Workplace technology has been the cornerstone of office evolution and revolution since the 1980s when personal computers were first introduced into the workplace. Since then, several pieces of workplace technology have continued to revolutionise the way we operate, collaborate and communicate at work.
Workplace Technology evolution
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing had a huge impact on how workplaces and offices collaborate. ‘The Cloud’ as it’s often referred to, allows offices to remain agile and flexible with their document and data storage. No longer do businesses need to have a room of filing cabinets; it’s all up in the ‘clouds’.
This workplace technology has granted offices and employees alike the flexibility to work in multiple locations. Have a meeting elsewhere? Have to travel for work? Working from home? All of these things once upon a time required a lot of planning; what documents will I need to bring? does my computer have enough storage?
Today, all you need is your cloud log in details, and you have every document at your fingertips. Additionally, it has increased productivity as documents cannot get lost or damaged through wear and tear.
Project Management Software
While project management tools were once typically found in the construction industry, advancements in project management software have opened up its use to almost any industry, department or team.
Project management tools such as Trello have allowed teams to use their planning and collaboration power to help everyone stay on top of their tasks. Especially in a working environment with multiple projects, campaigns and deliverables, user- friendly project tools help everyone stay on top of their responsibilities.
Additionally, such project management tools have helped facilitate the shift towards digital workplaces, allowing teams to easily collaborate, without needing to be in the same room.
Video Conferencing
Although video conferencing has become a daily staple of modern workplaces, it has only become standard practice since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rise of video conferencing has had a profound effect on workplaces. Gone are the days of having to collect all your things and rush to a meeting on the other side of town or office. The move towards virtual meetings and conferences has led to a substantial increase in productivity due to decreased travel time, greater inclusion of remote teams and increased punctuality.
Similarly, the addition of video conferencing workplace technology has been a key driver in the workplace revolution, enabling teams to be entirely virtual if needed. Additionally, video conferencing has allowed workplaces to remain agile and flexible in a constantly changing business environment.
Automation
There are loads of repetitive, low-intensity office tasks that may be a bit on the dry side, but are still important. Tasks such as deleting spam, organising emails, inputting employee timesheets were once time-consuming tasks for employees to spend time on.
The development of automation workplace technologies has changed that; no longer do employees need to spend tens of hours to complete mundane tasks, machine learning or AI can do it for them. This automation has had a big impact on workplace productivity as they can spend more time on complex, strategic tasks that cannot be automated.
Virtual Workspaces
All of these advances in workplace technology have had a profound effect on today’s office. They have forever changed the concept of the workplace and the way we work, collaborate and interact with colleagues.
In the end, these advances in workplace technology have culminated and built the foundation of the modern workplace, facilitating the eventual move to virtual workplaces.
While it can be a divisive topic, virtual workspaces have created a workplace revolution, one in which employees are no longer geographically tied to their work. This revolution has impacted employees just as much as employers, as both now have broader horizons for where they can work and who they can hire.
What’s Next in Workplace Technology?
There’s no saying how workplace technology will continue to change offices and workplaces.
Looking ahead, we will likely see greater automation of tasks, but it also may extend to employee onboarding, processes, and IT support. We could also see workplaces moving into virtual or augmented reality, where organisations can build the office of their dreams in virtual spaces.
All in all, workplace technology is causing rapid changes to the workplace, a revolution of sorts. Many of these changes are here to stay, and many are just the tip of the iceberg.
If you want to refit, refurbish or redeploy your office to make sure it is taking advantage of all the advances in workplace technology, contact us today and let’s see what’s possible.
