The workplace used to be a rigid, stuffy place where employees were expected to dress in a uniform or business wear and work at their desk or cubicle from 9 to 5 every day. These strict standards have roots in the Industrial Revolution, when it was crucial for people to work together in assembly lines, at a set time and place.
Now that we’re in the midst of the Technology Revolution, those standards are outdated and no longer match the needs of the modern workplace. Now the focus is on how to most effectively leverage technology to drive operational business efficiency. The more our work becomes digitalized, the more changes we see in office design, corporate culture, and the way teams collaborate to complete tasks.
Three major trends currently influencing the evolution of the workplace:
- The workplace today is more diverse in a number of ways, with multiple generations interacting together. Although expectations and preferences for getting work done vary across each generation, the overall workforce is growing more tech-savvy. Generation Z is entering the workforce and has never known life without technology at their fingertips. The first smartphone debuted when they were infants. More and more employees are expecting their workplace to have the right digital devices, apps, tools and software needed to work efficiently. Outdated technology or a lack of digital resources is no longer acceptable.
- There is an increased focus on transparency and openness regarding how business decisions are being made. The proverbial “flat organization” rules the day, and how teams are being created often reflects that new order. Teams no longer operate in specialized silos, instead working cross-functionally to influence operations more dramatically than before. Teams need a tool that allows them to transfer information and collaborate digitally across departments.
- Many companies are becoming increasingly global, if not at least geographically remote. With the proliferation of portable devices and wireless connectivity, it is now possible for many employees to work from home, a client site, or while traveling for business. Employees are also requesting flexible work weeks with non-traditional hours, allowing them to have a better work-life balance. In addition to traditional in-house employees, the new normal includes global teams with remote employees scattered throughout different time zones, as well as contract and freelance workers who need secure access to shared project assets.
With all these factors at play, there is a strong need for organizations to ensure they are providing tools that enable and engage their employees to collaborate just as effectively as they would working side-by-side in a traditional office. Today’s modern workplace needs a shared, secure digital workspace where employees can chat, meet, share files, and work with business apps.
It is important to research your options before impulsively buying a subscription to one of the many consumer-grade collaboration platforms out there, which could result in an IT mess of multiple logins, security concerns, and unnecessary risk. One great option available is Microsoft Teams, an integrated digital workspace that brings together chat, meetings, calling, file sharing and collaborative editing, all built on the trust of Microsoft security and compliance.
Teams is integrated with Microsoft’s Office 365, which means it works seamlessly with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint, Power BI and more. Any documents shared within Teams is stored in OneDrive and the organization’s SharePoint environment, ensuring that Team users always have access to the latest file. The experience is enhanced with customizations such as bots and integration with hundreds of external applications and services, in an environment where you can operate with confidence that everything is protected and secure.
Want to learn more about Microsoft Teams?
Watch our on-demand webinar, Collaborate Digitally with Microsoft Teams, to see how Teams can get your team on the same page with group chat, online meetings, file sharing and more.
We also offer a Microsoft Teams Readiness Assessment to ensure your organization is ready to migrate to Teams and to help you maximize the value of your investment in Microsoft 365 and Office 365. Upon completing our assessment, you will receive a report outlining your organization’s readiness and the steps needed to prepare to migrate, implement, govern and manage your Teams deployment.
Contact us for more information about our Microsoft Teams Readiness Assessment, or email me at michael.sieber@siriuscom.com.
