The pandemic has brought drastic changes all over the globe and significant trends in the business environment have been transformed in a short period of time. According to many experts, these changes will have a long-lasting impact on how we conduct business. A study by Gartner suggests that almost 35% of organizations worldwide will replace their full-time employees with conditional workers. Furthermore, another survey conducted by Gartner recommends that 48% of employees would prefer remote work even after the pandemic is over.
However, it can be argued that the widespread proliferation of technology was already transforming the business environment, Covid19 only resulted in speeding up the process. The innovative employee monitoring tools, collaboration platforms, team formation, and management tools have made remote work desirable and straightforward not just by companies but also by employees who can work from the comfort of their homes.
The Digital workplace reduces communication barriers, time constraints, promotes employee well-being, and fosters innovation, growth, and productivity. Automation and technology also increases work efficiency and productivity by streamlining everyday activities and operational processes. On a personal level, employees also benefit from saving time and investing their energy on more creative aspects of their work.
The pandemic has also highlighted the benefits of telecommuting to work. The outbreak has resulted in a huge telecommuting experiment, which has become necessary and might be a permanent change in the work environment. Understandably, not all jobs can be conducted remotely, but it is likely that the change will heavily impact organizations. Remote work has resulted in more flexibility and improved productivity as employees can adjust their work according to their mental and physical well being. It can also help organizations save money. A study revealed that companies can save up to $11,000 per year for every part-time telecommuting employee. On an external level, a long term benefit of remote work will be reduced vehicle emissions resulting in better environmental conditions.
Organizations must prepare for the change
The synergy between humans and machines is rapidly increasing, and organizations must prepare themselves to evolve rapidly. Addressing the changes accelerated by the pandemic is a necessity for all businesses hoping to survive. Adapting the possibility of virtual workplaces partly, if not entirely, is crucial for all organizations. Integrating the latest technologies and Artificial Intelligence (IA) into every workplace might only be possible for strong and powerful businesses. However, smaller organizations can also permanently implant simpler collaborative and employee monitoring tools. They must also help employees leverage social networks, interact virtually, and work more effectively and transparently. Accepting and evolving with change is mandatory for survival, and organizations can gain numerous benefits by integrating technologies into their work environment.
Future Workplaces
The progressive changes accelerated by the pandemic have also pushed experts into predicting that offices and workspaces will look like in the future. Offices of tomorrow is an exciting aspect to explore. As the world has become more aware of contagious diseases, experts recommend that in the near future, workplaces will resemble hospitals. Another prediction is that open-plan offices will also reduce, and smaller offices and units will be favored in the coming times.
Final Thoughts on Technology Taking Over The Work Environment
It is anticipated that the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced automation, and robotics will lead to higher unemployment rates. Therefore, technology should complement human capital and not be sees as its substitute, or it can lead to devastating effects on the working class. The predilection towards virtual workspaces also gives rise to the cybersecurity issue. Earlier this year, when Zoom faced a massive surge in users, it got involved in multiple security issues. Due to the incomplete end to end, user encryption threat actors were able to access user’s webcams and steal their private information. Now, it can be said that the company was not well prepared, but business security risks are always prevalent in the digital environment. Whether they be major data breaches like Facebook in 2018 or simple home wifi issues, phishing scams, or insecure passwords, conducting virtual business has its own set of challenges.
We recommend that organizations make the best of the available technologies and the multiple benefits of remote work. However, being careful and well-versed in the issues that may arise due to virtual work is necessary to conduct business activities safely. This is why connecting with fellow businesses providing safe means to reach out to experts and specialists is critical to protect company interests.
The shift towards remote work has brought about many challenges due to which Consult Xperts pays great attention to the process of hiring experts. The platform’s rigorous vetting process, extensive application requirements, and secure payment options allow businesses to effortlessly connect with reliable and skilled experts so they can reach their goals without any concerns or complications.