Future of Work: Top trends that will impact employee experience in 2023
Flexibility would have to be the word I would choose to sum up my experience working with different organisations over the past three years to enable their transition to hybrid work. It's amazing to watch how businesses of all sizes have changed their priorities to integrate new technologies into their operations, ultimately adding enormous value to their clients. As 2023 draws near, it's important to remember to strike the correct balance between people, places, and technology, as 6 out of 10 workers choose hybrid work over work from the office, according to a recent BridgenTechsurvey.
I firmly believe that work is not limited to a specific location but is extremely outcome-based, and the shifting workforce dynamics also present a chance to redefine our connection with work. Therefore, how will the workplace be in 2023 and beyond?
The future office will be designed around experiences
With the advent of next-gen technologies such as AI, IoT, Analytics, Edge Computing, and more, we are transcending the limits of the human mind – we are making the impossible possible and we are building a network of opportunities. These trends will shape the future of work, with an emphasis on providing employees with all the technology tools they need to maximise productivity.
Imagine walking up to an intelligent workspace where your laptop automatically connects to the displays, mouse, keyboard, and your trusted network before you’ve sat down. The combination of devices, wireless charging technology, intelligent software applications, and Wi-Fi 6E docking technology will create a singular, seamless experience. We will see more businesses invest in intelligent technologies to keep employees engaged and, ultimately, create a strong hybrid work culture.
Cybersecurity will take centerstage
Cybersecurity will sustain itself as the top priority for business leaders. McAfee released its 2023 cyber threat predictions where it underlined the threat of disinformation campaigns powered by AI-generated images, videos, and voices. As cyber-attacks become more complex, organizations must consider investing in end-to-end security solutions. Using biometrics instead of traditional passwords is another technique for improving cybersecurity architecture, especially with the rise of the Bring Your Own Devices culture.
This also implies that the zero-trust security model will increasingly be used. This model verifies every resource attempting to connect to the network, regardless of where it is located, ensuring that no unauthorised devices can access important data. Additionally, while it is important to have smart solutions that prevent unknown sources and respond efficiently at a network and cloud level, it is equally important to invest in devices that intelligently detect and protect your systems below the operating system (OS) at the PC basic input/output system (BIOS) level. When this is compromised, the attacker remains hidden with unprecedented access to the network and data.
The success of all cybersecurity tools will be determined by how well employees are trained, understand that security is everyone's responsibility, and have the necessary knowledge to make sound decisions.
Leaders will play a crucial role in fostering a culture of collaboration
Today’s workforce is a combination of remote, full-time, and hybrid workers which makes it important for organizations to lay down policies that can enable every employee to connect to the network. It is unfair to say that productivity is dependent on one’s location of work. In this hybrid work era, productivity is no longer measured in quantitative values but has a more human-centric approach. That is what business leaders should keep in mind while setting goals for 2023.
Another significant challenge that arises in a hybrid work model is the cultural integration of employees that are in the office with those working remotely. Business leaders agree that building a culture in a hybrid work environment requires careful attention from the leadership. They must strive to keep up with the changing demands of the modern workforce while also demonstrating empathy and compassion for the difficulties their employees are likely to face. More importantly, embracing an employee-centric growth mindset will aid in determining an organization's success.
The future of work will not only be shaped by technology but also by making the required adjustments to create a cohesive workplace for the workforce of today. The potential to accomplish more will be available to every company and its employees in the future, and I can't wait to see how each one of them takes advantage of these opportunities in 2023.
I firmly believe that work is not limited to a specific location but is extremely outcome-based, and the shifting workforce dynamics also present a chance to redefine our connection with work. Therefore, how will the workplace be in 2023 and beyond?
The future office will be designed around experiences
With the advent of next-gen technologies such as AI, IoT, Analytics, Edge Computing, and more, we are transcending the limits of the human mind – we are making the impossible possible and we are building a network of opportunities. These trends will shape the future of work, with an emphasis on providing employees with all the technology tools they need to maximise productivity.
Imagine walking up to an intelligent workspace where your laptop automatically connects to the displays, mouse, keyboard, and your trusted network before you’ve sat down. The combination of devices, wireless charging technology, intelligent software applications, and Wi-Fi 6E docking technology will create a singular, seamless experience. We will see more businesses invest in intelligent technologies to keep employees engaged and, ultimately, create a strong hybrid work culture.
Cybersecurity will take centerstage
Cybersecurity will sustain itself as the top priority for business leaders. McAfee released its 2023 cyber threat predictions where it underlined the threat of disinformation campaigns powered by AI-generated images, videos, and voices. As cyber-attacks become more complex, organizations must consider investing in end-to-end security solutions. Using biometrics instead of traditional passwords is another technique for improving cybersecurity architecture, especially with the rise of the Bring Your Own Devices culture.
This also implies that the zero-trust security model will increasingly be used. This model verifies every resource attempting to connect to the network, regardless of where it is located, ensuring that no unauthorised devices can access important data. Additionally, while it is important to have smart solutions that prevent unknown sources and respond efficiently at a network and cloud level, it is equally important to invest in devices that intelligently detect and protect your systems below the operating system (OS) at the PC basic input/output system (BIOS) level. When this is compromised, the attacker remains hidden with unprecedented access to the network and data.
The success of all cybersecurity tools will be determined by how well employees are trained, understand that security is everyone's responsibility, and have the necessary knowledge to make sound decisions.
Leaders will play a crucial role in fostering a culture of collaboration
Today’s workforce is a combination of remote, full-time, and hybrid workers which makes it important for organizations to lay down policies that can enable every employee to connect to the network. It is unfair to say that productivity is dependent on one’s location of work. In this hybrid work era, productivity is no longer measured in quantitative values but has a more human-centric approach. That is what business leaders should keep in mind while setting goals for 2023.
Another significant challenge that arises in a hybrid work model is the cultural integration of employees that are in the office with those working remotely. Business leaders agree that building a culture in a hybrid work environment requires careful attention from the leadership. They must strive to keep up with the changing demands of the modern workforce while also demonstrating empathy and compassion for the difficulties their employees are likely to face. More importantly, embracing an employee-centric growth mindset will aid in determining an organization's success.
The future of work will not only be shaped by technology but also by making the required adjustments to create a cohesive workplace for the workforce of today. The potential to accomplish more will be available to every company and its employees in the future, and I can't wait to see how each one of them takes advantage of these opportunities in 2023.
