Remote work is here to stay. Employees and employers have tasted the benefits of a digital workspace — and they’re not going back.
In the United States alone, nearly 4 million people (around 3%) now work remotely. 50% of the US workforce has a job that could be done remotely. That same study showed that 80%+ employees would like to work remotely.
But remote work isn’t just American-based. Now, improved technology is making it a global trend.
It’s time to invest in technologies and systems that facilitate the mobile workstation. But maybe you’re skeptical. If so, let’s explore the benefits that your company could be missing by not embracing the digital workspace.
1. Flexibility
The digital workspace offers employees the ultimate flexibility — without sacrificing a company’s ability to meet goals.
Employees can work where they want to, on their preferred devices. Those who don’t need to stick with a schedule can even work when they want to.
Because of this, employees feel more in control of their lives. Work and life don’t constantly conflict. They’re willing to work longer hours — as long as they’re not taken advantage of.
This is good for people — and great for your business.
2. Collaboration
In the early years of remote work, employees felt isolated. And their managers often felt at a loss when it came to how to make it better.
They struggled to make them feel like part of the team, to keep them informed, to motivate them.
But with the digital workspace, employees and supervisors can easily interact with each other face-to-face. They can share links, charts, images and data.
They can work on projects together, even though they may be miles away or on opposite sides of the country.
Because people are on devices, it’s actually easier to keep everyone engaged and on the same page.
3. Productivity
The productivity benefit is multi-faceted:
1. Employees who have a healthy work-life balance produce more.
2. Employees are less likely to be out sick, because in many cases they can still work remotely.
3. It’s easier to find people to work holidays and weekends, because they can do it remotely.
4. Companies have less turnover because employees feel appreciated and rewarded. Companies who invest in remote systems can increase retention by 87%.
5. Recruitment time is reduced, because people are drawn to companies with flexible work arrangements.
4. Compatibility
Most digital workspace technology integrates with your other technologies to create a seamless user experience for employees.
That’s fewer logins required and easier management of things like:
- Workload
- Performance stats
- HR communications
- Team communications
- Team Resources
- Training
- Communications applications like chat and video
- Augmented reality for collaborative projects
5. Cost Reduction
Many people say that they’d be okay with a reduction in pay if they could work remotely. Why? Because of the convenience that it adds to their lives. No more commutes or paying for parking. They feel like there are more hours in the day.
In addition, companies are saving on things like:
- Commercial square footage
- Utilities
- Recruitment costs
And let’s not forget the reduced cost to the environment with fewer commuters on the road.
Investing in a Digital Workspace
Sure, change can be hard. But can your business really afford not to invest in our digital future?
SnapMunk
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If a company that I worked for asked me to take a pay cut and work from home I would decline. Leaving my house is the one thing that keeps me sane. Being able to mix up my day is a good thing and if I have to do the work from home.
I do not see any way around a digital future. I have started to move many of my own daily functions into the freelancer marketplace just to save my own time. So far, so good. I am fine in my business with moving into the digital era.
Cost reductions are on the top of the LIST for any company. If you can do this with a new type of workplace, it is certainly something that your company should look into.
I have been starting to see more collaboration tools available online. They are really making me think about my process for my business. I would like to see more ways to collaborate.
Productivity might be a good thing if you have a crew that knows what they are doing in the digital age. What about the aging workforce?
By far, flexibility is the most important. So much more efficient with the different ways to communicate and things like that.
Great take on the benefits of digital workspace, SnapMunk! I totally agree with #3, it can significantly improve employee recruitment efforts and other overhead costs. Thanks and definitely sharing!