SANTA CLARA, Calif.

Employees who work in digital workplaces are not only more productive but also more motivated, have higher job satisfaction, and report an overall better sense of well-being, according to a new global study from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.

The study, “The Right Technologies Unlock the Potential of the Digital Workplace,” reveals both the business and human benefits of more digitally-driven workplaces, and how companies that are less technologically advanced are at risk of falling behind the competition and not attracting top talent. It also notes that companies must be vigilant as more digital savvy employees are taking greater risks with data and information security.

Key themes and findings

The study of 7,000 employees across 15 countries revealed a clear chasm in employee performance and sentiment between more advanced digital workplaces and those that employ digital technology to a lesser degree. A number of key themes emerged:

 Beyond productivity, digital tools unlock human benefits: “Digital Revolutionaries” — employees identified as those who work in fully-enabled digital workplaces where new workplace technologies are in widespread use — were 51 percent more likely to have strong job satisfaction, and 43 percent more likely to be positive about their work-life balance than “Digital Laggards” — those who have less access to workplace technology. The Revolutionary employees were also 60 percent more likely to say they are motivated at work, and 91 percent more likely to praise their company’s vision.

 Digital working also supports professional development: 65 percent of Revolutionaries reported they had seen professional development and growth through the use of digital technology, compared to just 31 percent of Laggards. With a digital workplace, 72 percent of Revolutionaries reported a higher ability to adopt new work skills as compared to 58 percent of Laggards.

 Productivity gains from digital technology quantified: 73 percent of Digital Revolutionaries reported a positive impact to their productivity and 70 percent cited improved collaboration thanks to digital technologies, vs. 55 percent of Laggards.

 Continued advancements in digital technology and automation pave the way for better workplace experiences: While automation can be perceived as a threat to job security, the research found that there was widespread enthusiasm for it. Seventy-one percent of respondents said they would welcome a fully automated workplace in the future, allowing organizations to build smarter, more effective working environments.

“No matter the industry, we’re seeing a move toward human-centric places as enterprises strive to meet rapidly changing expectations of how people want to work,” Joseph White, director of Workplace Strategy, Design and Management, Herman Miller. “This depends upon combining advances in technology — which includes furnishings — with the cognitive sciences to help people engage with work in new ways. This will not only mean singular, premium experiences for individuals, but also the opportunity for organizations to attract and retain the best talent.”

“The very nature of the term ‘workplace’ is being transformed, as companies begin to realize that effective space is experience-centric, and must accommodate work styles spanning generations and personality types,” said Francisco Acoba, managing director for Deloitte Strategy & Operations. “This ushers in new processes where IT solutions, building systems and furnishings interact harmoniously with humans to create such spaces. Regardless of your enterprise’s specific situation, when spaces become active participants in the user experience it benefits the bottom line. After all, workers who feel comfortable in a space get their tasks done. Those who don’t will eventually move on to a more inviting option.”

Emerging risks

The study also found that employees are enthusiastic about new technology and have a desire for their employers to provide more. Almost all respondents (93 percent) thought their workplace would be improved through greater use of technology, while 64 percent said their company will fall behind the competition if new technology isn’t implemented. The same portion (64 percent) believe the traditional office will become obsolete due to advances in technology.

 Globally, 69 percent of respondents said their companies have invested in digital workplace tools in the past year, and interest is growing in a new generation of technologies including smart building tools that automate temperature controls and lighting (24 percent), voice-activated and wireless AV technology (23 percent), and custom corporate mobile apps (23 percent).

 Most respondents thought digital technology would result in a more efficient (56 percent), more collaborative (52 percent) and more appealing (47 percent) work environment.

While the benefits of digital workplaces are wide-ranging, the study also revealed that cybersecurity is a challenge for employers.

 Although employees reported higher levels of cybersecurity awareness (52 percent think about security often or daily), they also admitted to taking more risks with company data and devices, with 70 percent admitting to risky behaviors such as sharing passwords and devices.

 A quarter (25 percent) of employees have connected to potentially unsafe open Wi-Fi in the past 12 months, 20 percent said they use the same password across multiple applications and accounts, and 17 percent admitted to writing down passwords in order to remember them.

The road forward

These findings indicate that companies must adapt to leverage the benefits of new digital workplace technology while simultaneously minimizing security risks. Aruba recommends that organizations take the following actions:

 Adopt a digital workplace strategy: IT departments need to work with business managers, end-users, and other stakeholders to define a roadmap for their digital workplace evolution. This includes moving beyond established technologies to deploying new tools such as smart sensors and customized mobile apps that will create increasingly personalized workplace experiences.

 Build collaborative digital workspaces: Companies need to think about how the digital workplace extends beyond their head office to support remote workers, partners and customers. IT leaders need to plan for, and invest in, a working environment without borders.

 Incorporate security from the ground up: Companies must architect the digital workplace with security as an integral part of the design, taking into account the role of human error as well as bad actors. To achieve the optimum security that can adapt to change and unknowns, IT must look to emerging technologies in networking, cloud computing, AI and machine-learning.

“The consumerization of the workplace is a very real movement. Employees are consumers and we bring consumer expectations with us to work,” said Janice Le, chief marketer for Aruba. “The workplace is getting smarter and therefore, employees are working smarter.”

A new paradigm has started to emerge where smart building technologies are intersecting with the digital workplace to form the Smart Digital Workplace. This is where human-centered design meets IoT and building automation. The Smart Digital Workplace can enable personalized experiences such as connected furniture and smart lighting that adapts to the user. Buildings can go greener by dynamically optimizing energy utilization based on employee patterns. These new use cases not only foster employee productivity but also improve efficiency while putting people at the center.

Le concluded, “This global study indicates that choice, personalization, ease and automation are improving the top line and the bottom line for organizations who are defining the future of work. Our own place of work is a living lab for the Smart Digital Workplace and we are seeing results such as faster hiring and higher offer acceptances. The benefits are tangible and go beyond productivity.”

Research methodology

A total of 7,000 employees were interviewed in April and May 2018. The respondents were from organizations of all sizes, across both public and private sectors, with a focus on the industrial, government, retail, healthcare, education, finance and IT/technology/telecommunications sectors. Interviews were conducted both online and via telephone using a multi-level screening process to ensure that only suitable candidates were given the opportunity to participate. Respondents were interviewed in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, United Arab Emirates, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Australia, India, Brazil, Mexico, China and South Korea.

The method

A total of 7,000 employees were interviewed in April and May 2018. The respondents were from organizations of all sizes, across both public and private sectors, with a focus on the industrial, government, retail, healthcare, education, finance and IT sectors. Respondents were interviewed in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, United Arab Emirates, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Australia, India, Brazil, Mexico, China and South Korea.