In a digital workplace,
collaboration and teamwork are facilitated by technology,
rather than by a physical location.
Source: Slack
For decades, the typical workplace was an open-plan office, stacked with rows of cubicles or rows of desks, with a set 9-to-5 schedule and email as the core workplace technology that united each office under their company’s @ sign.
After the rise of remote work during the pandemic, it is here to stay as remote workers have come together as teams in a virtual office, led by digital headquarters. This fundamental shift of where people work has led to the question of how we work in the digital workplace. Finding new, scalable, collaborative and efficient ways of working in a digital workplace is the new normal for many companies, but has always been the approach at Key Search.
Contents
Workplace Transformation: Enabling Digital Working in a Virtual Workplace
From AI for virtual office assistants and machine learning to virtual office tools and software that automate repetitive processes and tedious tasks, it is essential to empower all employees through digital workplace solutions.
This leads to the core of what a digital workplace should be to all employees – the digital umbrella that empowers employees through automation, resources and data so they can collaborate effectively across the organization and the globe.
Virtual Workplace and Digital Workspace – What's the Difference?
A virtual workplace refers to the entire work set-up of a company, including people, processes and the technological base that enables the company to work remotely. Within the virtual workplace, the digital workspace is the technological base that allows a fully remote company to work efficiently and effectively through the use of established and new technology. In practice, virtual workplace and digital workspace are often used as synonyms, with the latter being more common.
Digital Workplace Technology - A closer Look at Software and Solutions
Identifying your company’s needs when it comes to internal and client-facing communication, task management and data storage, as well as virtual meetings feeds into the digital workplace strategy as it is the first step towards building a digital workplace.
At Key Search, we use a range of specialized applications that were built for one sole purpose and are therefore serving a specific need very well. The adoption of these readily available applications is very easy and frees up my time. As Head of Innovation, I can focus on internal software development that is tailored exactly to what our growing team of researchers and executive recruiters need to excel.
“We are developing internal software at Key Search to facilitate task management, as well as numerous automations and robots that help us with various small, tedious tasks, such as putting candidates on maps for data visualization”
Darek Mlodnicki
Head of Innovation, Key Search
Looking for ways to get started in your company’s digital workplace transformation? While there are always special needs you will need to build to suit your team’s needs and that depend on your industry, product or service, a range of digital workplace technology makes digital working easier right from the start. Virtual office tools also help you and your remote team create a digital workplace experience that suits the individual’s and the entire company’s needs.
Essential Digital Workplace Technology Themes at a Glance:
- Document Management
- Data Management and Storage
- Project Management
- Communication and Conferencing
- Team Collaboration
- Cyber Security
- Productivity Automation
Digital Workplace Technology At Key Search for Communication and Meetings
Beyond easy text- and video-based communication, Key Search uses digital workplace technology that enables communication between individuals, within teams and larger groups. In addition to easy communication, communication applications can also lessen the feeling of loneliness, a major challenge in remote work. According to Gallup, connecting in Slack channels for interests, hobbies, random topics or setting up Zoom meetings for celebrations boosts morale, strong friendships and, in turn, predicts better overall performance.
Digital Workplace Technology for Task and Project Management
AI is already helping with many office tasks. This includes virtual assistants, such as Google, Siri, and Alexa, as well as Machine Learning-based tools that automate tasks and processes that used to need to be done by humans, such as translation (google translate) and dictation or voice recognition. Automation technology we use at Key Search include Zapier and Make.com, which make connecting various APIs easy.
VR in Digital Workplace Technology
It remains to be seen if VR turns out to be anything more than just a gimmick. Nevertheless, it is already an interesting talking point – be it Mark Zuckerberg’s so-called Metaverse or Apple’s rumored AR /VR headset, which is said to be more geared towards work. As VR matures, it could provide a compromise between working from home and staying in a somewhat professional environment.
Another possible benefit would be enabling body language, thus reducing “Zoom fatigue”, which individuals in remote digital workplaces can experience. At Key Search, we have been planning to do some trial runs of meetings using VR technology, because we constantly strive to make our digital workplace even better.
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Key Search and Many Of Our Clients Thrive in the Digital Workplace
Many reasons play into a company’s decision for a full remote set-up. Many of our clients have also moved to a hybrid or full remote set-up. At Key Search, we see the many benefits of a virtual office and its digital workplace in our work efficiency, work-life-balance, job mobility and flexibility, and reduced overhead cost.
Job mobility in the Digital Workplace
Our team works collaboratively, with each individual accessing the digital workplace from their chosen locations across Europe.
Flexibility in the Digital Workplace
Flexible schedules, work times, and virtual office locations are key to employee engagement. According to Forbes, individuals who have control over where and how they work are 88% more engaged at work. At Key Search, we see this dedication in every team member.
Efficiency in the Digital Workplace
Streamlining repetitive and administrative tasks, removing barriers to data and resource access, and enabling information access across the business allows each team member to make data-driven decisions fast and effectively. At Key Search, we constantly fine-tune our efficient working conditions.
Reduced Overhead Costs in the Digital Workplace
Without the need for one or multiple office spaces, rent, utility and maintenance costs are eliminated, as well as the need to move into a larger space as your company grows. At Key Search, the set up of a fully remote, virtual workplace is combined with the option to meet in the co-working space Spaces, frequent in-person meet-ups, and an annual get-together of all team members.
Key Search Hires Your Future Leaders
As always at Key Search, if you are looking to hire your key leaders, contact us. Our team of executive search specialists is ready to walk you through our process in an initial virtual meeting. If you have any questions about our digital workplace set up, let’s talk.