FMJ.CO.UK DIGITAL WORKPLACE FOCUS
APRIL 2019 29
conference call to connect or finding that
someone on the other end doesn’t have
compatible technology? As well as being
frustrating and disruptive, it can set the
tone for the entire session, whether that’s a
20-minute call or a three-hour meeting.
In fact, recent studies show that
employees waste an average of 15 minutes
per conference call simply getting started
or dealing with distractions (7). Innovation
in meeting room technology has developed
to the point that both novice and advanced
technology users can enjoy it without the
everyday frustrations. For businesses, it’s
about taking the leap in investment.
Integrated Skype systems, large interactive
monitors and high-quality laser projectors
are just a few of these fundamental
technologies. Skype room systems help
employees to stay in touch remotely and
liaise with workers around the world, while
interactive monitors encourage employee
collaboration and provide a space for
creative expression. Laser projectors, on
the other hand, provide a professional
but seamless experience that fosters an
innovative environment.
These technologies plug into the move
towards a more creative, collaborative
workspace, where employees can dial-in,
share their presentations and make live
iterations to worksheets from wherever they
are working. It’s clear that they have a role
to play in every o ice and can even be used
as a base layer for companies to introduce
more elegant o ice technology solutions.
Intelligent assistants are an example
of these advanced solutions that can be
used to improve productivity. Despite their
slow adoption, the deployment of digital
assistants is expected to accelerate over
the next four years, with 25 per cent of
digital workers set to use virtual assistants
every day by 2021 (8). This year’s Consumer
Electronics Show, so o¡ en the bellwether for
innovations in consumer technology, was
dominated by announcements from Google
Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri.
Whether you like them or not, they’re here
to stay, and with over one billion devices
now containing Google’s smart AI assistant
(9), it’s a trend that will only increase. This
staggering growth is symbolic of how useful
these devices can be in the workplace. They
can handle simple admin tasks such as diary
scheduling, internet searches and to-do lists
which o¡ en consume precious time and
resources and can distract employees from
other impactful work.
But to o set the risk of alienating workers,
leaders have to take a measured approach
to implementation. There is no silver
bullet, but there are steps managers can
take to ensure they get the most from their
investment.
Estimates show that businesses
lose hoXrs of staƚ proGXctivity every
year through IT outages.”
MODERN WORKING HABITS
Employees today are no longer restricted
to working in the o ice. Many enjoy flexible
working benefits where they can work at a
place and time most convenient for them.
While this is a rewarding experience for
employees, it can o¡ en mean that a business
will have half its workforce in the o ice
while the other half is working elsewhere. To
make this work, IT must be able to deploy
technology that keeps their employees
connected to the business while also
providing a seamless and secure experience.
Thin client technology is a ready-made
option. It provides an easy-to-manage
solution that does not require local storage;
it enables simple remote access as well as
easy installation in employees’ homes or
other working environment. Importantly,
it does not require heavy IT maintenance.
Employees simply log on to their system
at home and remote into the company
servers. This means they can maintain
access to the same application and files
without the need to reinstall or update any
so¡ ware. Therefore, employees can be as
productive on the move and working in
remote locations as they are in the o ice.
This shows that despite what many
might think, you do not need to make
wholesale changes to a business model or
overhaul budget allocation for technology
to make an impact. Ultimately, employees
are at their most productive when they
are comfortable, confident and given the
scope to collaborate and be innovative. By
choosing the right technology and fostering
an environment of collaboration, leaders
will discover that the task is a lot easier,
cheaper and less daunting than initially
thought.
A sign of a modern, progressive company
is thinking about technology first when it
comes to the role that employees must fill.
Having outdated, faulty or incompatible
technology is not only demotivating and
frustrating for existing employees, it almost
always turns o potential talent. Instead,
by reassessing how technology can fit
within your business, meeting modern
collaborative ways of working and ensuring
that employees can work securely and
e iciently from home, businesses can
provide the tools necessary for employees to
do their job well.
Steve Roberts is UK Manager, Large Displays,
Dell EMC.
Reference notes
(1) www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/labourproductivity/bulletins/
labourproductivity/julytoseptember2018
(2) www.consultancy.uk/news/17247/just-15-of-employees-are-engaged-the-rest-lose-7-
trillion-in-productivity
(3) www.hrmagazine.co.uk/article-details/workers-reject-jobs-based-on-poor-technology
(4) https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2018/10/uk-homes-are-getting-smarter-withincreased
connectivity-and-entertainment/
(5) www.delltechnologies.com/en-gb/perspectives/gen-z.htm
(6) www.accountsandlegal.co.uk/small-business-advice/it-downtime-costing-businesses-anaverage
of-3.6-million-per-year
(7) www.zdnet.com/article/how-much-time-do-we-waste-on-conference-calls/
(8) www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2019-01-09-gartner-predicts-25-percentof
digital-workers-will-u
(9) https://siliconangle.com/2019/01/09/digital-assistants-rule-show-ces-2019/
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