Technology – in the form of the mobile that you hold while reading this, the social media channel that got you here, and the network connectivity facilitating our engagement, etc. – has become an integral part of our waking hours. Technology has dramatically improved our lives and is an invaluable resource for everything that you can think about.
New technology and applications are being released everyday with one promise – redefining your modern workplace with process streamlining and productivity improvement. Moreover, with the deadly virus disrupting every aspect of life, digital transformation and its implementation has accelerated immensely.
The question is, how will technology cater to the future of work like? Especially, when remote working has become the norm which has deeply entwined our professional and personal lives?
The concept of remote working gained prominence during the lockdown as more and more organizations and employees started realizing the tangible and intangible benefits involved. And with unlimited access to new technologies, remote leaders were able to bring the decentralized workforce together. In addition, the paradigm shift in work culture over the last few years, it is inevitable that the future of work will witness colossal advancements in the way remote working is done.
With every passing day, business leaders are gaining a better understanding of the benefits of remote work – improved productivity, employee wellness, retention of talent, effective recruitment, and reduced absenteeism, to say the least. Remote working has also facilitated the hiring of teams and professionals worldwide with a minimum overhead cost. Also, commuting time and cost have been forgotten. Workers are focusing more on balancing their work and life. They are now gaining freedom to choose where they want to work from – bedroom, coffee shop, beach, or maybe from a different country!
In addition to the remote-work revolution, the future of work will be driven by the millennials. This young workforce has been exposed to the good side of technology for most part of their lives, and these tech-savvy workers will always be a priority for organizations. As derived from the trends suggested, digital skills will be the new currency of employment as the demand for IT, analytics, social media, SEO will be increasing.
On the other hand, employers will be required to adapt quickly to the desires of this new workforce – the ability to work flexibly from anywhere, liberal choice of work, and improved work-life balance. This new band of workers are ambitious and adventurous, which makes them digital nomads. Providing these digital workers with continuous training and personal development will also be an important strategy for the employers.
Therefore, creating a well-structured plan to work remotely will ensure that every stakeholder in this new era of work will stand to benefit. If approached innovatively and responsibly, the technology available today would offer workers and organizations with a practical path that is much more fun and appealing than commuting to work five days a week.