The workplace is constantly evolving as times change, and both employers and employees come to expect different things from the work environment. Technology, too, has had and will continue to have a significant impact on how the workplace functions. In fact, it is hard to dispute the statement that within the past ten to fifteen years, technology has almost redefined the workplace. Many more employees now make use of computers, and within the past five years, many have shifted to using mobile devices. With the internet now standard, powerful mobile devices, and the cloud providing access to everything no matter where you are, the office is certainly a different place than it was only a few short decades ago.
However, technology is still rapidly moving forward, and it is showing no signs of stopping. That means the workplace could quickly change even more in the next ten, twenty, and fifty years. Here are some trends that are set to define the workplace in the coming years.
Telecommuting and Work on the Go
Many offices already allow employees to telecommute full or part-time, and more and more mobile technology is becoming affordable. Offices are also starting to use collaborative workspaces more and more. Both of these are expected to lead to more employees working from home or on the job site instead of in the office. This flexibility is often the key to retaining employees who have recently become parents or who may no longer be able to work in a standard office environment due to health issues or injuries.
Mobile technology has already changed industries such as construction, where supervisors can now access all of their blueprints, budgets, and inventory control through smartphones and tablets. Mobile devices also make it much easier for employees to be productive while at conferences and at other offsite meetings.
A Newer, Leaner Office
Since more employees are expected to be telecommuting or working on the job site, the office itself is supposed to evolve to reflect this. Rather than having row upon row of empty cubicles used only intermittently, many agencies are moving to shared workspaces that all employees can use whenever they are in the office. These flexible spaces may even include moving from the traditional office to open areas such as lounges or other spaces that employees find more comfortable.Standing desks or treadmill desks are also expected to become more common, reflecting the trend of employees looking for ways to stay healthy while at work.
The conference room as its known today may also disappear. With better video conferencing technology, employees who telecommute won’t even need to come into the office for major meetings. Instead, everyone can access the meeting via video conference technology. This allows for smooth collaboration between offices located around the world or with clients located in other cities. Online translation software is even breaking down language communication barriers while online whiteboards make it simple to share documents, graphs, and even drawings during the virtual meeting.
Hosted PBX
Another technology trend that is replacing outdating equipment with newer methods is hosted PBX.This technology replaces expensive telephone equipment with a Voiceover IP system. VoIP creates a telephone system that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection using what’s called a softphone. This phone basically takes its associated phone number with it, so there’s no need for employees to have a work phone and a travel phone or to have someone cover their calls when they are out of the office. Hosted PBX systems include many common features like voice mail, conference calling, and more.
More Integration and Collaboration
Many businesses have already integrated a number of their systems, but that trend is expected to continue in the future. This is especially true when it comes to cloud computing and collaboration. Video conferencing, whiteboards, file sharing and online project collaboration have become integrated, allowing employees to work on a project from anywhere and collaborate with their teammates in real time from any location. Some employees, in fact, may never need to meet in person.
With many of these collaboration solutions based out of web browsers, there’s no need to install any software or even carry a laptop or tablet. Employees can use any computer with an internet connection to sign into their collaborative workplace.
The New Workplace: Leaner, more Mobile, and more Collaborative
These trends will certainly remake the workplace into something leaner and more flexible. While offices will continue to have employees who work standard hours in their own cubicle, that may no longer be the norm. Telecommuting, flexible work areas, virtual meetings, online collaboration, and other trends will transform the workplace and the workforce as technology continues to change.
