8 Emerging Digital Workplace Trends in Organizations

More workplaces are adopting hybrid remote work-friendly models. As a result, the need for digital workplace platforms and the implementation of other trends are becoming more prominent. The current trends are headed towards a digital workforce. As businesses shift to this new model, there are many ways to promote focus and productivity.

Here are eight digital workplace trends that can help your organization adapt to this new environment.

Trend #1: Flexible management approaches

A digital workplace can be a lot more challenging to manage than what’s possible in person. Mid-level managers have to interpret company policies for remote workers and learn how to accommodate different employee needs.

There has never been a more flexible management approach in general business as there is today. Employees need to be given a certain amount of freedom to work comfortably where they are, and, in return, employers are rewarded with results.

Trend #2: Employees using outside tools

A recent survey suggested that 44% of workers use 1-3 tools daily to do their jobs that their company does not adopt. These are outside tools and software that assist with an efficiency that employers are not offering, a sure sign that many companies are falling behind at supporting digital workforces.

Many companies are new to offering remote work, and many still struggle to maximize the advantages that come with it. This is all the more reason why examining project management software, digital workplace platforms, and team communication software may be your answer to how to better manage remote workers.

Trend #3: Using digital workplace platforms

Your business needs a digital workplace solution. With this software, you can assign tasks, monitor project progress, exchange direct messages, release group emails and group messages, and direct employees just like you would like in person.

Basic project management software and more custom digital workplace platforms are worth looking at. A business can optimize these platforms for what they need from them.

Trend #4: Employee input & comments

Allow your employees to bring forth comments and suggestions on how well your digital workplace is working. They might suggest software and apps that can be used, different policies or strategies that haven’t been considered, and more.

You make your digital workplace more collaborative and productive this way, allowing employees to have a sense of ownership over their work conditions while allowing you a glimpse into software and areas that would allow your team to do their job more effectively.

Trend #5: Streamlined direct and group communication

Communication, camaraderie, and group dynamics are a lot harder to build when you’re working within a digital workplace framework. There is an inherent need to use digital workplace software as a communication tool.

Support employees in using this technology, encouraging them to send messages whenever something’s needed, to update on progress, and to connect to internal resources when/if needed. This is one of the biggest factors in employee satisfaction in digital workplaces and work-from-home situations.

Trend #6: Multi-device adoption & security needs

For a few decades, employees would come to work, sign in on their computer, and all the software they needed was on the business network and ready to use. As more things go digital, employees are working on their own devices and often working from as many as 3-4 devices within any given week.

There is a need for small businesses and enterprises to use workplace software that can be downloaded onto multiple devices and that is fully secure. Applications and software are where organizations are now investing as opposed to upfront hardware purchases, such as investing in a fleet of computers.

Trend #7: Creating digital teams and more team leads

To better manage remote workers, businesses are creating more teams with more team leads. This is to more clearly analyze work and ensure adequate supervision and support among all employees. Large offices where two supervisors may have managed them are now being divided into smaller groups managed by 6-7 team leads.

This approach has demonstrated as much as 25% more revenue growth compared to peers and showcases the need to offer more support to employees working from home or in remote areas.

Trend #8: Finding methods to analyze roi

Measuring the productivity and success of remote work isn’t always apparent. Although you don’t want to accuse anyone of not working, there must be a way to judge ROI and analyze where improvements can be made. This is about generating data through digital software, aiding you in uncovering your high and low achievers within your digital workspace and where your management may be going wrong.

Many companies are redefining and adjusting key performance indicators (KPIs) to better measure productivity. This often involves creating milestones in digital workplace software and monitoring key metrics based on these milestones.