Global Study Reveals Benefits Transcend Productivity, but Organizations Must Prepare for Data Security Risks
Employees who work in digital workplaces are not only more productive
but also more motivated, have higher job satisfaction, and report an
overall better sense of well-being, according to a new global study from
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company (NYSE:HPE).
The study, The
Right Technologies Unlock the Potential of the Digital Workplace,
reveals both the business and human benefits of more digitally-driven
workplaces, and how companies that are less technologically advanced are
at risk of falling behind the competition and not attracting top talent.
It also notes that companies must be vigilant as more digital-savvy
employees are taking greater risks with data and information security.
Key Themes and Findings
The study of 7,000 employees across 15 countries revealed a clear chasm
in employee performance and sentiment between more advanced digital
workplaces and those that employ digital technology to a lesser degree.
A number of key themes emerged:
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Beyond productivity, digital tools unlock human benefits:
“Digital Revolutionaries” - employees identified as those who work in
fully-enabled digital workplaces where new workplace technologies are
in widespread use - were 51% more likely to have strong job
satisfaction, and 43% more likely to be positive about their work-life
balance than “Digital Laggards” - those who have less access to
workplace technology. The Revolutionary employees were also 60% more
likely to say they are motivated at work, and 91% more likely to
praise their company’s vision.
-
Digital working also supports professional development: 65% of
Revolutionaries reported they had seen professional development and
growth through the use of digital technology, compared to just 31% of
Laggards. With a digital workplace, 72% of Revolutionaries reported a
higher ability to adopt new work skills as compared to 58% of Laggards.
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Productivity gains from digital technology quantified: 73% of
Digital Revolutionaries reported a positive impact to their
productivity and 70% cited improved collaboration thanks to digital
technologies, vs. 55% of laggards.
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Continued advancements in digital technology and automation pave
the way for better workplace experiences: While automation can be
perceived as a threat to job security, our research found that there
was widespread enthusiasm for it. 71% of respondents said they would
welcome a fully automated workplace in the future, allowing
organizations to build smarter, more effective working environments.
“No matter the industry, we’re seeing a move toward human-centric places
as enterprises strive to meet rapidly changing expectations of how
people want to work,” Joseph White, Director of Workplace Strategy,
Design and Management, Herman Miller. “This depends upon combining
advances in technology – which includes furnishings – with the cognitive
sciences to help people engage with work in new ways. This will not only
mean singular, premium experiences for individuals, but also the
opportunity for organizations to attract and retain the best talent.”
“The very nature of the term 'workplace' is being transformed, as
companies begin to realize that effective space is experience-centric,
and must accommodate work styles spanning generations and personality
types,” said Francisco Acoba, Managing Director for Deloitte Strategy &
Operations. “This ushers in new processes where IT solutions, building
systems and furnishings interact harmoniously with humans to create such
spaces. Regardless of your enterprise’s specific situation, when spaces
become active participants in the user experience it benefits the bottom
line. After all, workers who feel comfortable in a space get their tasks
done. Those who don’t will eventually move on to a more inviting option.”
Emerging risks
The study also found that employees are enthusiastic about new
technology and have a desire for their employers to provide more. Almost
all respondents (93%) thought their workplace would be improved through
greater use of technology, while 64% said their company will fall behind
the competition if new technology isn’t implemented. The same portion
(64%) believe the traditional office will become obsolete due to
advances in technology.
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Globally, 69% of respondents said their companies have invested in
digital workplace tools in the past year, and interest is growing in a
new generation of technologies including smart building tools that
automate temperature controls and lighting (24%), voice-activated and
wireless AV technology (23%), and custom corporate mobile apps (23%).
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Most respondents thought digital technology would result in a more
efficient (56%), more collaborative (52%) and more appealing (47%)
work environment.
While the benefits of digital workplaces are wide-ranging, the study
also revealed that cybersecurity is a challenge for employers.
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Although employees reported higher levels of cybersecurity awareness
(52% think about security often or daily), they also admitted to
taking more risks with company data and devices, with 70% admitting to
risky behaviors such as sharing passwords and devices.
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A quarter (25%) of employees have connected to potentially unsafe open
Wi-Fi in the past twelve months, 20% said they use the same password
across multiple applications and accounts, and 17% admitted to writing
down passwords in order to remember them.
The Road Forward
These findings indicate that companies must adapt to leverage the
benefits of new digital workplace technology while simultaneously
minimizing security risks. Aruba recommends that organizations take the
following actions:
-
Adopt a digital workplace strategy: IT departments need to work
with business managers, end-users and other stakeholders to define a
roadmap for their digital workplace evolution. This includes moving
beyond established technologies to deploying new tools such as smart
sensors and customized mobile apps that will create increasingly
personalized workplace experiences.
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Build collaborative digital workspaces: Companies need to think
about how the digital workplace extends beyond their head office to
support remote workers, partners, and customers. IT leaders need to
plan for, and invest in, a working environment without borders.
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Incorporate security from the ground up: Companies must
architect the digital workplace with security as an integral part of
the design, taking into account the role of human error as well as bad
actors. To achieve optimum security that can adapt to change and
unknowns, IT must look to emerging technologies in networking, cloud
computing, AI and machine-learning.
“The consumerization of the workplace is a very real movement. Employees
are consumers and we bring consumer expectations with us to work,” said
Janice Le, Chief Marketer for Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise
company. "The workplace is getting smarter and therefore, employees are
working smarter.”
A new paradigm has started to emerge where smart building technologies
are intersecting with the digital workplace to form the Smart Digital
Workplace. This is where human-centered design meets IoT and building
automation. The Smart Digital Workplace can enable personalized
experiences such as connected furniture and smart lighting that adapts
to the user. Buildings can go greener by dynamically optimizing energy
utilization based on employee patterns. These new use cases not only
foster employee productivity but also improve efficiency while putting
people at the center.
Le concluded, “This global study indicates that choice, personalization,
ease and automation are improving the top line and the bottom line for
organizations who are defining the future of work. Our own place of work
is a living lab for the Smart Digital Workplace and we are seeing
results such as faster hiring and higher offer acceptances. The benefits
are tangible and go beyond productivity.”
Additional Assets
Research methodology
A total of 7,000 employees were interviewed in April and May 2018. The
respondents were from organizations of all sizes, across both public and
private sectors, with a focus on the industrial, government, retail,
healthcare, education, finance, and IT/technology/telecommunications
sectors. Interviews were conducted both online and via telephone using a
rigorous multi-level screening process to ensure that only suitable
candidates were given the opportunity to participate. Respondents were
interviewed in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands,
Spain, United Arab Emirates, the United States, Singapore, Japan,
Australia, India, Brazil, Mexico, China and South Korea.
About Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, is a leading provider of
next-generation networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes
worldwide. The company delivers IT solutions that empower organizations
to serve the latest generation of mobile-savvy users who rely on
cloud-based business apps for every aspect of their work and personal
lives.
To learn more, visit Aruba at
http://www.arubanetworks.com
.
For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook,
and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products
visit Airheads Social at http://community.arubanetworks.com/
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Sarah Goodwin, +1-408-832-1428
sarah.goodwin@hpe.com
or
Lori Hultin, +1-818-879-4651
lori.hultin@hpe.com