The rise of cloud computing and teleconferencing represent both the biggest opportunity for growth as well as the most significant organizational challenge to companies around the world, according to new research by Condeco presented in The Modern Workplace 2019: People, Places & Technology.
60% of those who participated in the study expressed concern over the speed with which new technologies are reshaping their businesses. They are increasingly preoccupied with issues related to cloud computing, the internet of things, and big data.
These technology challenges are contributing significantly to the changing nature of the corporate environment. Cloud computing in particular has made it possible for increasing numbers of employees to work remotely and flexibly – meaning that the central company workspace is rapidly becoming an administrative hub, rather than a traditional central focus where everyone gathers during set hours.
Condeco’s report is based on an in-depth survey of business leaders in six countries, backed by qualitative interviews. Respondents overall say the biggest challenges facing their organizations in the next 12 months are digital transformation (37%) and the adoption of new technology (35%).
Almost half of businesses surveyed (41%) say they already offer some degree of remote working, while three-fifths (60%) provide flextime opportunities, allowing employees to choose when to start and end their workday.
Among the countries in the survey, remote working is particularly prevalent in Australia (45%) and least widespread in Germany (3%). U.S. businesses were least likely to offer flextime (49%), while those in Singapore were most likely (66%).
When asked why they choose to offer remote working, the most common reason was to improve talent retention (52%). Reducing office costs (47%) and meeting employee demand (45%) were the next most significant factors.
“The research clearly shows that businesses are in the process of transforming their workplaces digitally, which enables them to transform the way that they are used physically,” said Paul Statham, CEO of Condeco. “Today’s technology allows for space to be used more flexibly and for employees to work remotely. This benefits businesses by maximizing office space, reducing costs, and by keeping employees engaged and productive.”
When employees do go into the office, it is most often for meetings with colleagues and customers. Yet the researchers discovered that finding, booking, and using meeting rooms is a consistent point of tension. Fewer than a quarter of those surveyed (23%) say that their employees have access to meeting rooms whenever they need them.
Businesses are only just beginning to realize the extent to which the need for co-workers to meet in person is a thing of the past, as new conferencing systems enable teams to maintain real-time collaboration and conversation across vast distances and multiple time zones.
As the technology continues to evolve, it’s likely that even more workers will become remote. Organizations should be prepared by providing technology that enables teams to function at their full capacity – even when virtual.
The ASE Method
ASE has instituted a telecommuting program which allows each employee to work remotely twice per week. We utilize Microsoft Teams for communication and virtual meetings. Our technology will continue to evolve as needed to support a remote work environment.
Additional ASE Resources
McLean & Company – ASE members have access to the McLean & Company online library which contains a vast array of HR research and tools. There is a complete training program available on Managing Virtual Teams within this library. To access, login to your ASE Dashboard, then click on McLean & Company in the lower left-hand corner. Once logged into the McLean & Company site, search “Virtual Teams”.
Source: Condecosoftware.com