Will women thrive in the digital workplaces of the future?

 February 02, 2016

The way we work has changed significantly over past decades and, in recent years, the innovation and modifications have accelerated exponentially.

Virtual working, new digital tools, cloud services and more collaborative team-oriented applications are just some of the things we’re seeing as commonplace in progressive companies.

The workplace of the future is certainly here - and it’s a big differentiator when choosing your next employer.

Some companies are better than others

Competitive organisations tend to understand and openly value work/life integration, so enabling their people to work anytime, anywhere and anyhow is key - and this can correlate highly with greater employee engagement. Put simply, the “employee experience” is far better and more dynamic in some companies than in others.

Imagine being measured on your delivery rather than facetime at work. Imagine being able to manage your outside-of-work responsibilities in a seamless and timely manner while still feeling fully engaged and challenged, by your work.

Information technology research and advisory company, Gartner, describes the digital workplace as “a business strategy for promoting employee effectiveness and engagement through a more consumer-like computing environment.”

Workplace stress is a common problem, so what if employees could reduce their stress by less commuting in peak times, by managing their own schedules, by having the freedom to collaborate and use latest greatest applications and work tools to be more effective.

Research by business technology solutions and managed services provider Avanade indicates that 99 per cent of organisations that have adopted digital workplace tools have experienced business benefits. They say that when done well, a digital workplace can create competitive advantage, increases employee engagement and productivity, while reducing costs and fuelling innovation.

Global research commissioned by Avanade involving 500 C-level and IT executives across seven countries, uncovered a pattern of misinformation and opportunity around today’s digital workplace, so clearly there’s still a lot to be done.

The digital workplace as an employee differentiator

Companies that work hard to improve their productivity and competitive advantage in our hyper-connected world can be very exciting places to work both in terms of their customer products and services, and also through their leading employee experience on offer.

And for candidates, demand for digital skills continues to outpace supply so people who can collaborate effectively across functions are highly valued in the digital workplace.

Key growth areas include roles in areas like cyber security, identity management, mobile application development, software testing and managing risk.

Female candidates should research and choose wisely

Industry thought leadership reports can provide great insight into how digitally-fit a company is. Researching the types of technology job vacancies advertised can also give a sound view about a company’s digital focus.

Reading about the projects they have underway and perhaps the awards they win can also contribute significantly to a candidate’s understanding about a company.

So women, do your homework.

How can a company that isn’t technically capable, truly offer flexible working?

How can inefficient organisations provide the range of tools you need to be effective?

How can there be equal and inclusive employment processes if delivery is not appropriately measured?

And, when you’ve got the best, forget the rest. Enjoy longevity with the right employer and let your career truly soar!