The Digital Workplace is rapidly evolving into a messaging and collaboration center. Thanks to pervasive, nearly omnipresent connectivity and the plummeting prices of computers (laptops and desktops; some models of tablets) it is easy to set up shop just about anywhere. This can be in a spare room, at an Internet café or coffee shop, or at a coworking location.
In fact, the term digital workplace might soon be replaced by the digital workspace.
At one time “the remote worker” was an oddity. Not anymore. No longer are those workers outliers, or oddball types who seem only to exist on phone calls and occasional video conferences. The present day business environment has passed the gestation stage. The digital workspace is a reality for medium and small businesses.
To acknowledge the metamorphosis of the work experience, companies have adapted in response to these changes in the digital workspace. This has brought forth the integration of the wide breadth of digital tools and utilities in common use in both the workspace and the personal space. Email, messaging, the online calendar, tweeting, photo sharing, group video or conference call meeting tools – all of these exist either in the cloud or on devices. Choice of devices has switched to the individual rather than as per the edict of the enterprise. This fosters ease of use, comfort, increased productivity, efficiencies and may also promote growth and innovation.
Personal tools or devices and choice of applications has changed buying processes on the enterprise level. Better to let workers decide on an iPhone or Android, Google Calendar or iCal, document and image storage in the cloud via Dropbox, Amazon or iCloud or The Box or OneDrive (among a vast array of others), to use a Mac or a PC, and so forth.
Except for sensitive corporate materials, choice of storage and access is left to the end user.
The corporate edict, the company-wide selection of brand of computer, mobile phone, and the like has been largely abandoned. This nurtures productivity and honors the predilection of the workers. Individual preferences take priority. This freedom from corporate conformity adds to worker satisfaction and, in turn, productivity.
The Digital Workspace
By Dean Landsman