Enabling collaboration in a digital workplace

Global, Jul 5, 2021

It’s pretty clear that digital workplaces are here to stay in one form or another. As a growing number of organisations move to make flexible or remote working part of their permanent policy, there are clear benefits to a digital workplace. From an employee perspective it reduces commutes and provides good work-life balance and for employers can reduce office real estate costs and open up hiring pools without geographic borders. In fact, only 12% of workers want to return to the office full-time.

Whilst the pandemic accelerated digital transformation to support remote working, many systems were implemented quickly but what truly is a digital workplace?

Defining a digital workplace

Enabled by digital technology, a digital workplace encompasses all the technology needed for an employee to do their work without the need to be in a physical workspace. Ranging from HR platforms, to email, messaging and virtual meeting tools, due to the rise in digital transformation most organisations already have the technology in place.

To quote Gartner, this ‘new work nucleus’ is a key element to modern workplace infrastructure, supported by digital transformation. The intersection of the evolution of SaaS tools and cloud adoption has allowed many businesses to benefit from not only in-built business agility but worker mobility as well. However, whilst having a geographically diverse workforce can be a benefit it can also be a hindrance when it comes to be communication and collaboration.

Creating space for communication and collaboration

Collaboration is recognised as a critical area for organisations looking for new sources of productivity and innovation. Cost cutting and efficiency measures can achieve only so much; the next breakthrough levels of business performance will come from the ability to tap into the collective knowledge and creativity of your workforce. On top of this an organisation’s innate culture is often cultivated in large part through collaboration and communication. Without a physical space in which to encourage this there is a chance that it could be lost.

Communication networks are what keep workforces connected with colleagues, customers, and partners wherever they happen to be. However, good communication does not automatically equate to smart collaboration.

The challenge lies in creating an environment where people can work effectively together anywhere, anytime, in an engaging manner while accommodating the needs of the new workplace.

Supporting sharing

A key method to support and encourage collaboration and communication in a digital workplace is through unifying communication technology. By removing barriers to communication and having a minimal number of tools or channels, the probability of collaboration increases.

However, selecting the right tools that are intuitive and fit business need whilst remaining secure can be a daunting challenge. Working with a technology partner who can advise, implement and scale solutions tailored to your business. Benefiting from a secure, integrated and completely reliable communications infrastructure allows you to free up IT resource for other strategic projects.

Recently, iCumulus, one of Australia’s leading supply chain solution providers came to Logicalis looking for a scalable, reliable business partner that could help them to scale operations and harness growth through
collaboration. We were able to help assess their needs and identify the right solution for their workforce.

Rolled out at week before the pandemic hit, the digital tools were perfectly positioned to support their transition to remote working, as they moved to a digital workplace overnight. Not only did this allow the business to quickly communicate and collaborate to customer need but has opened up a global talent pool that wasn’t previously accessible. Through Logicalis’ expertise, their move to a digital workplace and implementing the right tools to encourage clear communication and collaboration they have been able to build scalable growth potential into their digital transformation.

 

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