Gartner, on the other hand, defines it as “an ongoing, deliberate approach to delivering a more consumer-like computing environment that is better able to facilitate innovative and flexible working practices.” They expand on this by stating that a digital workplace allows for new and more efficient ways of working, which leads to an increase in “employee engagement and agility.” We feel this definition is far closer to the reality of the digital workplace. However, we find that Jussi Roine, Microsoft Regional Director, comes closest. He states that the digital workplace is all about a change in culture that allows people to work together, while becoming more efficient and productive. In other words, it’s about a lot more than technology, tools, or a “single technical setting you turn on in your organization.” So, in essence, the digital workplace is all about putting people first. It’s about using any and all tools, including technology, to strategically create and implement an engaging work environment that allows people to maximize their creativity and deliver outstanding performance.
The Importance of the Digital Workplace to Enterprise Growth
While tools and processes certainly matter and are vital to creating an effective digital workplace, they are not the key. It’s all about people. Gartner says something to this effect when they introduce the idea of the consumer. Consumer-oriented isn’t just a buzzword anymore. To succeed in today’s economic environment, organizations have to adopt a consumer-centric business model. What does that mean? It means building the business around the consumer. It means putting people first. However, when it comes to employees, there seems to be some form of disconnect. It’s almost as if organizations don’t realize that employees are people too. Their focus is completely external, while internally, they wear blinders.
Once you shift your mindset and internalize the concept that employees are people, you’ll realize that what works for the consumer will also work for the employee. After all, your employees are also consumers, and when you adopt similar internal goals such as increasing engagement and loyalty, you will find that you gain the same benefits as you do from consumers. However, in this case, the benefits happy and loyal employees generate spiral outwards to the consumer, further improving your position with your target market. Improving employee engagement and, implicitly, productivity and creativity is what the digital workplace is all about. Technology and processes are simply the means to achieve this goal.
