4 ways to organize your digital workplace strategy around mobility

Organizations worldwide are rapidly embracing technological initiatives that support a shift towards what many are calling the digital workplace. While organizations might be using similar hardware or software, there is little consensus as to what constitutes the perfect balance of components. There is agreement, however, that it is more than integrating technology that mimics the experience of the traditional physical office.

With advancements in mobile technology, many companies are recognizing and embracing mobility as the key to an effective digital workplace strategy.

Mobility at the core of the digital workplace

As businesses integrate digital workplace strategies into existing information technology infrastructure, there is a potential for disruption in every aspect of the organization’s information technology strategy. Therefore, it’s vital that employers embrace the agility brought about by a properly executed plan to allow flexibility and to mitigate the impact on stakeholders. With the needs of those impacted put first, proper technology can be chosen and proper management initiatives can be implemented to support the entire infrastructure. Successful integration of all of these elements requires reimagining of how business is done and removal of traditional barriers. This is where mobility becomes a key initiative.

Mobility provides a backbone for your digital workplace strategy

A successful digital workplace strategy is one that embraces what Gartner refers to as the nexus of forces: Social, Mobile, Cloud, and Information.

1. Social collaboration

Today’s workplace can no longer be a static, unchanging office space full of walls and obstacles to collaboration. As you integrate mobility into your operation, it naturally follows that stakeholders will bring their associated and ever-increasing social media behaviors into the workplace. Commodifying and using the propensity of employees to socialize with each other and with clients means that you are increasing efficiency and removing barriers to innovation. Leveraging existing mobile-based social media platforms to interact with clients and customers is a start, but companies can also fold telecommunication tools, shared Cloud drives, and even mobile device-accessible business email services into their digital workplace strategy in order to break down barriers to communication.

2. Use mobile devices “they” know the best

The rapidly increasing predominance of millennials in the workplace necessitates an approach that capitalizes on their reliance on technology, especially mobile devices. Integrating easily accessible cloud-based networking and mobility across tablets, laptops, mobile phones, and other devices into the foundation of your digital workplace strategy will ensure employees’ access to information whether they are in the office or in the field with a client. Cutting the cords and allowing for wireless networks and cloud-based network access allows efficiency necessary to keep up with competitors.

3. Communicating through the cloud

Including mobility in the digital workplace makes for a strong communications infrastructure and provides a foundation upon which to add other necessary components. It allows a connectivity between your employees and rapid access to needed information, whether it be through indirect methods such as a central information hub or through increased options for communicating across telecommunications tools.

4. Delivering information across enterprise applications

A business focused on mobility provides access to mobile devices to interface with a suite of enterprise business applications that were either acquired through traditional markets or built specifically to the organization’s specifications. Enterprise applications can encompass collaborative software, CRM management tools, ERP solutions tools, and other software platforms designed to provide quick and easy access to data necessary to keep pace with competitors and provide world class service to clients in the field.

The digital workplace and the path ahead

Having an effective strategy allows your organization to reimagine the traditional workspace to take advantage of the modern workforce’s reliance upon technology in their daily lives. By integrating mobility at the core of your company’s IT initiatives, you allow for a more robust and agile workforce and establish a foundation for your company to take its business practices successfully into the digital era.