years, ones of tremendous evolution in the workplace, have taught us to always be adaptable to change, as the workforce deems as crucial very different aspects today than it did a few years ago. From new employee relations to the increasingly important work-life balance, trends in the Digital Workplace in 2023 focus, holistically, on the wellbeing of employees in this new hybrid-reality being built every day.
The new Way of Working
Employees have returned to the office, but the remote and flexible work is still present and very important, as organizations seek to attract and retain talent. Following the growing demand for a more flexible work environment, companies are looking to provide employees with the tools they need to succeed both in and out of the office.
In terms of importance, the remote workforce has become an essential part of business operations in today’s global economy, with more than 35% of employees working remotely at least part-time. This is especially true for millennials, who are interested in having the ability to work from anywhere and tend not to want to be tied down by traditional office jobs. Technology-related jobs, fully focused on innovation and staying ahead of market, demand flexibility in working from home, with a lot of them demanding the entirety of their work hours being online. A recent McKinsey research proves that the new digital tools available have the power to connect large amounts of workers, increasing and enhancing communication, collective speed, innovation and creativity.
How the new Way of Working affects productivity and performance
2022 has demonstrated that the customer wants their needs satisfied at every level of the value chain. A well-implemented Digital Workplace will lead to an increase in ideation, insights and execution, always in regard of what the customer is asking for, because of the proliferation of new profiles within a company.
Hiring is no longer tethered to geographic locations, as neither are companies and the products or services they offer to the market. Being able to hire and intercommunicate with different profiles coming from different backgrounds boosts innovation, being able to identify and test ideas faster, understanding a global customer better, with more perspectives, which will lead to the company getting closer to its target communities.
Derived effects of the new Way of Working in today’s workforce
Digital workplaces need to overcome the possible effects that remote work can have on the workforce: The feeling of isolation and disconnection from their colleagues when working remotely or in different locations, lacking efficient collaboration and communication between employees. While it’s important for companies to provide their employees with the tools they need to be successful, it’s vital for them to create an environment where everyone feels included and valued. According to a recent McKinsey study, a culture of inclusion can serve as a key and valuable asset within a company, as companies that have a culture of inclusion are more likely to attract top talent, reduce turnover rates, meet financial and operational goals and improve overall productivity.
By the same token, Employee Experience has become a top priority for every organization. The constant change faced everyday by companies worldwide forces employees to constantly adapt to new technologies and tools, an activity that can be time-consuming, counter-productive, and frustrating. As the digital workplace evolves, it should grow into a centric tool to learn new skills and support new ways of working to stay competitive in this era of constant change. Employees should benefit from the latest technologies to work faster and more efficiently.
Talent attraction and retention
Attracting top talent is both a necessity and a duty for companies around the globe. Top talent is, by definition, scarce, but it will surely play its part in dramatically increasing productivity and creating a healthy work environment where employees can fulfil their work demands. But, once talent is already present within the organization, the challenge that surfaces is, surely, how to retain it from flying away. As mentioned, workers today have very different demands than what they did a few years ago. Great access to top technology, work flexibility, and self-fulfillment continuously gain importance in today’s workforce priorities. Being able to cover those needs is critical when aiming to provide the best experience possible to a company’s top-tier talent workforce.
The importance of work-life balance
New times bring on new challenges, and after the events in recent years which have altered the relationship with work from the employee point-of-view, one of the main challenge to take into consideration relates to the need to maintain work-life balance. With the ability to access work emails, meetings and documents from anywhere, it can be difficult for employees to disconnect from work and take time for themselves. This issue can lead to continued stress, not being able to distinguish between work and personal life, which translates into burnout and decreased overall productivity, affecting both the employee and the organization. Technological solutions that enhance productivity and respect the employees’ leisure time are a must-have for companies that aim to attract and maintain talent in their organization. Therefore, digital workplace solutions should be adapted to this need: Increasing productivity, respecting free time and supporting flexibles ways to work.
How is TŌGŌ’s building a better Digital Workplace?
The TŌGŌ team is working hard to implement new features that respond to challenges from today, while also working to adapt the platform into tackling challenges from the future. Because of this, the implementation of the Microsoft VIVA platform has become an Employee Experience booster during this year, with more features and benefits arriving during 2023. TŌGŌ is proud to have VIVA components integrated in the product, enabling us to offer a more comprehensive solution, aligned with Microsoft’s vision and its roadmap. During 2023, we will continue to innovate and provide our customers with the best tools for their digital workplace needs, while we are working hand to hand with the Microsoft teams to bring on new features and benefits.
Stay Tuned and of course.... Let's enjoy this 2023 together!
