The modern work environment was already evolving quickly when the pandemic accelerated the need for flexibility and accessibility. Today, digital workspaces based on virtualization and cloud computing technologies have transformed the employee experience. Work that previously existed solely within the office is now available anytime, anywhere, on any device.
The best digital workspace solutions not only improve productivity in employees but also reduce overhead and streamline the customer experience. With such critical benefits on the line, implementing the right digital workspace infrastructure is crucial.
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Flexible Working Options Are Critical to Hiring and Retention
Not only has COVID-19 forced a rapid change in how business is conducted, but now that employees have experienced a taste of better work-life balance, the demand for remote work continues to grow.
The “Great Resignation” movement has shown that the modern workforce craves a more adaptable work environment. Employees are rewarding employers who offer flexible schedules and remote work – and walking away from those who don’t.
Staying competitive requires modern solutions such as digital workspaces, and employees aren’t the only ones who benefit from new remote and hybrid work models. More businesses are finding that cloud services deliver transformative advantages, as we discuss on our YouTube channel, Talk Nerdy to Me: The Case for Cloud Solutions.
Experience the Benefits of a Digital Workspace
Whatever your reasons for migrating to a digital workspace, you’ll find that the benefits are widespread. While the change to digital workspaces may cause some short-term challenges as the transformation takes place, the results are well worth it.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Increased flexibility for your business and employees. When employees can work seamlessly from any location, they can enjoy a more flexible schedule that meets their needs. Better work-life balance means a workforce that’s more energized and empowered to rise to your business challenges.
- Employee productivity improves with flexibility and connectedness. According to an extensive workplace survey from the technology company Senion, 39% of employees spend at least an hour per week looking for colleagues, desks, and conference rooms. Digital workspace tools prevent this type of wasted time.
- Digital communication tools promote collaboration and remove barriers. For example, chat apps make conversations easier to participate in, which makes all voices more likely to be heard.
- Employee retention improves, since happy employees are less likely to seek greener pastures. Your company can better attract top talent by prioritizing the employee experience.
- Overhead costs shrink through recruitment savings and a decreased need for physical office space and on-premises data centers. Many workers even say they would consider a job that pays less but offers remote work options, since they save time and money on their commute and can live in areas with a lower cost of living.
- More satisfied and loyal customers are a natural consequence of a workforce that feels balanced, valued, and energized to provide the best customer service.
As the workforce becomes more tech-savvy and cloud workspace tools continue to improve, business models that embrace the change will reap the greatest benefits.
However, new technology inevitably brings new challenges for IT professionals. Your security landscape is now tasked with protecting company data across any device and any internet connection, even as the digital workspace framework continues to evolve.
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What to Look for in Your Digital Workspace Infrastructure
A successful digital workspace implementation requires a thoughtful approach to ensure that the transformation smooths the flow of business rather than causing disruptions. For IT teams, the process could involve delivering, managing, and securing a wide variety of applications and services.
When considering a particular solution or platform, it’s important to evaluate any option in the context of your overall strategy and ask several key questions.
1. Will the platform deliver an intuitive, high-quality user experience?
With employees accessing their tasks across multiple devices, how intuitive is the switch from mobile device to desktop to laptop to tablet? What kind of training is required? Can employees access all the data and files they need? Does the platform accommodate the various workflows, business applications, and technology tools that employees need to perform their work? These are critical concerns since the end-user experience informs day-to-day operations and productivity.
Make sure to consider the employee experience in the context of tools for communication and collaboration. Communication, including sharing files, instant messaging, and project collaboration, is one of the most essential functions of a successful digital workspace.
2. Is there potential for disruption to our business processes?
The latest apps might be predicated on a high-speed internet connection – so how will they perform for remote workers who live in rural areas and don’t have access to high-speed internet connections?
What about older applications, programs that are no longer supported, or old file formats that aren’t compatible with updated apps? Will these types of compatibility issues cause potential disruptions or cut off access to critical files and information?
3. Does the device management program allow real-time insight into each device that accesses company data?
To effectively manage many unique endpoints, you need a unified platform that makes it easy to monitor, update, and troubleshoot devices and workspaces in real time. Effective digital workspace infrastructure should keep all devices secure while helping the workforce stay flexible and productive.
4. How does the platform manage security and compliance for a remote workforce?
With more advanced threats popping up daily, high-end cybersecurity and compliance solutions are an essential element to a successful cloud workspace. Just as with your employees’ digital workspace experience, flexibility is critical. Your security framework needs to be ready to respond anytime, anywhere, on any device or internet connection. And employees need secure remote access to their digital workspace no matter where they work or what type of device they use.
5. Can the digital workspace scale with your business?
Change is inevitable in business. A solution that works well today but doesn’t scale as your workforce grows could eventually create a major drag on productivity and flexibility. To avoid this problem, look for a solution that’s highly elastic, scales easily, and provides tools for automation. The best digital workspace solutions can quickly scale from a few users to a few thousand without creating a burden for IT teams or requiring significant infrastructure changes.
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Contact Virtual Systems and Get Complete Support for Your Digital Transformation
An all-in-one solution from Virtual Systems can keep your company data safe while allowing your mobile workforce to get their work done anytime, anywhere. Our cloud workspace architecture can provide complete flexibility, scalability, security, and compliance.
Experience seamless integration across all end-user applications while setting and enforcing consistent data policies across all apps and all devices. With one convenient management platform, you’ll have an agile, seamless solution that can transform your business.
To learn more about how Virtual Systems can demystify the cloud and provide a complete digital workspace solution, or if you have any other questions, contact us today. Our cloud workspace experts will have you up and running in no time.
Reference
First, L. (2017). Senion. Office Workplace Survey. Retrieved from https://senion.com/office-worker-survey/
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