Digital Workplace Guide

We hear the term a lot, but nailing down a consistent definition can be difficult. What is a digital workplace?

There are two main schools of thought. First, “digital workplace” can define the set of digital tools that employees use to work in an efficient and productive manner. Second, “digital workplace” can refer to the concept of working in a virtual environment, as opposed to a physical office setting.

No matter how you define your digital workplace, you need to have a clear understanding of how it relates to your business. With the right approach to the digital workplace, you can implement a strategy to take advantage of the many technologies and tools designed to boost productivity and engagement, improve communication and so much more. A number of digital workplace platforms are currently available, and our 2022 benchmark guide is a handy way to compare the different platforms.

A digital workplace can empower leaders by helping them to empower their employees. Leaders can use digital workplace solutions to reach every employee, even those who don’t work in front of a desk. The easy-to-use,interactive nature of a digital workplace also helps leaders keep staff members aligned with business goals and priorities.

Unlike in a real-world workplace, interactions in a digital workplace can be tracked and measured. This allows both leaders and internal communications teams the ability to analyze the success of their communications efforts and adjust accordingly.

When leaders and communicators can create a unified digital workplace, it translates into a number of benefits for their company.

The Business Benefits of a Digital Workplace

There’s a reason why a large number of companies — spanning all sizes and industries — are moving toward a digital workplace. Here are four ways a digital workplace can benefit your organization:

1. More Communication Options

Gone are the days of relying primarily on emails to communicate internally and externally. In today’s digital workplace, efficient and effective communication takes on many forms. This includes but is not limited to tools such as Yammer and SharePoint.

These digital workplace features and technologies allow companies to communicate efficiently and in real time, even when employees are distributed throughout the world and facilitate collaboration.

2. Increased Efficiency

Creating a digital-friendly workplace helps companies become more efficient, which saves both time and money. By streamlining operations through the implementation of digital workplace solutions, employees are better positioned to work efficiently at all times. There are more workplace digital communication channels that expand as a company grows, helping organizations to grow at a faster rate.

Furthermore, digital workplace features can be combined to significantly boost productivity. For example, the combination of Yammer and Microsoft Teams can feed more context and ideas into important conversations about various initiatives.

Using workplace digital communications also opens up opportunities for automation and artificial intelligence. For example, automated governance workflows for Office 365 can help monitor access and organize digital groups of employees based on use.

3. More Engaged Employees

A digital workplace actually helps to connect people, regardless of the physical distance between them, making both communication and collaboration easier. That includes facilitating resonant communication from the executive suite, which helps employees feel like part of the organization and keeps them informed and aligned with the organization’s business strategy and goals.

When employees have a clear understanding of why they do what they do and how their piece fits into the greater puzzle, they’re more likely to feel empowered and valued. Ultimately, that results in greater productivity and employee retention.

When it comes to keeping employees engaged in a unified digital workplace, there are a number of effective best practices. Chief among them is prioritizing employee feedback and acting on the most useful responses. Companies can also use digital workplace features to conduct employee surveys and interactive onboarding of new hires.

4. More Flexibility

Employees today are more interested in flexibility than ever before. And that’s exactly what you’re giving them when you transition to a digital workplace.

Flexibility comes in many forms, including but not limited to:

• The ability to work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection
• Easier to strike a good work-life balance
• The opportunity to communicate in a variety of ways

Not only does a flexible workspace benefit employees in the ways above, but it also helps in regard to attracting and retaining top talent. This saves your organization both time and money over the long run.

Creating a Better Digital Workplace Experience 

The steps you take to create a better digital workplace experience depend on factors such as size, industry, customer base and products and/or services offered — and that’s just the start. However, there are a few basic steps any organization can take to create a better digital workplace experience:

• Ensure that every employee understands the benefits of a digital workplace
• Implement a training program to prevent mistakes and accelerate adoption
• Incorporate digital tools and advanced technology
• Empower staff to take control

Equally important is using your data wisely. How do you know what programs are being adopted by what employee groups across the organization? Who is reading important news and messaging related to adoption and compliance of your digital workplace features? What communication methods work best for what employees?

Knowing these kinds of things is crucial to ensuring that your digital workplace is actually working for, rather than against, your enterprise. Tryane Analytics provides a powerful solution for understanding how to best communicate important information to your employees and ensure the necessary buy-in for and compliant adoption of your digital workplace applications.

Digital Workplace Transformation

Digital workplace transformation is the process of using digital technologies to create and/or enhance processes, internal and external experiences, culture and other defined parameters. Think of digital workplace transformation as the reimagining of your business model, with a direct focus on the implementation and use of technology.

Employees are any company’s most important asset. Technology can empower employees to communicate and collaborate better, making them more engaged, productive and empowered to take your organization to new heights.

If you’re ready to transition to a unified digital workplace, Tryane is here to help. We provide organizations with powerful analytics solutions. Contact us to learn more.