What Is Digital Workplace and Why You Need It?

What is a workplace?

Usually, anyone would call their office a workplace. But now, with the emerging technological inventions, the way of working has transformed. Workplace isn’t a physical office anymore but is any place where you sit and work, be it your bedroom, a coffee house, or even an airplane.

The latest technologies have changed the way of work. With various apps, tools, and platforms, it has now become very convenient for businesses to carry out their daily operations. The workplace has become digital now.

A digital workplace is basically a virtual workplace where you accomplish all your office tasks on portable devices like smartphones or laptops using cloud technology. The workplace can be accessed from anywhere at any time using the Internet.

Statistics show that 44% of workplaces have already indulged in some form of digital programs, and around 95% of organizations agree that digital workplace is important. (Source: CMS Wire)

Digital workplace has improved the way people communicate and collaborate, manage reports, post on social media, increasing the efficiency of work.

According to Deloitte, “The digital workplace encompasses all the technologies people use to get work done in today’s workplace–both the ones in operation and the ones yet to be implemented. It ranges from your HR applications and core business applications to e-mail, instant messaging, and enterprise social media tools and virtual meeting tools.”

There are multiple reasons why you need a digital workplace. Here are a few:

1. Go Paperless

Research shows that over 30 million acres of forest are destroyed annually to produce paper, which has continuously led to an increase in global warming. Moreover, The World Counts estimated that 40% of the waste in the US in paper waste.

Thus, it has become a necessity to reduce the usage of paper. Digital workplace makes this possible. Switching from paper documents to online reports not only helps in reducing paper usage but also saves the costs of printing, filing, etc. It also has a positive impact on the environment by reducing paper wastes, controlling deforestation, and global warming.

2. Improved Efficiency Of Work

Virtual workplace has enabled people to work online. It has helped remove any geographical barriers by making communication and collaboration easier. With the help of cloud technology, you can travel anywhere around the world and continue working on your virtual platform.

It also allows you to manage all your documents and files easily on one platform. Instant messaging tools helps you connect and share ideas with your colleagues, and hence leads to faster communication, increasing the efficiency of your work.

3. Enhanced Security

According to statistics, 43% of cyber-attacks happen to small businesses.
A digital workplace improves security. You no more have to worry about losing your important files and documents. With the Single Sign-On (SSO) feature, you can login to your system with only one login credential that ensures your privacy is maintained.

Cloud storage also gives you advanced security features. All your confidential information and data are kept safe from any internal and external threats like- hacks, ransomware, etc. So, you can work without any worry.

4. Ease And Simplicity Of Work

A digital workplace makes your work extremely easy and simplified. With the help of various tools and technology, you can now work faster than ever. Be it scheduling meetings or booking rooms; everything can be done with just a click in a digital workplace.

Virtual workplace also helps you save time as you can access your applications and data from any place on the earth with the help of the Internet. As all your tools and software are on a virtual platform, it makes your work faster and efficient.

5. Cost Reduction

In your day-to-day work, you have to incur numerous costs, such as money spent on commuting for meetings, papers, hardware and IT maintenance, and much more.

Working on a digital platform reduces a large amount of money spent on such things. Statistics show that companies with annual revenues between $500k and $1 million can save up to $40k per year by switching to digital document management.

So, you can save money and effort and invest it somewhere else to get substantial returns.

Digital Workplace Is The Need Of Today

A digital workplace is changing the way people work. You no longer have to sit on your office desk for straight nine hours. And not just that, it is also bridging the gap between personal and professional life and helping people to manage both efficiently.

So, now is the time to make a move towards a digital workplace if you still haven’t.

But how to implement a digital workplace?

The first step towards building a digital workplace is to know your employees and their technological requirements. Since technology plays a key role in developing a digital workplace, you must be well aware of your business processes and then identify the kind of technology that might benefit your business.

It is also important to choose technology that you and your employees are familiar with. After making such decisions, it is vital to make these changes smoothly so that people do not face problems adapting to the new process, and so does not hamper the business in any way.

Lastly, you must keep up to date with the latest technological trends so that you are always on par with the rest of the world.