Digital workspaces are increasingly turning into a focal point of business providing flexibility, innovation and focusing on the end user. Companies are designing infrastructures that enables centralized and secure access to applications, services and resources anytime, anywhere, from their computer, laptop or smartphone.
At the same time, the IT department benefits from simpler, safer, more flexible management and the ability to store in the cloud.
What exactly is a Digital Workplace?
For most companies, the transition to the Digital Workplace occurs when a working Intranet is extended to include more applications that result relevant for the employees and the strategic goals of the company.
A Digital Workplace is a complete work environment that is not physical. It gathers all the tools centrally provided by the organization to enable its employees to do their jobs. The Intranet then, becomes a tool inside the group of tools.
The components of a Digital Workplace may vary and include applications in the areas of messaging, productivity, collaboration, communication, business applications, crowd sourcing, connectivity and mobilityi.
Figure 1 Components of a Digital Workplace – Adapted from Deloitte, 2015
What are the benefits of a good Digital Workplace?
Organizations that adopt a digital approach for the workplace by adding devices, applications and services that are managed securely through unified, common access, have experienced operational and financial benefitsii.
Well adopted and functional Digital Workspaces are proven to increase a company’s productivity by reducing the time spent switching between platforms for the different tasks and allowing teams or partners to stay connected and work efficiently from any location.
The prospect of working from different places, results very attractive for employees and potential talents. 64% of employees would choose a lower paying job if they could work away from the officeiii.
Furthermore, properly implemented communication tools allow employees to meet anywhere and communicate more effectively. Tools such as internal social network applications result in higher employee satisfaction and the consequent retention of human talent inside the company.
How can I implement a successful Digital Workplace in my company?
The key point to determine a successful change into digital workplaces lays on the goal of your transition: Business value vs. Just a technology implementation. The process of implementation of a Digital Workplace has to be aligned to the company’s strategic and business goals from the moment of its conception.
Every company is different. Understand and support the existing organizational culture and be aware of the needs of your employees.
Stay agile. Engage managers in the implementation process and design feedback activities to guide your steps in the change management process.
Implementing a strategy is however, not the end of the game. Technology departments must continually evaluate and update workspaces to reap future results. HansaPlus GmbH offers you guidance from the conceptualization to the end-user support for your digital workplace.
