Sheldon Anthony IO

The future of the workplace is rapidly changing as digital technologies reshape how we communicate, learn, and work. This change has important implications for everyone, from the business owner to the front-line employee. A modern workspace that integrates well with digital technologies can have a tremendous impact on employee productivity. The way we work is evolving dramatically and will continue to do so, and it is important to embrace digital technologies and implement them in your workspaces, as they can make work life easier and more productive for people in your organization.

An organization that does not embrace digital transformation can suffer significant consequences. If your company does not adopt digitization, you can most certainly expect less work efficiency than your competitors. If you also forestall digitization, you can bet your money on the fact that your competitors are not following in your footsteps. Eventually, stragglers may no longer be able to adapt due to a lack of resources and it will be impossible to bridge the gap between stragglers and their innovative competitors. Digital disruptions have made our workplaces more technologically sophisticated. Many businesses are still operating in a state of technological disarray, while others have found ways to make new digital technologies work for them. 

With 9,800 employees, Alaska Airlines provides a fleet size of 117 aircrafts across 91 destinations operating all over the United States. Alaska Airline pilots had to carry 25 pounds of hardcopy flight manuals every flight. These manuals had to also be reprinted for all pilots every time a change was made to their information. Alaska Airlines equipped all its pilots with iPad tablets that hold all flight manuals. The iPad enables pilots to find a full repository of information faster and easier in one location, as well as provides instant updates to the manuals before and after a flight. Pilots can also access additional information in the manual with a simple link. It has become the pilots’ one-stop shop for manuals and flight information. The tablet devices give the pilots a lighter and cheaper method to bring all their flight manuals on the plane. Alaska Airlines estimates that it saves 2.4 million pieces of paper and a light weight of 25lbs, especially for trips in Alaska where weight is a big concern.^[1]

Harnessing the power of modern digital technologies can help your business operate more productively and run at a higher level than ever before. In today's world, a forward-thinking enterprise cannot do without modern digital technologies. Those who use them effectively are more productive than their competitors and get higher profits in the long term. One company found that a manager saved 43 minutes per month with improved workplace tools. With over 30,000 managers, the company estimated an annual productivity increase of $12 million.^[2] Most of these modern digital technologies tools allow your employees to save time on routine tasks, improve internal processes and ensure top-notch security for your data.

As an organization, you should allow your people to shape their efforts from the bottom up, build communities of interest, drive knowledge management, and collaborate in ways that engage them personally and contribute to measurable business results. Rather than implementing siloed solutions and owning them in isolation, coordinate your technology groups and investments and make sure they are aligned with your business goals. As a business, you need to pick digital tools that drive collaboration and employee engagement. You also need to implement technologies with low barriers to contribution and participation. Your employees should be trained and provided with the communications and training necessary to succeed in a digital workplace. An organization should also develop a governance model to support collaboration and connectivity while mitigating risks. With the development of technologically advanced working environments and quality workspaces, more and more companies are realizing that digital workspaces can help them become successful through innovation and commitment.