The nature of work as we know it has changed, and as a result, the nature of the workplace has changed as well. Global disruptors such as pandemics have contributed to great shifts, with geographically distributed workforces, increased numbers of contractors making up the workforce, new and innovative business models, and fast-paced distribution.
The modern workplace is influenced by many things and requires a degree of flexibility never seen before, to stay relevant and current in today’s market. The standard way of working no longer suffices in the current world, as it measures work in terms of time rather than productivity.
What is the modern workplace?
Determining the defining characteristics of the modern workplace is not simple. From its roots, the modern workplace offers businesses the ability to be flexible and agile, allowing employees the ability to work wherever and whenever powered by dynamic technology solutions.
In contrast to the traditional workplace, which exclusively relied on email as the central mode of written communication, the modern workplace is oriented towards collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and non-traditional office hubs including Microsoft 365 and SharePoint. This has allowed a more flexible combination of work and personal priorities, leading to the hybrid working environments we see today. To accommodate these needs, organisations are looking to modernise their workplaces, to ensure productivity is enhanced and business growth is managed.
- Availability at any time, so employees can access work applications reliably to carry out their work functions at a time that suits professional and personal demands
- Available at any location, as the workplace is no longer reliant on physical space or office to perform all or most of the work-based functions
- Accessible on any device to ensure business processes and operations are not interrupted by not having the right device, with an expectation the user experience is consistent on any device
- Seamless connectivity, to enable the workforce to perform their duties without interruption.
The modern workplace brings people, technology, and processes together. This enables a business to be more efficient and more effective. Digital-first practices are systematically adopted and embraced in the modern workplace, creating a competitive advantage.
Workforce mobility
The workplace is no longer viewed as a physical address or space. Employees expect flexibility and the ability to operate from any location at any time. Modern workplaces involve highly mobile work environments that enable the workforce to succeed and businesses to thrive.
Corporate apps and cloud-based technology that enable accessibility from anywhere and at any time encourage employees to be able to work to high levels of productivity and communicate with clients, partners, and colleagues in real-time. This ensures that employees that are only available to be in the office space at certain times or spend a lot of time away from the office have access to the resources and data they need to perform their roles and for workflows to be seamless.
Communication and collaboration
Today’s modern workplace strategies require the right technology to service both internal communication and collaboration, as well as meet the needs of clients and customers. Many employees are distributed across multiple workspaces, sometimes working remotely or working in a highly collaborative environment, as well as communicating with colleagues across time zones and at other times working in a silo.
Businesses must provide methods for employees to communicate and collaborate to achieve their goals. Everything from HR, operations, IT, sales, and marketing to accounting has become combined in modern workplaces. With solutions such as Microsoft Modern Workplace that leverage Microsoft Teams and Office 365, businesses are now able to communicate and collaborate across departments in real-time to succeed.
Data-driven decision-making
Creating a data-driven culture is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. Successful businesses recognise digital transformation is driven by having access to quality data that can enable robust decision-making processes. Data helps to understand consumer demands, analyse marketplace developments, and spot growth opportunities. The information generated from data-driven decisions is vital to increasing productivity, efficiency and effectiveness.
Security
Data security has become a necessity in the modern work environment as the number of devices or endpoints at which data may be vulnerable to intrusion is increasing. Cyber-attacks don’t always originate from outside; instead, they can happen due to employees unintentionally engaging in activities that compromise the security of their information. Modern work environments such as Microsoft Modern Workplace ensure data is always secure and come with its own set of unique security procedures and device management. Security policies such as multi-factor authentication may be used to monitor and control user behaviour proactively. To keep up with the advanced threat landscape and stay up-to-date, security must always stay current.
Sustainability
As the world returns to the ‘next normal’ after the pandemic, sustainability has become one of the top five goals for CEOs. Sustainable IT relates to the way we use and dispose of technology in a way that reduces the environmental impact, and has become an important part of how businesses move forward into the future.
Employees are also becoming more concerned with how their employers are involved in sustainability and reducing the global carbon footprint. Solutions include finding the right balance of hybrid work by making the most of modern workplace technologies such as virtualisation techniques. Shifting to cloud platforms built with sustainability in mind, such as Microsoft Azure, goes a long way toward creating a sustainable modern workplace.
Modern workplace solutions for your business
Ensuring your business is ready for the modern workplace is essential and leverages the best of modern technology to keep a competitive edge in the market and enhance employee experience. Virtu is a leading IT solutions provider in modern workplace solutions and can offer a wide range of technology to seamlessly integrate with existing systems and enterprise software. Talk to Virtu today and enable your employees and business to succeed in the modern workplace.
3 Comments
Cameron
Availability is a MUST for a modern workplace. If an employee can’t access the needed files whenever he wants to then the company has failed. Remote work means employees can work whenever they want and can as long as they meet their targets. And if they can’t access files and can’t work well then Houston, we have a problem, a big one.
Scott
I know there are lots of companies that work with a hybrid work schedule now but I wish more would make the leap. There are still plenty of companies that don’t understand why this is a must now. They don’t value their employees or their time. It’s those companies that hire now and fire in a year or have their employees leave on them. Anyway, flexibility and care for your employees leads to them caring back. At least that’s what I think.
Nolan
The pandemic sure changed a lot of things. I wouldn’t have seen this modern workplace happening any time soon if it wasn’t for the pandemic. It sure sped things up 10 fold, at least. Companies had to adapt on the go or risk alienating employees that have (some of them) finally realized they don’t need to always be stuck in traffic for a few hours daily and can (in most cases) do a better job from their own homes.