According to new market research, the digital workplace market size is set to grow from USD 13.4 billion in 2018 to USD 35.7 billion by 2023. The digital workplace is a workplace that enables new, more effective ways of working. In today’s technological, consumer-centric world, companies are needing to adjust and modernize their workstyles and technologies to keep up with successful businesses leading at the forefront to meet customer’s instant gratification demands.
Where does this leave the employee?
The popularity of the digital workplace is rising more and can be attributed to an aging and retiring workforce, information growing at an exponential rate with the access to everything via the internet, and the need for speed in today’s business and work environment. New technology revolutionizes employee’s mobility and flexibility without compromising productivity. Examples of these technologies include the cloud, virtual assistant apps, analytics, artificial intelligence, CRM software, group messaging tools, collaboration tools, widgets, bots, and many more. These technological tools alone create a new workforce generation. The future employee is the digital workplace has the following evolution to look forward to:
Past |
Future |
|
Work 9-5 |
Work Anytime |
|
Work in a Corporate Workplace |
Work Anywhere |
| Use Company Equipment |
Use Any Device |
|
Focused on Input |
Focuses on Output |
|
Climb the Corporate |
Create Your Own Ladder |
|
Pre-Defined Work |
Customized Work |
| Information Hoarders |
Information Sharers |
| No Voice Employee |
Can Become a Leader |
|
Relies on Email |
Relies on Collaboration Technologies |
| Focused on Knowledge |
Focuses on Adaptive Learning |
| Corporate Learning and Teaching |
Democratized Learning and Teaching |
In the next few years, the digital workplace should be an organizational priority, as the workplace transformation is the key to longevity. The changes are both invigorating and challenging. The future employee in the new workplace must make shifts, along with the company.
Laura-Céline Mueller is a GovLoop Featured Contributor. She is an experienced public relations professional, specializing in content development and digital communications. As Public Affairs Specialist for the District of Columbia Government, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs she is a strategic communications adviser assisting in the management of communication, branding, events, marketing, and public relations operations of the agency.
Work anytime–work anywhere is a cool concept with lots of potential upside, but it will also be important for workers and companies to ensure that work-life balance doesn’t suffer as a consequence.
Thanks for your comment. I absolutely agree with you, Spencer. I share the same HR concerns. Companies will certainly need to set boundaries that respect employee’s work-life balance.