In today’s world, organizations need tools that ensure streamlined workflow to function effectively and remain productive, successful, and ahead of the game. But what are these sets of tools or, in other words, the tech stack that every organization needs? The role of digital workplace technologies has been getting a lot of buzz ever since the world moved to a hybrid and remote working model. Digital workplace technologies comprise a set of robust tools and technologies designed exclusively to drive employee productivity and enhance organizational efficiency.
A July 2024 study by Deloitte analyzing the need for digital change capabilities revealed that 90% of organizations prioritize digital transformation to enhance employee experience and operational efficiency. Digital workplace technologies have been very impactful in driving change in the post-pandemic world.
A McKinsey report further solidifies this by reporting that organizations that embraced digital technologies have seen a 20-25% increase in productivity. As critical technologies, digital workplace tools have become an intrinsic part of today’s digital workplace ecosystem because they augment several needs related to communication and cross-functional collaboration. Not just that, as an extension to driving collaboration, they are also well-equipped to deal with important aspects such as project management, cybersecurity and safety, and robust document management.
Typically, digital workplace technologies aim to streamline workflows, improve and address challenges related to efficient team collaboration, and enhance information accessibility. Organizations can make the most of digital workplace technologies to break down silos that often hinder productivity and foster a more connected workforce.
In this blog, we will explore five critical technologies at the forefront of this transformation, focusing on document storage and sharing, communication, data privacy, and user management.
1. Document Storage and Sharing
As much as data is considered a gold mine in today’s workplace ecosystem, not knowing how to access data or not knowing what to do with it can be a wasted effort. As organizations generate an overwhelming amount of data(from employee records to customer information and marketing materials), there’s a growing need to keep everything organized, especially as the organization scales. A cloud-based document management system is almost a no-brainer that addresses this issue front and center. The system helps find information in a logical order that makes grasping insights easier and helps make intelligent decisions faster.
With powerful search features, these systems allow employees to quickly locate any file across the organization, making collaboration hassle-free.
It’s also noteworthy how far today’s document management systems have come. Beyond storage, they serve extended functions such as analytics and reporting to help you gain insights from your structured data. In a nutshell, document storage tools are designed to meet your needs, whether you’re looking to streamline your operations or enhance teamwork.
2. Work Management
It’s no longer enough to provide employees with basic tools like email and spreadsheets. They need the ability to plan, coordinate, manage, and execute their work effectively, and work management tools play a crucial role in making this happen.
Automation has become the holy grail for digital transformation success in organizations today. Considering every business function has a unique set of workflows, it’s important to automate standard processes in each department to save valuable time and resources. The right automation tools should allow you to design workflows while managing visibility permissions effectively. It’s here that a good workflow tool allows you to create user-driven processes for these ad hoc requests, which often require human intervention at various stages. Customizable project management tools or digital technologies in the workplace can help manage these requests smoothly. Features like chat, email, voice and video calls, and file sharing should all be integrated. This way, employees can manage tasks and projects without jumping between different platforms.
3. Collaboration and Communication
Within small-sized businesses and large-scale enterprises, social networking has become an intrinsic part of innovation for organizations. It’s not as uni-dimensional as only sharing company updates anymore; in fact, it is more of an open platform to drive engagement and foster a positive digital culture. Well-designed workplace social networks can help minimize distractions by showing relevant posts without overwhelming notifications, allowing employees to respect digital boundaries.
In this context, chatbots are becoming increasingly integral in handling internal and customer-facing functions. They can range from simple automated responses to advanced AI that understands language and context. When used internally, chatbots enhance the employee experience by providing self-service options for HR and IT support. This reduces the burden on IT teams and makes resources more accessible.
In customer support, chatbots can significantly cut service costs while improving customer satisfaction. They speed up response times and allow support staff to focus on more complex issues by handling routine inquiries.
4. Cybersecurity
It’s a no-brainer that cybersecurity has to be at the top of organizations’ minds if they want to innovate or stay sustainably successful. That’s exactly why IT leaders are implementing measures that enhance security while still allowing employees some flexibility. Particularly with cloud-based applications, cybersecurity is a critical component, even if cloud storage is considered more secure than traditional on-premise solutions. Breaches can occur from both inside and outside the organization. Establishing data policies and monitoring systems is essential to mitigate internal risks.
Email phishing is a common method for external attacks. Educating employees about best practices and encouraging them to take cybersecurity courses can significantly reduce risks. Deploying private cloud servers can also ensure more safety and reduce the risks of public cloud outages.
Read more: The Definitive Guide to Perfect Digital Workplace Solution
Emerging Technologies to Look Out For
Here are some technologies slated to make the digital workplace an efficient and effective ecosystem. Although there are no immediate use cases, they’re worth monitoring as your organization scales.
Next-Level AI: Sentiment analysis has become an interesting trend that marketing teams across organizations are relying on to understand customer behavior. Other areas in which sentiment analysis can be useful are customer support and internal communications. AI tools built for sentiment analysis typically analyze text scores to provide deep insights into customer feelings and help prioritize support tickets based on urgency.
Companies using sentiment analysis have seen a 25% uptick in customer satisfaction rates.
Virtual Assistants: Chatbots, or what is now called digital assistants, can iron out issues that come in the way of everyday tasks, doubling up as personal assistants. They can automate processes, fetch information, and even visualize data, making life easier for both employees and customers.
Internet of Things (IoT): IoT focuses on connecting devices and networks in the workplace to automate routine functions. This ensures operations run smoothly, allowing employees to manage everything from meetings to supplies with ease. By 2025, it’s estimated that there will be 75 billion connected IoT devices, revolutionizing how we manage our work environments. Organizations implementing IoT solutions can achieve a 20% increase in operational efficiency.
Why is InfinCE your Choice of Digital Workplace Platform?
InfinCE is primarily preferred for its flexibility and customizability, all at a cost-effective price. Starting at just $5 per user per month, it operates on a pay-as-you-use model, allowing small to medium-sized businesses to maximize their IT budget without sacrificing functionality. From customizable dashboards that give you a comprehensive view of your organization’s operations to dedicated virtual servers and robust security measures, you can trust that your data is protected while remaining easily accessible to your team.
With InfinCE, you get powerful tools that drive efficiency and a cost-effective solution that supports your growth.
In summary, if you’re looking for an affordable digital workplace solution that delivers modern tools and security, InfinCE is definitely worth considering. As a comprehensive part of your digital transformation journey, InfinCE is your best bet for creating a connected and efficient workforce ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. Why not explore what InfinCE can do for your organization?
