The Future of Work

FountainBlue’s April 5 VIP roundtable was on the topic of ‘The Future of Work’. Thank you also to our gracious hosts at Citrix and to our executives in attendance for their input and advice. Below are notes from the conversation. 

The Future of Work will address the emotional, physical, spiritual and intellectual needs of the whole, integrated human. It will focus on creating connections between people, and also on providing platforms, processes and opportunities so that people can get things done in the way that’s convenient for them.

All these opportunities arise because, for the most part, we have the foundational technologies and infrastructure necessary to create more scalable, more sustainable, more versatile, and more powerful solutions which make us more productive at work and more fulfilled and satisfied outside work.

Predictions for the the future of work include:

• The work scenarios will be impacted by whether the workforce is from Gen X and Gen Y and Gen Z. Each generation thrives under different parameters. 
• The future of work will include many people working from home. 
  • Provide them with the hardware, software, network and tools so that they can efficiently, securely and productivity do so.
• There is and will continue to be an abundance of software and device options brought into enterprises. 
  • IT professionals and executives must be proactive about communicating and restricting what is allowed on-site and how it is integrated with other solutions. 
  • Develop and manage standards for interoperability, security, scalability. These standards and protocols will help advance opportunities for all.
  • There will always be a balance between a need for security and a need for privacy, and a need to conform to relevant policies and standards.
• There will continue to be a trend toward working with shared physical space and shared equipment at work. 
  • Manage that scenario so it’s clear how everything can be equitably and securely shared efficiently.

Below are some thoughts on how to further facilitate advancements in technologies and solutions to fit into our new work requirements.

• Collaborate across roles, across companies, across industries to meet the complex and complicated needs of a very demanding customer base.
• Focus on and deliver on what the target customer is looking for.
• Get data on how customers are using current solutions, for this will provide insights on what other services and products you could provide.
• Accept that professionals in industries such as healthcare and financial services may be more reluctant to embrace new hardware and software offerings. Find a way to make the transition easier for them, for it’s necessary for that adoption to take place.
• No matter how advanced we are in video and audio communications, there will never be a substitute for face-to-face communications. Factoring in this truth will help plan for a more realistic future.
• Measure how productive the workforce is under differing circumstances. Use the metrics to optimize performance.

Below are some thoughts on some growth opportunities.

• Although we have made great strides in providing efficient internet access, particularly in metropolitan areas, there is still room for more reliable, more efficient access.
• Voice and video innovations will help support the future of work.
• The data around customer usage will help us proactively understand and serve customers. 

To conclude, no matter where you’re sitting, embrace the inevitable technology, process and business shifts around the future of work. Think from the outside in and from the inside out about what the future of work will entail and plan accordingly.

Advertisement