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5 Insights on the Future of Work

As we all know, in this new, rapidly changing world, “late adopter” is the same thing as “out of business”. That’s why in this article you will find out how the working world of the future is already being shaped and get to know the most important developments that will significantly impact the work of the future.

Trends in the Working World of Tomorrow

AUTOMATION, ROBOTICS & AI

Source: Photo by?Lenny Kuhne?on?Unsplash

One of the most visible consequences of all changes in our world is the?increasing automation of processes. This means that?machines will perform repetitive, mechanical tasks?to an even greater extent in the future.?Humans will merely become supervisors?of processes or will focus on more demanding tasks in the production chain.

According to a study by business consultants Deloitte,?up to 35 percent of jobs in Germany could be affected by automation and the increasing use of robots. In logistics centres, for example, we can already see how self-steering vehicles take over the transport of goods while picking robots ensure that the items are placed in the right boxes or crates.

For companies, this is a great opportunity.?The increased use of robots lowers labour costs, making it economically viable to relocate back production capacities. In addition, automation frees up manpower that is urgently needed elsewhere since there is already a shortage of workers in many industries due to demographic change.

At the same time,?artificial intelligence?is already establishing itself in more and more service industries. Many routine tasks can already be performed by AI-controlled systems, for example, the jobs of call center agents. And this without fatigue and breaks. More demanding tasks such as tax advice or legal work will certainly also be able to be carried out with the help of algorithms. The World Economic Forum?estimates that?by 2025, technology will create at least 12 million more jobs than it destroys, a sign that in the long run, automation will actually have positive effects on society. Empowered employees will have more flexibility to pursue their passions and achieve a greater purpose and new opportunities.

Proactive leaders must investigate how the regular use of AI, smart software and robots will invigorate work strategy. High-performing employees should be encouraged to create and share AI tools or personalized apps, tools and smart technology portfolios to drive a competitive advantage.

SOFT SKILLS

Source: Photo by?Jason Goodman?on?Unsplash

As automation and AI take more and more work away from people,?the importance of soft skills will continue to grow. Factors which play a significant role are:?creativity, solution orientation, flexibility or willingness to cooperate often distinguish humans from machines.?At the same time,?careers have more extended duration periods - 60 to 70 years and the "expiration time" of skills is shortening to just 2.5 - 4 years. This is why further training must be provided and also guaranteed by companies regularly. However, familiarising oneself with new technologies is also the responsibility of each individual.

REMOTE WORKING STYLES

Source: Photo by?Sigmund?on?Unsplash

Thanks to fast data connections available on our smartphones or notebooks everywhere, far fewer people today depend on office space at their employer's premises. Due to this, the number of employees working from home or on the move has been rising steadily for years.?This independence of location will continue to accelerate under the impact of technological change. The?advantages for both sides?are obvious: On the one hand, the employer saves on expensive office space and is?constantly informed about the work status among its remote workforce,?thanks to digital technology**.** On the other hand, employees ****benefit from factors such as?growing flexibility and self-determination.??The result: employee satisfaction increases and overall productivity can be improved.

While remote work is just now establishing itself as the standard for screen workers, companies like MS and Zoom are already working on the next stage. Looking not even that far ahead in time, the?Metaverse?is the first thing that pops into one’s mind when thinking about future styles of remote work. These?virtual worlds,?where users can work, play, and socialize, are going to become a crucial part of the future of work. “Within the next two or three years, I predict?most virtual meetings will move from 2D camera image grids...to the metaverse, a 3D space with digital avatars,” Bill Gates writes in his annual end-of-year blog. “The idea is that you will eventually use your avatar to meet with people in a virtual space that replicates the feeling of being in an actual room with them,” Gates continued. Tech company Meta (former Facebook) is a pioneer in this field: In August 2021, Facebook announced their Horizon Workrooms, a place in the metaverse where workers can work together – online.

Source:?https://futurezone.at/digital-life/metaverse-facebook-zuckerberg-oculus-virtual-reality/402068002

MILLENNIALS IN THE WORKPLACE

Source: Photo by?Simon Maage?on?Unsplash

Organizations today must shift from creating an environment where they assume that?people?need?to work to one where people?want?to work. Already today, millennials make up about 50% of the workforce, and by 2025 this number is projected to be 75%. The reason that millennials are so crucial is not the fact that they might bring new approaches, ideas, values or styles of working. It’s that they are, by all accounts,?the largest generation ever to enter the workforce. This is a generation of employees with technological fluency, willing to live at home longer until they find a company they truly want to work for. One big desire of this generation is?work-life balance and employee satisfaction. As a result,?employers need to develop flexible and attractive work models, such as flexible home office options and a general offer for the employees to make a meaningful impact, to retain employees in the long-term.

DIGITAL WORKPLACE

Source: Photo by?Marvin Meyer?on?Unsplash

The digital transformation makes work mobile and connects the office workplace. This creates much faster and more direct ways of communication and cooperation. For example, a study reports that employees?spend 12 percent less time on manual activities thanks to digital applications. 79 percent say that digital tools are crucial for a better and faster decision-making process.?Most IT programs have in common that they are based on a cloud solution to which authorized persons have access regardless of location and time.

The?intranet can also be redesigned with the help of the cloud.?Thanks to easier handling, employees are better informed and can be better integrated into company processes, which benefits employee satisfaction and commitment.

Modern tools like?employee apps?take outdated intranet solutions to a new level. To retain employees long-term and be sustainably?successful?and?innovative,?a sense of belonging,?employee?motivation?and?transparent communication?are essential.?This can be achieved by giving your employees a voice, involving them in processes and providing them with a?secure platform for feedback.?This is particularly important for non-desk workers who typically don’t have access to any digital tools or even an e-mail account. With the help of an employee app, these?employees can exchange information with managers and colleagues at?any time, anywhere?and on their own devices. The interactive user interface can be used to distribute information and content to selected groups in a targeted manner. As a result, communication with an employee app is?more straightforward, more intuitive?and?more secure?than ever before.

A whole range of factors will determine the working world of the future. It is important to not only accept all these developments and slowly integrate them into the company's processes, but also to recognize them early and become an innovative pioneer in the respective fields.

???Key take-aways on the future of work

• The speed of technological development is affecting the world of work more than never before
• The term 'Future of Work' is used to discuss the transformation of the world of work and the associated impact on our society
• Increasing automation, the use of artificial intelligence, remote working styles, changed preferences of employees, growing importance of soft skills and modern tools are the driving forces of all the changes happening in the workplace
• Companies today need to embrace these developments and adjust workspaces and working styles accordingly
• Those who do not adapt now will find it very difficult to keep up with the rapid pace of change in the future.

If you want to know more about internal communication or related topics you can check out our recent?LinkedIn posts?or talk to?our internal communication experts.

Sources:

Automation Doesn’t Just Create or Destroy Jobs — It Transforms Them. (2021, 2. November). Harvard Business Review. Abgerufen am 3. August 2022, von?https://hbr.org/2021/11/automation-doesnt-just-create-or-destroy-jobs-it-transforms-them#:~:text=The World Economic Forum estimates,often touted by tech advocates.

Future of work! Durch technologischen Fortschritt in die Zukunft.?(2022, 9. Juni). Shyftplan. Abgerufen am 25. Juli 2022, von?https://shyftplan.com/wissenswertes/workforce-management/future-of-work

Future of Work - Das Arbeiten der Zukunft. (2021, 31. Januar). Deloitte Deutschland. Abgerufen am 25. Juli 2022, von?https://www2.deloitte.com/de/de/pages/trends/future-of-work.html

Gates, B. (2021, 7. Dezember).?Reasons for optimism after a difficult year.?gatesnotes.com. Abgerufen am 25. Juli 2022, von?https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/Year-in-Review-2021

IE Insights. (2019, 6. Februar).?The Five Trends Shaping the Future of Work. Abgerufen am 25. Juli 2022, von?https://www.ie.edu/insights/articles/the-five-trends-shaping-the-future-of-work/

Michels, D. (2022, 12. Januar).?More Human, Not Less: Insights On The Future Of Work. Forbes. Abgerufen am 25. Juli 2022, von?https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidmichels/2022/01/11/more-human-not-less-insights-on-the-future-of-work/?sh=7ae43e7f59b2

Recruit Group (2022, 12. Juli).?5 Insights On The Future Of Work. Forbes. Abgerufen am 25. Juli 2022, von?https://www.forbes.com/sites/recruit-holdings/2022/07/11/5-insights-on-the-future-of-work/?sh=5b5318b5181a

Rubin, P. (2021, 19. August).?Horizon Workrooms: Facebook’s Metaverse Starts With Virtual Reality Meetings. Wired. Abgerufen am 25. Juli 2022, von?https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-horizon-workrooms-metaverse/

Turner, J. (2022, 6. Juli).?6 Ways the Workplace Will Change in the Next 10 Years. Gartner. Abgerufen am 25. Juli 2022, von?https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/6-ways-the-workplace-will-change-in-the-next-10-years