5 new technologies that are shaking up your workplace
Only one thing never changes at work: change. Change in what we do, where we do it and, most importantly, how we do it. 25 years ago, many employees still used pens and paper for much of their work. Today, however, laptops, mobile phones and tablets are the norm.
What about the new digital solutions that are spreading and revolutionizing work today?
1. Cloud technology
Cloud computing simplifies work processes by providing flexibility and security and by allowing regular backups and recovery solutions to be scaled up depending on the size and needs of businesses.
Businesses benefit from easier collaboration and sharing because employees can work on the same document simultaneously from anywhere, saving time and providing greater control. The competitive market for cloud technologies means that small businesses can benefit just as much as large ones.
2. Massive data “ Big data”
Thanks to the services of data analysts, companies can exploit the massive data (“big data”) available to them to analyze certain variables, for example discovering consumer trends for marketing strategies.
Correct analysis of big data combined with artificial intelligence also makes it possible to arrive at solutions more quickly and to find new links between data sets and products. In healthcare, artificial intelligence can accelerate the analysis of drugs under research and discover new uses for existing drugs.
3. Wireless technology
Wireless technology allows employees to connect from anywhere – their workplace, a co-working site, their home or even while commuting.
The ability to share work faster and from anywhere increases productivity, and being able to do it from a personal device promotes immediate collaboration. A wireless office also reduces the number of printed documents and creates a clearer workspace by reducing the number of visible cables.
4. Video technology
Used for interviews and inter-office communication, advertising, brand development, entertainment etc. video is experiencing irrepressible growth. According to a Cisco study, video will represent 80% of global Internet traffic by 2019.
Training materials in video format have reduced the demand for on-site trainers, once a typical part of office work, by leveraging the development of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) as training tools.
5. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
VR and AR are different but complementary media. They are notably distinguished by the fact that AR uses objects from the real world, while VR is located in an artificial world. From a business perspective, both AR and VR tap into the sensory and emotional parts of the brain.
VR is used in video training by allowing an instructor to reach a globally distributed classroom as if everyone were in the same room. AR technology is making an impact in sectors such as manufacturing, where it allows instructions to be displayed on employees' work surfaces.
Major technological advances have always revolutionized the world of work, and this process is only accelerating with the advent of artificial intelligence.
