Today, many business leaders are asking themselves the following question: “How can I best motivate my workforce?” One way is by harnessing new technology to accommodate a changing workforce that is always on-the-go and collaborating. There’s simply a new expectation for tools with universal access to the same data. Employees want to access files as easily on their smartphone as they do at their office desktop – and that’s just the way it is. Business leaders can lead the way by implementing new technology solutions that will attract, retain and benefit the workforce. Ultimately, this will also create a workforce that is productive, collaborative and engaged.
Today’s Devices
Today’s workforce increasingly uses multiple devices to get work done. Many employees switch from using their laptop to their tablet to their smartphone multiple times throughout the day. This has created a certain blur between work and personal life, as many employees use their personal devices for work purposes – many without their company knowing. That’s because it’s a flexible, fast and easy way to work, and it’s actually leading to greater productivity. 64% conduct some sort of business after hours at home. Anywhere, anytime access is important to today’s employees, and solutions like implementing a BYOD policy can help accommodate this trend in a safe way.
Wearable Technology
Just like smartphones and tablets, wearable technology will probably end up in the workplace, moving beyond the consumer world into the enterprise world. This includes smart watches and glasses, which are currently the most popular forms of wearable tech. A recent Rackspace study found that 47% of wearable technology users felt more intelligent, while 61% felt more informed. 37% stated that wearable technology has helped with career development.
Of course, there’s a certain hype surrounding wearable technology. Ultimately, many of the existing products will probably fail. However, those that remain standing will have gone through the necessary development to prove beneficial in the workplace. Wearables have the potential to allow employees to operate handsfree, increase productivity, access real-time data on the spot and improve customer service. As the technology continues to develop, it will seamlessly blend into the workday routine, just as many devices and technologies have before. The user experience is increasingly important and these devices will create an insightful, meaningful and simplified experience for users.
The Magic Behind the Technology
The magic behind this mobile technology is the cloud. Cloud computing allows users to collect, store, access, analyze and share information. It also creates the anytime, anywhere access that is so popular for users. Mobile technology is growing rapidly thanks to the cloud, and it will continue to impact and shape the business world.
Consumers already use mobile technologies to access personal data. Soon enough, it will be common to use them to access work data. Today’s most popular devices, like laptops, tablets and smartphones, are already in widespread use within the workplace. The next step is wearable technology, and it’s hard to predict just how far that will go, though there are obvious benefits. In a few years, most businesses just won’t care what devices you use or where you use them, as long as you’re getting your work done. So why not be a leader and implement mobile technology that will create an engaging and productive workplace?
