Technology and the adoption of technology in the workplace is at a higher tempo than ever. Today every company and their employees are influenced and subsequently affected by digital adoption and digital transformation.
Whether you work in a start up or a major household brand, you will be experiencing dramatic impact through digital transformation.
Our question at the CSA is how the digital era effects people – how it effects employees in companies and how digital tools and processes influence how those employees are managed and engaged.
Digital Transformation #1: Mobility and Remote Working
Cloud computing is aggressively steering software ‘off premise’, and similarly, the digital era is steering employees ‘off premise’. Mobility and remote working are typically the norm for many organisations. Employees are equipped with various digital means to work, operate and report on their activities. Skills pools have been widened; some hiring managers no longer focus on looking for an employee who is based close to the office – instead opting for the employee with the right skills to fulfill a role.
Internal communications have never been so fluent. Employees have numerous options to communicate – social media, intranet, various guises of instant messenger and apps, group and team forums, VOIP video conference facilities and more.
Digital Transformation #2: Analysis and Reporting on People Performance
Whilst employees have more freedom than ever, some criticise the requirement for additional admin, in terms of reporting. As example most Chief Human Resources Officers will have been experiencing digital HR transformation, and will be equipped with tools / digital dashboards that measure and forecast personnel activities that were once difficult to understand and record. Analysis and reporting on people performance and of those effects on a business is now undeniable. As a result, this has improved interaction and relationships with HR and business leadership. There is no doubt that digital tools have a positive impact on workforce optimisation and communication; results include business objectives being achieved more efficiently or more quickly, budgets are preserved and bottom lines are increased.
Digital Transformation #3: Information Security
Whilst digital transformation in the work place demonstrates many positives for businesses and employees, sometimes change is not always well received and a negative response to change can create cultural challenges in the work place. Another obvious risk of digital adoption is security, which is typically high on the agenda for any CXO. Mobility and cloud creates some anxiety around information security, access to data and data breaches. Overall these risks or concerns are managed via enhanced security infrastructure and processes.
Digital transformation in the work place can have a positive impact on personnel productivity and access to talent. However security issues and the fear over employee policing of activities and results can negatively affect a culture, if not managed well.
Businesses are aware of the clear competitive advantages in improving workforce optimisation, communication and collaboration between departments and sites. Some employees resist change but they will have to adapt as the digital era is here to stay.
Written by Damian Bird
January 2017 – Reading, United Kingdom.
CSA United Kingdom
Headquarter: 200 Brook Drive | Green Park | Reading | Berkshire | United Kingdom RG2 6UB
+44 7899794091
damian.bird@continental-search.com