Employees who work in digital workplaces are more productive, positive, and fulfilled in their job, with a better work-life balance, according to a new study.
Employees know that when they work in efficient workplaces with good collaboration tools and automated processes, they feel better about their work.
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, recently released a study focusing on workplace motivations and the impact of technology.
It polled 7,000 employees across 15 countries in April 2018 and May 2018.
Its study, Digital Revolutionaries Unlock the Potential of the Digital Workplace, reveals both business and human benefits of more digitally-driven workplaces,
The report showed that digital tools unlock human benefits: "Digital Revolutionaries" -- employees who work in fully-enabled digital workplaces where new technologies are in widespread use -- were more likely to have strong job satisfaction, and more likely to be positive about their work-life balance than the "Digital Laggards" (those who have less access to workplace technology).
It found that 66 percent of respondents said they would like to see fully automated equipment brought into the workplace and almost all respondents (94 percent) believe their workplace would be improved through greater use of technology.
Employees were hugely positive about digital technology, saying it has improved workplace motivation (61 percent), improved collaboration with other employees (66 percent). and improved their ability to grow and learn new skills (68 percent).
Most respondents thought digital technology would result in a more efficient (56 percent), more collaborative (52 percent), and more appealing (57 percent) work environment.
While automation can be perceived as a threat to job security, the research found that there was widespread enthusiasm for it. Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would welcome a fully automated workplace in the next five to 10 years.
The study also shows that companies that are less technologically advanced are at risk of falling behind the competition. It also notes that companies must be vigilant as more digital-savvy employees are taking greater risks with data and information security.
The study also revealed that cybersecurity is a challenge for employers.
Although employees reported higher levels of cybersecurity awareness (52 percent think about security often or daily), they also admitted to taking more risks with company data and devices.
Around 70 percent of employees admitted to risky behaviors such as sharing passwords and devices.
A quarter of employees have connected to potentially unsafe open Wi-Fi in the past 12 months. A further 20 percent said they use the same password across multiple applications and accounts, and 17 percent admitted to writing down passwords in order to remember them.
Janice Le, chief marketer for Aruba, said: "The consumerization of the workplace is a very real movement. Employees are consumers and we bring consumer expectations with us to work."
Companies must create the digital workplace with security as an integral part of the design, taking human error into account. To achieve optimum security, IT must adopt emerging technologies in networking, cloud computing, AI, and machine-learning.
Article By: Eileen Brown for Social Business
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