HONG KONG, CHINA: Employees who work in digital workplaces are more productive and motivated. They have higher job satisfaction, and report an overall better sense of wellbeing, according to a new global study from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.
The study, Digital Revolutionaries Unlock the Potential of the Digital Workplace, reveals both the business and human benefits of more digitally-driven workplaces, and how companies that are less technologically advanced are at risk of falling behind the competition and not attracting top talent. It also notes that companies must be vigilant as more digital-savvy employees are taking greater risks with data and information security.
The study involving 7,000 employees across 15 countries revealed a clear chasm in employee performance and sentiment between more advanced digital workplaces and those employ digital technology to a lesser degree, says a Media OutReach.
Employees who work in fully-enabled digital workplaces were 51 per cent more likely to have strong job satisfaction, and 43 per cent more likely to be positive about their work-life balance than "Digital Laggards". The revolutionary employees were also 56 per cent more likely to say they are motivated at their works, and 83 per cent more likely to praise their company's vision.
About 65 per cent of revolutionaries reported they had seen professional development and growth through the use of digital technology, compared to just 31 per cent of Laggards. With a digital workplace, 72 per cent of revolutionaries reported a higher ability to adopt new work skills as compared to 58 per cent of Laggards.
Productivity gains from digital technology quantified. About 73 per cent of Digital Revolutionaries reported a positive impact to their productivity and 70 per cent cited improved collaboration thanks to digital technologies, vs. 55 per cent of laggards.
Continued advancements in digital technology and automation pave the way for better workplace experiences. While automation can be perceived as a threat to job security, our research found that there was widespread enthusiasm for it. 71 per cent of respondents said they would welcome a fully automated workplace in the next 5-10 years, allowing organisations to build smarter, more effective working environments.
The study also found that employees are enthusiastic about new technology and have a desire for their employers to provide more. Throughout Asia Pacific, almost all respondents (98 per cent) thought their workplace would be improved through greater use of technology, while 70 per cent said their company will fall behind the competition if new technology isn't implemented. The same portion (67 per cent) believe the traditional office will become obsolete due to advances in technology.
About 75 of respondents in Asia Pacific said their companies have invested in digital workplace tools in the past year, and interest is growing in a new generation of technologies including smart building tools.
Most respondents thought digital technology would result in a more efficient (63 per cent), more collaborative (53 per cent) and more appealing (52 per cent) work environment.
While the benefits of digital workplaces are wide-ranging, the study also revealed that cybersecurity is a challenge for employers.
Although employees reported higher levels of cybersecurity awareness (56 per cent think about security often or daily), they also admitted to taking more risks with company data and devices, with 73 per cent admitting to risky behaviours such as sharing passwords and devices.
These findings indicate that companies must adapt to leverage the benefits of new digital workplace technology while simultaneously minimising security risks. Aruba recommends adopting a digital workplace strategy. IT departments need to work with business managers, end-users and other stakeholders to define a roadmap for their digital workplace evolution. This includes moving beyond established technologies to deploying new tools such as smart sensors and customized mobile apps that will create increasingly personalized workplace experiences.
Companies need to think about how the digital workplace extends beyond their head office to support remote workers, partners, and customers.
It is necessary to incorporate security from the ground up. Companies must architect the digital workplace with security as an integral part of the design, taking into account the role of human error as well as bad actors.
