Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the modern workplace has undergone significant changes, with many organisations and companies switching their physical office space for a digital workplace.
The digital workplace offers flexibility, efficiency and cost savings for both employers and their staff. Employees themselves tend to report greater work/life balance in a remote role1.
However, the advancement of workplace technologies and digital solutions means the workplace – even the digital workplace – is set for another overhaul.
In this blog:
- Employee tracking technology
- Cloud-based collaboration
- AI and machine learning
- Gamification of intranets
- Comprehensive knowledge bases
- Knowledge culture
- Focus on digital employee experience
- Sustainability
- Mobile phone technology
- Data security
Here are the top 10 digital workplace trends in 2023:
Employee tracking technology
When the pandemic forced employees to carry out their work from home, there was little for employers to use in the way of task-tracking technology – remote work was based on mutual trust and self-discipline. However, this could be set to change as employee tracking technology becomes more widely available.
Employee tracking technology includes digital tools and company intranets that can track productivity, task completion and hours spent working. Companies may think they no longer have to worry about staff productivity outside the office, but they can expect some pushback from employees.
What people loved so much about remote working was the liberty of not being observed while working. Employee tracking technology could be seen as a sneaky return to the old ways of office-based working. There is a middle ground though. Organisations looking to introduce employee tracking technology can demonstrate how this can be used to employees’ advantage by helping to boost productivity and efficiency.
Cloud-based collaboration
With many people still working from home in 2023, cloud-based collaboration is set to become ever more relevant in the digital workplace.
With access to cloud technology, employees are able to securely store, share and work on documents and projects in real-time, while also being able to remain connected to their teams from any location. This offers a massive productivity boost both for companies using remote working, and companies operating from several branches or cross-country.
Cloud collaboration can also help companies upskill current employees, as the quick distribution of knowledge and AI-generated learning resources helps users learn new skills without the associated costs of re-training.
AI and machine learning
The use of AI and machine learning in the digital workplace is growing rapidly, with many companies already using AI technologies to automate repetitive tasks and track metrics, such as content utility and employee performance.
As these technologies become increasingly widespread in the workplace, companies with digital workplaces could benefit from AI advancements to facilitate data-driven intranets, enhanced customer service, as well as AI-powered learning resources for employees.
The emergence of ‘chatbot’ technology is also significant for the digital workplace. AI technology designed to simulate human conversations could provide employees and customers with instant replies to support requests, without a lengthy wait from a human customer service advisor. This means an employee can resolve their question and another employee is freed from a repetitive task to focus on something more productive.
Gamification of intranets
Another digital workplace trend is the 'gamification' of company intranets.
This is where employees are awarded points, or given rewards, badges or other marks of achievement for completing tasks. This can be a great way to add some fun to a remote workplace, while also motivating employees to finish tasks on time, boosting productivity and engaging employees.
Comprehensive knowledge bases
Working in a digital workplace offers exciting opportunities when it comes to expanding employee knowledge and skills, and knowledge management is going to play a significant role in achieving this in 2023 and beyond.
Knowledge management refers to the aggregation of all company-relevant data; whether it be training videos, Q&As, or department-specific expertise. For companies looking at transforming into completely digital workplaces, a functional knowledge base is crucial for an immersive digital employee experience.
Knowledge culture
Robust digital workplaces of 2023 and beyond are those that foster a knowledge culture.
Knowledge culture is a company culture that promotes people identifying, contributing and sharing knowledge. It’s a culture that prizes the effective, efficient use of knowledge and recognises that knowledge is the key to a company’s competitive advantage.
Whether this means group video calls, more collaborative decision-making, or online group activities designed to boost brainstorming and productivity, the aim is for ‘purpose-driven’ work.
Focus on digital employee experience
As more companies move to digital and automated processes, the spotlight is going to fall on the digital employee experience. Organisations moving to digital operations will need to consider how they run and manage a digital workplace, and what tools can be used to support the transition – and their employees.
Aside from equipping employees with user-friendly digital tools and training, the question of mental health is also at the forefront of these conversations.
After all, remote and digital working – while still largely popular with employees – isn't immune to criticism. Although studies are inconclusive (as it's still too early in the WFH experiment to say), some critics claim that working from home on a permanent basis can enhance feelings of depression, solitude, and loneliness. While this may not be true for all employees, it can be true for young people, or those living alone.
Therefore, the onus is going to be on digital companies to ensure the mental health and wellbeing of remote employees; not just for their productivity, but their overall emotional health. This could mean enhanced HR technologies, virtual support, or greater flexibility over digital/hybrid working.
Sustainability
As corporate organisations turn their attention towards sustainability, we can expect to see an increase in eco-friendly efforts, even from those operating digital workplaces. While the digital workplace is more eco-friendly in many ways than running a physical office – with reduced demands on lighting and heating or cooling and less commuting – there are still further gains in sustainability a company with a remote workforce can make.
Digital workplaces can accelerate their sustainability efforts by implementing environmentally friendly policies, such as using instant messaging instead of email, and using their company intranet rather than file-sharing over external platforms. Companies can also look to fully digitising all operations, from invoices to employee training. Even storing data in the cloud is an operational area where companies can take a more sustainable approach.
Mobile phone technology
One of the benefits – and, yes, downsides – of the digital workplace is that employees can connect to their teams at any time, no matter where they are. Just as platforms like Atlas, Slack and Asana can be accessed on mobile, we can expect to see other cloud-based, AI, and digital tools look to mobile innovation.
With this hyperconnectivity comes a caveat and a reminder of the focus on the digital employee experience and how wellbeing and balance are factors in a person’s productivity levels too.
Data security
Finally, as the digital workplace becomes more complex and interconnected, data security will become increasingly important in 2023. This is especially true for larger companies accumulating enormous amounts of data and content on private internal servers.
For those operating a company intranet, advanced encryption technologies and secure authentication processes will be essential to ensuring the safety of confidential data. Companies might also look to invest in cyber security training for their employees, helping them spot potential risks and taking proactive steps to protect their systems from malware.
The bottom line on digital workplace trends in 2023
While 2021 and 2022 oversaw drastic changes to the way we work, 2023 is going to demonstrate how technology can advance the digital workplace further. With the integration of AI, AR (augmented reality) and other automation-enabling technologies, the world of remote working is set to remain in constant evolution.
More blogs about the digital workplace in 2023 and beyond:
1 Employees Are Happier in The Office? More Research Suggests Otherwise
