The traditional office environment has changed forever. Today, people have access to technologies and remote IT services that facilitate the ability to work from anywhere, at any time. Further, work has become more agile and collaborative than at any other time in industrial history. Most teams can communicate and collaborate effectively remotely just as they would from within the office.

What are digital workspaces?

The modern workforce thrives on digital connectivity. Employers are also racing to keep up with advances in personnel tools to ensure their team members enjoy the working environment and utilize flexible and streamlined processes.

Further, employees are becoming more globally distributed. For organizations that invest in collaboration and teamwork, they are rewarded with increased productivity and employee engagement. In addition, the ability to work from anywhere can help to enhance job satisfaction, personal productivity, work-life balance, and self-determination. It’s also a win-win for businesses as they can realize a significant cost savings of the digital workspace environment whether it’s employing remote workers and implementing a hosted desktop environment.

The key to offering workplace flexibility is it increases the ability to attract and retain top talent in any field. So, this is good for everyone involved. Why is it so crucial now? Part of the reason is business continuity and resiliency. The objective is to keep the company productive even if there are variances from standard and traditional working conditions. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to quickly transition to remote working conditions which are now becoming permanent.

It also stands to reason that the market is global, and many skilled workers may not reside in your neighborhood. If you want to hire the best, it might be time to expand your recruiting efforts beyond your city or state. High-quality talent values freedom and flexibility. To attract their attention requires a mobile work environment and digital workspace. Also, this needs to be done without losing communication, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.

Digital nomads abound

For the most part, history has been divided by the materials used to produce human tools: Stone, bronze, and iron. If we want to categorize the digital age, we might also call it the Lithium Age.

Further, the term “As-a-service” is an accurate depiction of the on-demand nature of how many of us currently live and work. Not only do mobile technologies make this possible, they are the driver. We all can live our lives online, we meet our work and personal goals virtually. Long gone are the days when we spent the weekends driving around town going shopping and getting errands done when we can pay our bills online, exercise with online videos, have our groceries and shopping delivered, work online, and watch the latest movies online. We are also witnessing the rise of the global community, as there are no borders in the virtual world.

Mobile technologies are the common denominator. Organizations are ready to capture the on-demand economy by using remote IT services and hosted desktops to create a mobile workforce and mobile work culture.

Mobility is the future of work

Every year, an increasing number of businesses are implementing digital ecosystems that create on-demand access and immediacy. Those companies that fail to follow this trend will be left behind. In fact, more workers are applying for jobs from their mobile devices.

Organizations who want to reach and engage the best talent must offer a collaborative and mobile work experience. Employees want to satisfy their work-life goals, and they want to set their own schedules. They value the ability to choose employers that align with their values. They are less inclined to follow the corporate mold and prefer to fulfill their entrepreneurial inclinations. To retain this high-quality nomadic talent, business culture should be just as fluid.

The benefits of remote work mobility

According to CITO Research, around 70% of all respondents agreed improved business processes was the driver for adopting a more mobile culture. Invariably, virtual offices reduce overhead costs. Moreover, mobility creates opportunities for new revenue streams and makes organizations more competitive.

Work mobility ensures that performance reviews are more effective and outdated business processes are updated. Teams are more connected when they can use the latest collaborative tools and technologies without having to worry about commuting and traffic or whether they will make it home on time for family night and dinner. They can do both: Take care of their homes while scheduling off-hour work time to meet deadlines.

Most importantly, mobile workers are happier and satisfied employees are more productive when they have more control over their time -- especially when they don’t feel they’re strapped to a desk. Without question, all of this freedom leads to a better bottom line for the organization.

Create a digital workspace without losing touch

The most forward-thinking organizations have already been early adopters of mobility-related technologies such as remote IT services, social media, and collaboration platforms. Using these platforms, along with conferencing apps, allows a digital workspace to replicate the physical office space. For the most part, we already have all the tools available to create a digital work culture without losing touch or sacrificing a sense of belonging. However, there are a few best practices we recommend below:

1. Use apps, and hosted desktops to ensure remote workers can adapt to your business culture from anywhere, but also ensure they address security and privacy concerns.
2. Invest in remote IT services that make systems and work easier. They should also offer comprehensive multichannel support to avoid the risk of issues for people who use various devices and operating systems. You will also cut costs around purchasing compatible devices for every employee.
3. Expand your reach to bring work to your staff. Create a borderless digital workplace, but make it a point to communicate and collaborate consistently. Allow your team members time to be productive members of and contribute to their local communities.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the rates of digital workspace solutions have skyrocketed. A thoughtful investment in a scalable and permanent mobile work solution, such as hosted desktops, is essential as more employees continue to work from home. Without question, the demand for digital workspaces is on the rise. The good news is you no longer have to compromise security or functionality.

Cloud-based hosted desktops enables secure remote work

The cloud is vital for digital workspaces. You can’t operate remotely without it. If you are still reliant on physical desktops and data centers, you can’t expand as rapidly. Hosted desktops enables staff to securely connect to the company network using the device of their choice and with their home broadband. Further, hosted desktops can scale up or down depending on capacity needs. In addition, employees can log on to their personal desktops and suite of applications such as their CRM database or accounting packages from any location and on any device. You don’t have to invest in new desktops, and the billing structure is simplified with a predictable monthly fee.

Consider the cost savings. It can cost upwards of $2,000 per employee, per year to manage licenses, maintain, and support physical desktops. On the other hand, a hosted desktop solution can cut these costs between 30 and 50%. Employees still need access to their desktops, but now they can use whatever device they prefer.

Another perk is the ability to get rid of your physical servers and the option to decrease the need for administration, in-house IT security, and performing software updates. By relieving this burden, you have more time to concentrate on business strategy.

You can also free up capital expenditure when you move to remote IT services with a low monthly pay-as-you-go fee. You only pay for what you use allowing for more predictable budgeting.

Additionally, hosted desktops make it easier for you to grow and scale your IT requirements, storage, and applications by only paying for what you use.

If you’re ready to improve your organization’s competitive edge, here are five things to consider when evaluating digital workspaces for your business:

1. Security
   It’s vital to work with a vendor that is 3rd-party audited, which should include GDPR, HIPAA/HITRUST, PCI, and SOC II. It’s essential to improve the digital workspace and support your remote employees without sacrificing security. Make sure your chosen vendor has a comprehensive security program in place to protect sensitive company and end-user data.
   
   
2. Reliability
   Your digital workplace will only be as good as the remote IT services that support it. What does your vendor’s reliability score? How do they ensure business continuity and rapid disaster recovery? What is their uptime rate?
   
   
3. Flexibility
   Will the solution cater to your end-user’s workflows and business processes? Do your team members feel like they have control over their workspace and the applications they use? Does the solution meet the needs of their job function? These questions are essential because it can prevent cost pressures when your remote employees can access the right tools.
   
   
4. Reputation
   Does your selected vendor have experience with quality performance? Are they a thought leader in the remote IT services and hosted desktop space? Do they provide expert customer support and on-demand support? Do they offer work-from-anywhere solutions that meet your unique requirements?
   
   
5. Compatibility
   Is the solution convenient and user-friendly? Does it integrate well with your existing systems and line-of-business applications? Does it enhance your employees’ productivity? Do your team members like using the solutions? Does it provide a consistent experience across all devices?

Final thought

If you feel you don’t have all the right tools to effectively have your employees work from home full-time, consider our secure and flexible remote IT services and hosted desktops. We have the background and expertise to get you there quickly.

Contact SSI to talk more about Digital Workspaces Solutions or evaluating a plan together.