Nigel Dunne, Vice President and CEO, EMEA, Jabra, talks about the company's latest study and the six potential future business scenarios that will impact four key pillars of businesses, people, workplaces and technology over the next five years.
Business leaders are always looking to predict the next big business trend. But it's not enough just to have an opinion about what the future will look like. You need to make concrete preparations to be ready for this.
Jabra analyzed more than 100 trends in society and surveyed 76 academic and industry experts to find the most productive and trustworthy predictions for the future of work. Armed with this data and experience, we have designed six possible future business scenarios that will impact four key pillars of companies, employees, workplaces and technology over the next five years.
Future of Work #1: Focus on employee well-being
Employers recognize their duty of care to employees and want to support employees to be healthy and happy. Businesses will embrace technology to achieve this, through artificial intelligence and automated solutions that will be integrated into workplaces to monitor and enhance employee health and wellbeing. Tools such as AI therapy chatbots, health tracking platforms and wearables will enable companies to detect and support employees who are potentially overworked or stressed, leading to increased employee satisfaction and a more positive work environment.
Future of Work #2: Super-Agile Teams
Business models will shift from a large core team to smaller teams supported by a network of partners with a mix of expertise. The best people, known as the “Hollywood” business model, will be selected for any given project.
Seamless cross-platform connectivity and connectivity, as well as cloud-based storage and access, will be critical to accommodating these hyper-agile teams.
Future of Work #3: Sustainability at the heart of business
Amid rising concerns about climate change, companies are bearing more responsibility. Business travel will continue to decline thanks to communications platforms and associated technology. Sustainable domestic manufacturing will gain importance, energy conservation will become a priority, and companies will focus on reusing and recycling materials, upgrading products, and purchasing or creating devices that last.
Artificial intelligence and automation will use data to ensure buildings are energy efficient by monitoring temperature, automating energy supply, and optimizing company operations.
Future of Work #4: The Office is Everywhere
The office of the future will be dynamic and not restricted by fixed locations. Work will happen everywhere and global cloud technology and communications platforms will enable employees to work wherever suits them.
Advanced devices, with noise cancellation and open-plan designs, will encourage collaboration and diverse workspaces, reducing background distractions and enhancing social interactions. Virtual meetings, conversations and trainings will become more immersive with the help of augmented reality, virtual reality and the integration of more advanced audio and video software.
as a result of, Organizations will benefit from a more diverse talent pool, as employees will no longer need to live within commuting distance of the office. Without having to work in an office five days a week, companies can instead rent smaller offices, with smart workspaces and office furniture that provides seamless connectivity.
Future of Work 5: Investing in the whole employee
Employees will need support when adapting to change in the workplace. The combination of data and artificial intelligence will lead to rapid growth in personal training, enhancing skills such as speech, language and presentation. This will help increase employee productivity, improve time management, and provide personal goals to help employees feel confident and motivated at work.
Future of Work #6: Enterprise Consumption
The line between work and leisure will become blurred as employees adopt a hybrid and flexible working style. Strict technology policies will lead to customization, allowing employees to choose their own work styles, environments, devices, and applications. This design, including custom interfaces and AI assistants, will enhance productivity and job satisfaction, adding significant perceived value at minimal cost.
Since IT leaders are no longer the sole technology decision-makers, technology companies must meet the needs of a broader and more diverse customer base. Their technology will need to be clearly labeled with feature advantages and uses to ensure consumers buy the right device. The devices must also be rugged to withstand increased use outside the workplace, with interoperability across different devices and operating systems.
In conclusion…
Existing research often highlights the lack of responsiveness of MNCs to their employees, which leads to a loss of trust. The latest study conducted by Jabra confirmed that companies must align with the evolving needs and expectations of their workforce, and support employee demands by focusing on well-being and sustainability, along with flexible work habits. Making and implementing changes in line with these trends will be key to driving success and innovation for all industries in the coming years.
