The days of being bound to a single desk are coming to an end. Companies are shifting how they conduct business, thanks to technology. Virtually and remotely, we are seeing work culture change with the times, as employees are taking charge in how and where they work.
According to a study conducted by The Freelancers’ Union and Elance, 34% of the U.S. workforce consists of freelance workers. The union predicted that at least 50% of U.S. workers will be freelancers by 2020, less than 5 years from now! The Society for Human Resources Manage (SHRM) also reported in their 2012 study that 46% of participating organizations in the United States have virtual employees, including full-time, contractors and freelancers. Multinational businesses were more likely to encourage remote work at 53% over those solely based in the U.S.
While Yahoo’s Marissa Miller has banned employees from working from home, Harvard Business Review revealed that there are benefits to both employees and the organization by encouraging teams to work remotely. A study was conducted by Ctrip, a Chinese travel website, whose cofounders gave call center employees the option to work from home for 9 months. The employees had higher performance levels, increased job satisfaction rates and lower rates of turnover. The company also saw cost savings in operations, space and furniture.
In addition to working remotely, technology has changed communication styles. Virtual and wireless conferencing brings people together without barriers of time and location. Instant messaging and texting have reduced the wait time for the telephone or an email. VoIP and video gives employees a choice to speak face-to-face or just audio. With the array of devices used to perform tasks, technology has created greater flexibility and accessibility.
Employees are working more project-based than as individual contributors. They are evaluated not just for their work, but how they work with others, both internally and externally. People are being encouraged to no longer feel tied to their desks. Some companies are redesigning their spaces with open floor plans, recreational areas, cafes verses a “break room.”
For those who work remotely, especially freelancers, there are now co-working spaces to ignite idea sharing and conversation to help one another hit targets, reach goals and complete tasks. The company office is not necessarily the central place for knowledge. Employees can become more social with their peers.
The traditional workplace still has its place for those who need more discipline and structure. However, it is becoming more open to change with employee benefits such as flexible time, unlimited sick times, longer paid time off and being provided with mobile and smart devices.
What about IT? IT departments should be ahead of the curve when it comes to the ways technology is disrupting the workplace and changing company culture. Not only should the teams be versed on the latest hardware and software applications, it should be mindful of how employees are working and communicating. Partnering with Human Resources is a great way to gain insight to put against industry trends and benchmarks. That way, IT can develop programs and implementation strategies that will make support the shift in workflows, connect employees and their third parties and drive business successes.
So, what does the future of work look like? It’s however we want it to look like with no boundaries – it can look like a coffee shop or no more cubicles. This all depends on the employees, and how it can increase creativity and collaboration. We all have the opportunity to work how we want, when we want without barriers.
Where’s your ideal place to work?
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Like any new technology, it always starts out as a novelty. It is often something you want, but don’t necessarily need. Take cars, for example. When the first automobiles were introduced many people may have wanted one, but they just weren’t practical, and the horse and carriage was working just fine.
That all changed as cars became faster, more reliable, and eventually more affordable to the masses. Now we can’t imagine life without them. The same was true for the telephone, computer, smart phones, and many other revolutionary technologies. Wireless presentation technology is headed down that same road.
To determine what is truly necessary in the business environment, let’s examine the fine line between a need and a want, when it comes to technology. A want becomes a necessity when environmental forces tip the balance and create a scenario where functioning without the new technology actually creates real challenges to obtaining business objectives. It goes from being “nice to have”, to being “necessary” in getting the job done right.
Take computers in the realm of word processing. There came a tipping point where typewriters became obsolete because of the unavoidable efficiencies created with computer word processing. Wireless presentation appears to be currently at that tipping point. But has it really reached the status of “need”, or is it still just “nice to have”?
Some would argue that we are not to the point of necessity yet. There are still work environments where wireless presentation is not necessary to carry out the businesses objectives. This is exactly what happens at the tipping point of a technology’s usefulness. Companies on the forefront of technology will be early to adopt, while other companies are slower to adopt. Eventually it becomes mainstream, and is adopted as a necessity.
It is interesting to observe over the last few years as wireless presentation technology used to be a novelty. It was something you could use to impress your friends by wirelessly displaying the content from your device up onto the screen. Then, when the meeting actually started, traditional connectivity would prevail.
Times are changing, however. The days when everybody had a laptop with multiple AV plugins are gone. Current devices have limited connection ports, and some have none at all. Many people do not even own a laptop, and companies like Microsoft are attempting to blur the lines between tablet and PC.
The current business environment, in general, is revolving more and more around wireless connectivity. Most employees now carry smartphones that are always connected to the internet. Cloud computing is facilitating the ease of sharing information wirelessly. As more employees, clients, vendors, and other parties implement these sophisticated devices, the demand for wireless presentation will be unavoidable.
In conclusion, it appears to be evident that wireless presentation technology is quickly becoming a necessity (if it is not already). This is the direction where business is headed, whether we are ready or not.
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Conference room technology has grown leaps and bounds in recent years. It has changed the way we communicate in the workplace, amongst ourselves, across departments and across the globe. That shift has set expectations for more immediate collaboration and conversation during meetings. This is where the wireless presentation has become a success, for which Ubiq has provided a solution!
Wireless presentations turn meeting rooms into a central access point for content. Through secured environments, team members can meet in one location from various locations and multiple devices. Wireless presentations turn the meeting room into a collaborative place with shareable content and readily available means of communication.
So, why go with Ubiq over anyone else? Ubiq’s wireless presentation system is an all-in-one solution that provides a cable free, hassle free, seamless experience for meetings and conferences. Built around the concept of hives, Ubiq’s hardware resides in the center of your meeting room, connecting people to content across multiple devices and (soon) remote locations.
Here are just some of the benefits:
- Easy set-up. Ubiq has designed the system for self set-up and provides step-by-step instructions. Ubiq’s wireless presentation systems integrate with your current IT infrastructure. It works with the A/V technology you currently use. The hardware, also known as a “hive,” only needs to be set up in center of your meeting room. The system is supported by PC and Mac operating systems, and will be compatible with multiple tablet and mobile devices (coming soon).
- Quick access. Wireless presentations can be activated and accessed in under 10 seconds. Using P2P and WiFi connectivity, it takes a few simple clicks to enter your meeting session in and out of the conference room. Remote presentations will allow for your virtual teams to share in the experience in real-time, creating greater communication and collaborative opportunities.
- Ease of Use. Ubiq not only is easy to use, but it promotes productivity. Integrating with calendar tools, like Google Calendar, teams can schedule meetings, reserve rooms and request “hive” access. It sets structure around meeting organization for all parties involved.
- Enterprise – level Security.Ubiq works with your enterprise security structure and policies. It can bridge corporate and guest networks to allow all key parties to partake in the same session. Live session data is encrypted and protected to only be accessed through the designated meeting with the hive. Ubiq also supports corporate SSO (single sign-on) to create a simple authentication process through Ubiq’s software.
- Less strain on IT. Ubiq is user-friendly. It is meant to empower employees to set-up their own meetings using easy to manage technology with minimal IT involvement. IT can spend their time more efficiently to support your company in other areas. Ubiq also provides an administrative dashboard for monitoring of “hive” activity from a single, remote location. IT does not need to be in the room, and can be proactive in making sure all systems are a-go!
Discover how Ubiq can work for your organization. Request a demo today!
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When you think of your company’s IT infrastructure, is it where you want it to be? You may not need to have the newest hardware and software. However, you want the tools and resources to be upgraded to be functional enough in the upcoming technological landscape. Having the ability to integrate technology into your current system to be efficient, promote productivity, and optimize workflows.
Wireless presentations are making it easier for teams to collaborate and share ideas. The technology to support it needs to integrate into your current system, especially for audio/visual equipment. For example, Ubiq’s technology integration works with your infrastructure and won’t require the high cost of replacing/upgrading equipment.
When exploring new technologies for your business, you should seek out integrations that are:
- Simple: Require little time and effort, working with current infrastructure
- Effective: Resolve a problem or fills a need in the workplace across multiple teams or departments
- Seamless: Does not become an obstacle to work processes
- Adaptable: Can be used as intended by fellow employees; user-friendly or with some training required
Technology integration not only benefits your infrastructure. It helps the entire company and its partners. Here’s how:
- Costs. Integrating new technology can be daunting. However, it does not have to be. Simplifying integrations to support and optimize your existing technology can help reduce costs. There may not be a need to replace or upgrade all or any of your hardware or software.
- Time. Technology integrations can save time and effort, the simpler they are. Without having to replace or upgrade existing technology, it allows your IT department to manage resources, set expectations and perform any training necessary.
- Performance. The manner in which new technology is integrated and adopted can be indicative of overall company performance levels. Understanding what is involved for a smooth, seamless transition can help your team take the appropriate steps with minimal negative impact on employees. The goal with any integration should be for improvement of current process and workflows.
How you manage your technology is reflective of how you manage your business. Your operations can be a sign of success or failure. Technology is at the core of your business. It’s important to ensure that it’s working for you, your partners and employees!