What is a digital workplace?
There’s a lot of ongoing discussion about digital workplaces, but it can be hard to find a comprehensive digital workplace definition. Simply put, a digital workplace is a technology that streamlines multiple tools and applications into a single platform. This technology can typically be accessed by employees anytime, from anywhere, via multiple devices.
A main function of digital workplaces is to eliminate the inefficiencies associated with managing too many programs. Instead of constantly switching between multiple applications and windows, employees can access their entire workflow in one place. Of course, there are also many additional core functions of digital workplaces, but these can vary across different industries and platforms.
Why it’s time to launch your digital workplace?
Digital workplaces first started trending sometime around 2013 and have only increased in popularity as more and more companies offer digital workplace solutions. So why is now the right time to launch a digital workplace? Here are our top five reasons to make this your first priority in 2021:
Digital workplaces increase productivity
The digital workplace definition tells us that digital workplaces increase productivity by streamlining multiple workflow components into a single hub. But while this is a core part of the technology, it’s not the only way digital workplaces will help your employees be more productive. In fact, there is a long list of new and emerging digital workplace features that you’re probably missing out on.
One common complaint in modern workplaces is the amount of time wasted in meetings. According to Daily Muse, two out of three meetings are considered unsuccessful, costing companies more than $37 billion each year. Digital workplaces offer employees alternative methods of collaboration, including instant messaging, video conferencing, and integrated communications. This way, meetings can be reserved for only the most essential topics.
Digital workplaces improve employee engagement
Employee engagement is strongly correlated with many areas of overall company success. A 2017 Gallup study found that highly engaged employees led to a 17% increase in productivity, 21% greater profitability, and 59% lower turnover. Yet at least half of the workforce is not currently engaged.
Digital workplaces provide many solutions to improve employee engagement. For example, digital workplace company Powell Software designed its solution specifically to drive employee engagement through visual communications and customizable displays. This type of design encourages employees to participate by interacting with content, tracking goals, and staying connected to the rest of the workforce. The results speak for themselves; Powell Software reports that its customers see an 80% increase in usage of Microsoft 365 tools after implementing its digital workplace platform.
Digital workplaces bring remote employees together
If you don’t already work remotely at least some of the time, you probably will soon. By some estimates, 70% of global professionals work remotely at least once per week. Most experts agree that remote work will only become more common as time goes on. By launching a digital workplace in 2021, you’ll be ahead of the game as the global workforce trends towards remote work.
Digital workplaces are the perfect solution for remote workers because they provide a virtual location for employees to collaborate and communicate just as if they were in a physical office. With the majority of remote workers feeling left out of the workplace, this is an important step to take. A digital workplace gives you a platform to keep these remote employees up to date on important company news and helps them feel like they’re in the loop.
Another major benefit of a digital workplace is that it provides multinational organizations with a platform to connect international employees. This makes it possible for teams in different offices to collaborate on projects without having to travel – or even leave their desk. Facing a language barrier? There’s a solution for that, too. Some digital workplaces, including Powell Software suite, have translation tools integrated directly into the platform.
Digital workplaces are highly customizable
A major pain point of most companies is that software solutions lack flexibility and customization. Most enterprises are forced to string together multiple separate technologies and programs to create a solution that meets their needs. The result is a complex web of technologies that don’t necessarily work well together and lead to inefficiencies.
This is where digital workplaces come into play. By implementing a digital workplace solution, you’ll replace your employees’ entire multi-step workflow with a single integrated technology. You’ll also have total control over your digital workplace, from branding to functionality.
Not all digital workplace technologies come with easy customization tools, so make sure to ask this question when evaluating a digital workplace solution. For example, Powell Software’s no code customization allows you to choose from a set of themes for its platform or create your own, dictating everything from color scheme to widget layout without touching a single line of code.
Digital workplaces are easy to implement
If you’ve made it this far, you might have one final concern: “This all sounds great, but how much time and money will it take to set up?” The answer is that it doesn’t take much of either. Digital workplaces are incredibly easy to get up and running. In fact, Powell Software found that implementation of its digital workplace software took just one fourth the amount of time that it took to implement Microsoft 365. If that wasn’t enough, the average three-year budget of Powell Software customers is cut in half following digital workspace launch.
Not only are digital workplaces easy to implement, they’re also easy to update and adapt as your company grows and changes. All it takes is a few clicks to issue a company-wide digital workplace update with no system downtime. From 100 employees to 10,000 employees, the scalability of your digital workplace is nearly limitless.
How to get started
Does a digital workplace sound like the right solution for your organization? Powell Software is a leading provider of digital workplace solutions with preconfigured templates that are easy to implement and maintain. To get started, schedule a demo today.