It’s a new year, and while some things have changed drastically, the digital workplace transformation has been quite gradual. The January edition of the Wrk Beyond the Bots segment will cover the transformations to your workplace. There are many trends impacting business decisions these days—hybrid or flex work, supply chain uncertainties, unstable economies—and it’s clear that this year is going to go through similar changes. Part of these trend forecasts involves looking closely at the differences in how employees are working. The simple verdict is that the traditional ways of doing business are now outdated. 

Today’s growth in technological capabilities, accessibility, and an inclination to adapt is changing the way that employees and businesses conduct business. Automation, AI, and ChatGPT are among some of the (not-so-new) shiny tools that are allowing us to evolve. 

Many organizations are already seeing the benefits of the reimagined workplace in the form of increased productivity, cost-saving processes, and an increase in everyone's ability to be flexible and adaptable. These are benefits for both employees and employers alike.  

What is digital workplace transformation?

Digital transformation is incorporating computer-based technologies into your products, processes, and strategies. This constant change is meant to keep your employees, customers, and prospects interested and to give you an edge over your competitors. 

Companies invest in digital workplace transformation to reach their goals and make all of their departments run more efficiently. It is important to keep evolving and seeking new ways to add value for your customers, but also to attract talent and keep your current employees happy. 

The new digital workplace also comes with its own challenges. There are issues such as security, employee burnout from the constant need to be ''on'', and the fear of being overridden by some of the technology. Companies must be proactive in finding the best solution for the culture they want. 

Why is it important for businesses to embrace structure changes in the digital workplace?

44% of firms report a reduction in business costs with the implementation of AI. Regardless of how your organization is set up, there are huge gains to be had from leveraging digital transformations like automation. They take a lot of the legwork and guesswork out of your day-to-day. 

Let’s take about how it has influenced sales teams. Predictive intelligence adoption in sales is forecasted to grow 118% by 2023. And adoption is expected to increase by 139% by the same year. 

Market leaders face a risk if they do not adapt to new trends. They may become displaced and disrupted, or simply left behind. Customers who get 24/7 access to responses and updates will drop those who have delays. Employees will choose to work for a company that gives them a lot of freedom and can change to meet their needs. 

Read our 2023 guide to adopting automation for revenue-generating teams.

Big changes to expect in the workplace

With new tech like ChatGPT causing a big uproar, companies can use it to reduce costs associated with training and hiring staff. It can also identify patterns and trends, which can help your marketing and sales strategies as well as your decision-making. It raises the bar for instant response to a new level. You can get technical and functional responses at any time of the day. Implementing this tool will ensure that your customers get better service and that your employees are better equipped. 

New technology makes it easier for communication, information gathering and sharing, and reduces costs in several different areas of your strategy. 

There are, however, other realities to confront. Middle management, for example, will have different responsibilities. The responsibilities and the number of workers who report to them have skyrocketed, and with remote workers, it’s much more difficult to provide hands-on assistance. More traditional approaches were based on managers being able to see and evaluate progress in real-time, and in person. This is part of the shift. Managers are now looking to be better coaches and offer support with empathy and trust. Tools like automation bank on human input being just that—based on high-value human strengths like empathy, support, and trust. They work in tandem so that your team is empowered to stay fully operational, even from afar or in different time zones. 

The advantages of workplace transformation for employees

With automation, AI, and bots entering the workplace, the question on everyone’s mind is: will we need more IT knowledge in-house to maintain it? Automation platforms like Wrk don’t require any prior coding experience. The only requirement is that you’re intimately familiar with your internal strategies. Your day-to-day tasks are the ones that will undergo the biggest transformation. But believe us, it’s for the better. Imagine what you could do with the time (and mental space) saved by not having to do your monotonous, repetitive tasks every day. 

The most valuable skills will be more cognitive in nature. The optimization that you and your team can do to your current strategies will bring returns on time saved and cost efficiencies, and you’ll be able to do things faster and better. Knowledge acquisition and promoting a continuous learning environment will be vital, but now you’ll have more time. To get the most out of the new digital workplace, employees must always improve their digital skills. 

Hybrid work and the digital workplace

Employee data collection will need a rework. With hybrid and full-time remote work, the digital workforce needed to find new ways to monitor productivity and employee wellness. Some companies use self-reporting, and others use automation platforms to make sure that every team member has access to all communication. Transparency and the breakdown of silos have enabled teams to collaborate more closely, even when working in different locations. 

The average professional spends 50% of their workday on email. Following up with a prospect or client within an hour increases your chances of success 7x. 

Closing deals faster and offering better service to your clients will bring a better return. But the biggest change with automation taking on the bulk of repetitive tasks is in the wellness of employees. 

With automation, you can:

  • Reduce administrative hours;

  • Automate your onboarding process;

  • Schedule and program social media recruitment;

  • Automate candidate outreach and follow-up;

  • Give instant project status updates;

  • Share analysis and feedback;

Once you automate these tasks, you can focus on the areas you're needed most: creating stronger relationships with colleagues, clients, and prospects. When your HR team automates a lot of these time-consuming tasks, they can focus on improving employee wellness and invest in the right technology to create a positive impact. 

Is Wrk the right fit for your company? Talk to an expert today!