Companies are struggling to keep the doors open and with little signs the global pandemic is contracting the mounting concern is how to get ahead and stay ahead. One segment that is booming right now is Cloud based computing, applications, access control and how to make work from remote locations work. The outcomes have been enlightening to say the least. First, many companies have realized that the need to brick and mortar buildings to office workers and information is no longer needed. With Zero Trust networking, Cloud based systems, what defines a "business" is changing. Business Insider breaks down the path forward for those companies struggling to cope.
Providing a powerful reminder of how interdependent society is, the global health crisis has helped to usher in an unexpected positive — a workplace of the future where people come first. Organizations are more aware than ever that people are their most precious resource, and they can deliver results only if their teams are safe, well, and comfortable coming to work.
As a result, physical, mental, and financial health will be a priority. For example, with many employees stressed out about additional caregiving responsibilities since the COVID-19 pandemic started, 71% of US businesses have been considering offering some type of extra employee perk, like performance incentives, gifts, or supplemental vacation days to help them cope.
Companies have also entered a new period of reinvention and innovation as the workplace becomes more fluid than ever before. As organizations face rapid change, they will need to be nimbler to survive and thrive. To get things done in a more flexible environment, companies will have to do more skills-oriented hiring, focusing on what people can do, not titles.
Work will necessarily become more project-based. People will work on specific assignments to address immediate priorities, then move on. This type of workplace will naturally beget more on-demand work, with freelancers now making up 36% of the US workforce and 43% of companies relying more on temporary help since the pandemic began.
People with the right skills will have more job options at their fingertips and get paid when they want to be paid. And with work becoming less location-dependent, they will be able to work from anywhere, particularly as high-speed internet becomes more available and connectivity in rural areas improves.
So when will the workplace of the future arrive? It's already here and it has been here for a while. The idea of remote work, Zero-Trust networking and Cloud Computing it nothing new. The pandemic forced an acceleration of the adoption of this technology. Thereby contracting the technology adoption curve those technologies were on. Google step out with Beyond Trust. Beyond Trust was Google's test project with Zero Trust Networking. Taking the idea espoused in the early 2000s, Google implemented Zero Trust networking, eliminated the dependencies on traditional Castle-Mote security and never looked back. Additionally, Google created an business support system to enable remote work as if they remote users were working side by side in a physical location.
Organizations that adapt quickly will have a competitive edge, saving both time and money and allowing their team to focus on what really matters in an unprecedented environment. Employers will benefit from creating a future-forward workplace that delivers the best results for both employers and employees.
Tools that make routine processes more efficient will also free up time, so teams can focus on tasks that require higher-level skills and are more strategic.
So how can employers prepare for the future of work? One key step will be rethinking talent sourcing to match people and projects with a higher-order understanding of skills. More companies are turning to AI-powered searches for candidates on social-media platforms such as LinkedIn, with 88% of companies worldwide using artificial intelligence in some way for HR. Screening tools and AI-powered candidate-scoring can help you find talent and get them started quickly.
Online collaboration is also increasing, and employers will want to provide resources to make this work. Organizations will be able to tap into new ways to support their managers and teams so they can do their best work from anywhere, at any time. For instance, employee-engagement tools can guide managers on employees' communication style so they can coach team members more effectively.
In addition, embracing intelligent decision-making models, informed by data, will allow teams to focus more on strategy and less on administration. For instance, advanced HR software will enable teams to get critical data-driven insights to align business strategy with daily operations.
The future of work is already taking shape. Employers who recognize it will be able to create new opportunities for growth. Being proactive, not reactive, will be the key to success in this new environment