Collaboration technologies have been ushering in a new generation that has been argued to be more productive and efficient – and experts predict that this is set to continue into 2015. But how will new and more advanced technologies reshape the look and feel of the workplace in the future? Experts at Polycom shared their predictions with
HRM.
- Collaboration tools will be adopted for globalisation
Global expansion will continue to see companies’ work span across borders, time zones and cultures, which requires collaboration tools that are able to extend business by defying distance and time. According to experts at Polycom, an organisation’s success will stem from building a culture of collaboration through a variety of tools designed to assist with communication and content sharing. In 2015, an increase in the availability of such tools will contribute towards global success by reducing communicative barriers.
- Video technologies’ popularity to increase
Video conferencing is quickly becoming one of the most used collaboration tools and is expected to overtake email as the preferred tool by 2016. Integrating technologies such as voice, video and content sharing tools into communication systems, business application and workflows will drive the continued adoption of video conferencing. New industry-specific solutions – particularly in healthcare, government, financial services and retail – are predicted to increase the use and relevance of video this year.
- Evolution of the workspace
Companies will follow the trend of moving from rows of cubicles to open workspaces as well as offering flexible work arrangements to employees. It is expected that innovations like noise cancellation, lighting adjustments and digital white boarding will help to transform the workplace. Such transformations, alongside a stronger desire for open collaboration, will likely contribute towards the gradual redundancy of the office-based workspace – emphasis will move towards connecting to anywhere, from anywhere, at any time.
- The age of ‘supermobility’
We are entering the age of “supermobility”, in which mobile devices will provide all of the tools necessary for employees to work productively while on-the-go. This will soon begin to include technologies such as near field communications and device-to-device communication that will give users easier and more secure access to their work and colleagues.
- Accelerated cloud-based collaboration solutions
Large scale movements of small to medium-sized businesses to cloud-based systems will occur. These systems will be used for voice, video and content storage and sharing, making new applications and capabilities more viable.
- Traditional meetings are continuing to change
Technology will continue to foster new ways to communicate, with better quality programs making teleworking and mobile collaboration more natural and achievable. Video conferencing solutions will make it quick and easy to connect to colleagues and clients, with programs such as Skype for Business (Microsoft Lync) increasing business to customer and business to business communications and relations.
With these advancements ahead, work environments are due to shift from traditional to more advanced collaboration environments. Employees are likely to look to their employers for flexible yet productive workplaces and the option to conduct work from their location of choice, with technological advancements paving the way for next generation team collaboration.
