Digital workplaces have become essential for businesses. A forecast from the Digital Workplace Group (DWG) indicates that companies will spend between $35 and $80 billion on workplace-focused technologies within the next few years.
What’s more, a staggering 75% of organizations have plans in place to increase their spending in this area. This proves that now is the time to jumpstart your digital transformation journey and reap the many digital workplace benefits for your business.
However, with so much at stake, it is critical to understand the importance and benefits of technology in the workplace and how it can help your business succeed.
In this article, we will explain why digital workplaces are crucial by exploring the ten major advantages of digital technology . We’ll also examine some of the challenges associated with technology in the workplace .
Bring the Benefits of Digital Technology to Your Workplace
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What is a Digital Workplace and Why is it Essential?
Before we discuss digital workplace benefits , let’s define what exactly a digital workplace is. A digital workplace is one that embraces and leverages digital technologies to improve communication, collaboration, and productivity.
Effective digital workplace strategies involve using digital tools and platforms such as cloud-based project management tools and online meeting software, in addition to mobile devices that facilitate remote work.
So why has the digital workplace become essential for businesses? The fact is, digital transformation is happening all around us and it’s not a trend that will disappear anytime soon.
Statistics from Gartner show that 91% of businesses are engaged in some form of digital initiative. Furthermore, 87% of senior leadership executives stated that digitalization is a top priority for their companies.
As a result, businesses need to rapidly adapt to and adopt digital technologies by leveraging the advantages of digital transformation . This will help them stay relevant and gain a competitive advantage .
The 10 Benefits of Technology in the Workplace
Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 benefits of technology for your work environment .
1. Improved Collaboration and Communication
With digital collaboration platforms – such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint – teams can easily share documents, provide feedback, and conduct virtual meetings no matter their location.
2. Enhanced Productivity
Digital workplaces allow for better organization through project and task management tools and streamlined processes.
3. Improved Flexibility
Technology in the workplace gives your staff the ability to work remotely when necessary, leading to increased employee satisfaction and better work-life balance.
4. Better Decision-Making
Digital technologies such as data analytics help make informed decisions based on real-time information and insights.
5. Improved Customer Experience
Digital communication channels like live chat, IVR and robotic process allow for quicker response times and personalization of customer interactions.
6. Increased Innovation
The flexibility and collaboration made possible by the advantages of digital transformation helps to foster a culture of innovation by allowing ideas to flow freely and easily while testing new digital workplace strategies that elevate business intelligence .
7. Enhanced Security
Digital workplaces allow for better control and monitoring of sensitive data and potential threats through digital security measures.
Prominent examples include:
- Encryption software
- Password managers
- Virtual private networks (VPNs)
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Next-generation firewall protection
- Antivirus and anti-malware software
8. Improved Competitiveness
By keeping up with digital transformation and adopting the latest technologies, businesses give themselves a competitive advantage while attracting top talent and reimagining their customer experience .
9. Reduced Costs
Relying on digital tools and digital processes for your work environment results in less need for high overhead costs and allows you to maintain service levels with fewer employees.
10. Enhanced Employee Recruitment and Retention
A modern workplace enables Human Resources to offer a more attractive benefits package to potential employees by offering flexibility through the advantages of technology in the workplace .
It also improves employee satisfaction , which is vital for retaining current employees. Your employees’ experience will be much more positive if you provide them with the latest technologies to do their jobs effectively.
5 Challenges of Implementing a Digital Workplace
While there are many benefits of digital technology for the modern workplace , there are also challenges to implementing and managing them. These include:
1. Change Management
Undergoing a digital transformation requires gaining approval from all key stakeholders and requiring employees to adapt to new technologies, processes, and collaboration methods.
2. Data Governance
With a data governance (DG) policy in place, you can ensure consistent and secure access to data while complying with general and industry-specific regulations, such as HIPAA, HITRUST, NIST, GDPR, and a host of others.
3. Modernization of Legacy Systems
This involves integrating older, non-supported systems with newer digital technologies to improve performance, productivity, and security. This will also lay the foundation to quickly adopt new technologies and applications in the future.
4. Training and Support
Implementing new digital tools can facilitate your employees’ day-to-day functions. However, before they are officially launched, it’s important to train your employees on how to use them effectively.
5. Alleviating Security Concerns
With cyber attacks on the rise and data breaches costing businesses an average of $4.35 million , protecting sensitive information in a digital work environment from potential threats and theft attempts is a must.
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Reap the Benefits of Technology in the Workplace With a Proven Partner
Implementing a digital workplace can seem overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to ease the transition.
Start by identifying and prioritizing digital technologies that align with your goals and integrating them into daily business operations .
It is also critical to provide digital literacy training for employees to ensure they feel comfortable using your new digital tools .
Partnering with a managed IT service provider can be helpful in managing the complexities of implementing and maintaining a digital workplace.
At Buchanan Technologies, our team of more than 900 IT experts has experience in this area. Backed by over 30 years of industry experience, our team will ensure a smooth digital transformation while helping you realize the benefits of digital technology .
Are you ready to see how a digital work environment can benefit your business? Contact us today for more information on our digital business strategies .
Featured Image Credit: Alla Serebrina
