2020 has been a trendsetter, a business conundrum that had every industry leader find unique and highly innovative ways for business continuity. Gartner predicts that 2021 will be all about “Internet of Behavior (IoB), which is a data science that analyzes the behavior of people especially in the workspace. However, be it Gartner, Forbes or Forrester all believe that 2021 is going to be all things remote, which I personally agree with after analyzing the rapidly transforming work culture.
Digital technologies like Distributed Cloud, enhanced Cybersecurity, Hyper automation, intelligent remotely accessible business solutions and at the heart of it all, AI will be the trends shaping 2021. Nevertheless, 2021 is a big year and there is much to look forward to besides the Corona Virus Vaccine. This will be the year that organizations will focus on recovering from the pandemic hence; the spotlight will be on digital investments that can drive transformation strategies. Remote work is here to stay, and organisations across the globe continue to grapple with challenges it poses. With remote workforce, employees work from different locations across company-issued and personal devices. For security teams, the challenge is how to secure and monitor a sprawling, widened perimeter that now has a greater surface area for attacks.
Secondly, while businesses are doubling down on digital transformation (DX), new research found that organizational leaders are leaving many of their employees behind in the process. A study revealed that 94% of all employees want to be more involved in DX, and almost half (44%) of the general staff say they simply don’t know how to help. This not only disenfranchises some employees, it can also slow the pace of DX success.
As company leaders accelerate the pace of digital transformation in the wake of the pandemic, a research revealed many employees are eager to be part of the solution. But despite this enthusiasm, only 10% of general staff strongly agree that they know how to contribute to their company’s digital transformation efforts. Interestingly, there is also still confusion at the top: even 14% of CEOs report they don’t know how to get involved. Hence, digital transformation is a journey on which no one should be left behind.
With the pandemic continuing to cause unparalleled uncertainty and disruption, businesses must examine every aspect of digital transformation to ensure they can keep pace and stay competitive. Digital transformations are about culture as well as technology, and that means it is essential that employees feel included in the process. We are on the verge of a new shift in the workforce which will push every organization to rethink how they manage their infrastructure, provide resources in an efficient way and keep employees secure. We are talking about a “split workforce.”
While the majority of employees are still working from home, a new report shows that most Americans are expected to slowly begin returning to the office over the next 12 to 18 months – giving rise to a new hybrid workforce. Expectations are that not everyone will be back in the office, but rather organizations will give more flexibility to employees to split their time between the physical office and their home, creating a rotating pattern.
