Expert Opinion – What Does the Future of the Work Look Like?

With the increase in the remote-working scenarios around the world, 2020 has bought some dramatic changes in the way organizations work. One fact that we know for sure is that intelligent technologies such as cloud, AI, blockchain, and more are redefining the way we work.

While many businesses are ready to accept the changes in the work culture, some are still not ready to adapt to such new realities.

So, how does the future of the work look like? How should one prepare themselves for the future? Is this the right time to make the change, or not?

Well, we at Ace Cloud Hosting reached out to a few experts in the industry to know what they think is going to happen next.

1. Anita Lettink

Anita works at the intersection of HR, technology, and innovation to reimagine the world of work. As an experienced global executive, speaker, advisor, and mentor, she wants to create a future in which technology is integrated into our work life but does not control it.

Today, as the founder of HRTechRadar.com, she helps HR Tech companies show the power of innovation and value of new technologies, so businesses can take advantage of these solutions to execute optimal people strategies.

She is also an international speaker on the future of work.

You can read her articles on her website and LinkedIn. You can also chat with her on Twitter.

How can business owners unleash growth potential?

Robotics, AI, and automation are disrupting companies with accelerating speed. If we want to remain competitive in the future, we need to completely rethink how we work today.

As a business owner, you need to envisage how you will create value for your customers in the coming years and then define what that means for employee productivity as well as employee experience. If you want to have a successful business, it is imperative that you proactively design your future organization rather than let it evolve.

Automation is a force of change, and you must carefully consider how to apply it to your advantage. Most jobs will change to enhance human-machine interactions with cognitive skills and emotions. Human ingenuity, combined with AI, will increase employee performance and unlock business growth through higher quality and productivity.

How can your company benefit most from this trend?

Becoming future-proof means understanding how to make humans and machines complimentary and determining their respective strengths. Embracing new technologies will help employees perform better so your company can thrive.

It’s time to reimagine work.

2. Romulo Cholewa

With almost 30 years of experience and a large technical background, Romulo has had the opportunity to work on every aspect of IT, from infrastructure, data center, networking & communications to security.

On various occasions, he managed technical and sales teams across the country, specifically in the Northeast of Brazil.

In the last 15+ years, he has worked directly with sales covering all stages of the cycle (from designing complex IT solutions to sales on strategic accounts and territories). While at it, he received various awards, from the highest sales volume to an international award from one of the largest technology companies in the world.

Over his career, he has been learning about people. In fact, he has written a blog and a book on how a direct effect of cultivating empathy, relationships, and teamwork leads to results.

You can learn more about him here: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Here’s what he has to say:

Change calls for adaptability and demands innovation more than ever (that requires diversity, creativity, and empathy).

But there is a force right now driving people away from physical contact, and that can be detrimental to medium- and long-term relationships due to a lack of non-verbal communication and empathy.

Despite working remotely in the past decade, I realized that the most successful companies didn’t just do that to save money: there is a solid culture where technology allows individuals to share and accept who they are emotionally.

The whole concept of remote working will disappear from our daily lives and will only be called “work”, soon. Although some return to physical offices will occur, the working-from-anywhere will demand more attention to mental health aspects.

Leaders must create a platform where employees feel free to be themselves out of the professional and technical aspect, the basis of the equation and one of the most important points towards creativity and intellectual exchange.

The ability to deal with divergences, different ideas and emotions, foster innovation.

Companies embracing these concepts will be capable of failing fast, adapt to future demands and reach success quickly, not only by coping with the changes society is facing today, but by being ready for anything.

3. Bob Larrivee

Bob Larrivee is the President of Bob Larrivee Consultancy and a futurist with over 35 years of experience in information and process management.

Inducted into the AIIM Company of Fellows in 2019, Bob Larrivee is a recognized expert in the application of advanced technologies and process improvement to solve business problems and enhance business operations.

In his career, Bob has led many projects and authored hundreds of eBooks, Industry Reports, Blogs, Articles, and Infographics. In addition, he has served as host and guest Subject Matter Expert on a wide variety of webinars, Podcasts, Virtual Events, and lectured at in-person seminars and conferences around the globe.

Bob’s industry expertise comes from his leadership and hands-on experience in Product Management, R&D, Marketing and Sales, and Education. His passion is to share knowledge and expertise with organizations seeking to improve their operations, embrace technology, and drive their business forward.

Follow him on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter.

Here are his views:

The year 2020 brought many challenges for businesses not yet ready to support a remote workforce, as well as many workers being furloughed. In some cases, the furlough transformed into a permanent release from employment due to lack of business, and businesses closing their operations due to lack of revenue.

As a result, we have seen an increase in work-at-home scenarios for those positions where physical presence is not mandatory to complete work activities and an increase in the potential for small businesses to begin appearing.

In the case where remote workers are in place, businesses have begun to realize that supporting a remote workforce is a reality, work will not stop, and there is a slight increase in overall productivity. Additionally, the physical property can be reduced along with the overhead to support it, with some back-office functions being considered for outsourcing.

In the case of small start-up businesses, the focus must be on building the product and services, attracting customers, and providing the best customer experience possible. In these cases, outsourcing of business functions like accounting and leveraging online application services become very attractive.

In My View

2021 will see an increase in both areas described above, with businesses supporting remote workers, downsizing their physical plant, and seeking assistance to make the right moves from a financial perspective. Small businesses will be seeking to find online applications that support their business model, along with services to bolster their capabilities in accounting and reporting.

Accounting professionals, offering services to support these requirements, using collaborative tools that enable application sharing, video conferencing, and full digital interaction, will be best positioned to attract new customers, support existing customers, and adapt to the changing business landscape.

4. Peter Armaly

Peter Armaly is a senior-level Marketing and Customer Success professional with extensive experience working with wide-ranging clients of both SaaS and On-Premise engagement models.

He’s an advisory Board member for CSM Practice, a Customer Success consulting firm offering services to increase net retention, improve customer satisfaction, and grow a company’s advocacy base.

He has achieved Oracle B2B Masters and Oracle B2B Luminary certifications. He’s also a monthly contributor to the Oracle Marketing Cloud Blog series (awarded 2018 best blog post by B2B Marketing Zone). Other than that, he is a visionary leader in Customer Success industry with solid contributions of quality content (presentations, blogs, podcasts)

He is also listed on the A-List for Customer Success and selected by a jury of Customer Success Leaders as one of the Top 25 Influencers in 2017 and 2020.

Follow him on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram

Here’s what he has to say:

If we aren’t customer-driven, our cars won’t be either.”  Donald Peterson, Chairman of the Board for Ford Motor Co., 1985-1990

Businesses moving to the cloud should keep that message in front of mind at all times. The cloud has ushered in a huge opportunity for customers to exercise more control over their relationships with service providers. If they aren’t receiving the value they expect, they’ll go elsewhere. And value can be interpreted in many ways, including something as simple as the customer feeling they are being treated with courtesy and respect.

Accounting is no different than any other service provider in any other industry when it comes to how the cloud has leveled the playing field. If they hope to sustain and perhaps grow their businesses, leaders of companies must now focus much more of their energy on securing and renewing subscriptions.

And that means doing what it takes to deliver the level of quality of service and quality of experience that customers increasingly demand.

There is no other choice.

Conclusion

The way of working is undeniably changing, and the future is for sure bright. The digital transition would not replace humans but make their jobs easier. For example, time-consuming accounting tasks such as audits, payrolls, and more are predicted to be fully automated with the advancements in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

In fact, many businesses have already migrated to technologies such as the cloud to discover new aspects and grow their business.

We are excited to see what happens next, are you? Let us know in the comments section below.