The new way of working is a combination of the real world and the virtual world.

The world around us is changing. Information comes at us in all kinds of ways, and at an ever-increasing speed. Hybrid working is the new norm, and as a company, you need to be able to offer a flexible and modern workplace. But what exactly does that look like?

Globalisation, digitisation, information overload, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. These are just five examples of recent developments that are having a major impact on your organisation. How do you deal with this? Sticking to the old way of working is not an option. A Gallup survey shows that 59% of employees want to work hybrid. In addition, 55% say that flexible working influences their decision to stay with an employer, according to Gartner.

The future calls for a different type of office that supports a diverse and flexible workforce as effectively as possible. A challenge? Yes. But it also offers opportunities. Companies that define a new and clear purpose for their workplace gain a competitive advantage.

Gen-Z

You walk through your virtual office as an avatar or via holoportations as a digital version of yourself. After chatting with a colleague in the coffee corner, you return to your screen, where AI immediately displays the information you need to get started. Sound far-fetched? Get used to it, because it’s coming faster than you think.

We’ve all seen it happen: the birth of the so-called Gen Z. This is the generation born in this century, who were given smartphones as a kind of birth gift. From an early age, they have grown up with the internet, smartphones, tablets and other forms of modern technology. Going out and ringing your friends’ doorbells to see if they’re home and want to play? No way, just send a quick message or log in to your digital world.

The coronavirus pandemic has given digitalisation a new lease of life. Businesses, schools; everyone had to go online. And now there’s no going back. It’s impossible to explain to Gen Z why you have to go to the office every day to sit behind a screen when you have the same screen at home. What’s more, the new generation values a good work/life balance. For many people, spending an hour and a half in the car every day to get to work is no longer an option. If you, as an employer, cannot offer a modern digital workplace, you will fall behind and eventually be unable to find staff. To stay afloat, you have to keep up.

AI knows what you need

AI is an important part of the modern workplace. We must embrace the artificial intelligence that is available to us as the next step towards working more efficiently. How much time do you sometimes spend searching for specific files that you can’t quite remember where they are? How many times do you have to click your mouse to get something on your screen? AI can help with that. Among other things, it can prepare other relevant files for you based on the data you have open. Why search for something yourself when AI already knows what you need?

We will increasingly encounter AI in standard applications. For example, a future version of Teams will include a feature that keeps your head up when you look away. And Microsoft Viva helps you bring structure to your day. If you want to work with full concentration and without interruptions, Viva ensures that you don’t receive any emails or phone calls during your ‘quiet time’. It sounds very simple, but these are all small breakthroughs that are part of the modern workplace. Efficient and smart.

Cloud-native

The modern workplace must be flexible and inclusive, but at the same time create a sense of connection. Working from home, but still together. The modern workplace is a company where technology is used to stimulate flexibility and collaboration. It is not technology that takes centre stage, but people and culture. Technology is the means to an end.

The developments surrounding the modern workplace are irreversible. What does that mean for your organisation? One thing is certain: to keep up, you need to become cloud-native. Storing files locally is no longer the way to go; everything must be accessible from the cloud. That is the first step, but organisations must also be ready for steps two, three, four and five. Gen Z is the future of your business, and anyone who waits to further develop the modern workplace until they really have to will be too late. Today’s school leavers expect a workplace that is in tune with the future.

Don’t believe it will happen that quickly? We’ll talk about it in a few years’ time at the virtual coffee machine in our metaverse.