As members of a new technologically advanced generation enter the workforce, the way in which businesses operate is shifting. The business world is global, increasingly mobile and moves faster than ever before. Remote connectivity and collaboration has become the norm, and new generation workers expect to be able to choose how, when and where they work. New generation workers are comfortable with blurring the lines between work and personal, and often times bring their mobile devices to work to do so; using smartphones, tablets and personal laptops to interact with family and friends as well as manage their work. This and the increasingly global business environment that demands workers be connected 24/7, has contributed to the consumerization of IT, encouraging employees to bring their consumer market technologies from home to use in the workplace.
To remain competitive, most businesses today have embraced the consumerization of IT but as the trend continues to accelerate, organizing a digital workplace that supports teamwork and collaboration, one that boosts productivity and optimizes cost, is key.
Globalization requires an around-the-clock work culture where employees are increasingly mobile and companies no longer have fixed offices but instead maintain technologically equipped incubators where collaboration is at its best. Business productivity tools such as Microsoft Office 365 and Lync VoIP unified communications help harness the digital workplace by allowing employees to collaborate remotely from anywhere, anytime and on any device.
The productivity and cost benefits of the digital workplace are certain but to take advantage of these benefits your workplace must be digital by design. Here are a few tips on building a successful framework for the digital workplace,
- Rethink your mobile device strategy; should these devices be offered to each employee or should employees be allowed to bring their own (BYOD)?
- A new blueprint for digital security is required. Efforts should be focused not solely on preventing breach but perhaps more importantly, on disabling an intruder from moving around once inside.
- The cloud is a must; mobile computing technologies require that company data be stored securely on the cloud; available on any device, accessible offline, and easily shared from one device to another.
- Video, voice and data communication including web conferencing and online meetings needs to be possible both in and outside of the company network. Cloud-based collaboration tools such as Microsoft Office 365 allow teams to work cohesively and effectively from anywhere, anytime, and are essential to a truly digital strategy.
To learn more about the cloud productivity and security tools to help you achieve a successful digital workplace, visit www.CornerstoneIT.com.