It wasn’t that long ago when having a traditional nine to five job was one of the aspirations of every young professional. With more advancements being made through apps, software, and technology – working the traditional way in the office is no longer the end goal. Nowadays, the workforce is much more flexible. It’s all about getting the job done efficiently and effectively. This typically means working outside of the traditional office setting. Here are 5 different ways technology is changing the way we work.
1. Communication
One of the major ways technology is changing the way we work is through communication. Nowadays, employees can communicate just as well outside of the office as they do with it. Any business meeting may have had to be held in an office in the past. However, that’s no longer the case. Nowadays, you will find business meetings being conducted virtually. Likewise, training managers are teaching employees across the world and integrating them into the company remotely. Advertisers can make their pitches to companies without having to fly to a new destination regularly.
It wasn’t so long ago where the older generation was scoffing at the younger generation for texting. However, you will now find big chatrooms being used across organizations throughout the globe. With these communication tools, you can be present at your workplace without physically being in the office.
2. Productivity Isn’t Limited
Along with having much better, more versatile, and more efficient communication – it’s also a great way to get in touch instantly. You can easily communicate with someone on the spot rather than having to wait for them to become available. You can send out a draft to a team member for them to check no matter if they are in the office or not. This can boost productivity to a new level. Having this coupled with a lot of tech inventions has made the traditional office setting much more restrictive and limiting than ever before.
3. The Office Is Obsolete
Nowadays, there are more and more companies embracing remote working. Remote working has become increasingly popular among both companies and employees alike. Working from home has become much more of the norm than ever before. While the traditional office isn’t exactly obsolete – yet. It’s certainly moving that way. A lot of employees are looking to break free from the grips of a traditional nine to five job that restricts them to a physical office. Not only is the technology helping reduce the need for travel, but it’s also allowing employees to find work anywhere they want.
Having the ability to work remotely is something that can have a major impact on productivity. An employee can provide all of the input they normally would without needing to be physically present. This means they can do it on vacation, on the weekend, or simply when out of the office. They won’t necessarily need to work off the clock, but they can access whatever they need to whenever they need to. All they need to do their job is their devices, access to the internet and a reliable power bank with wall plug, and the possibilities are endless. Nowadays, modern workers aren’t looking to trap themselves in a cubicle for 8 to 9 hours per day. They want the freedom that remote working delivers.
A lot of younger people in the workforce including millennials and the younger generation are looking for jobs that give them this type of flexibility. For instance, working for a company like Amway offers a much more flexible working experience than a traditional nine to 5 job. While people still need to subscribe to Amway’s products, they are in total control over when they work, where they work, and how they work.
4. Gig Economy
With technology rapidly evolving, the gig economy is growing. Nowadays, workers have opportunities that weren’t previously accessible. A lot of full-time employees’ jobs are likely to become more and more obsolete. Nowadays, a lot of companies are moving towards hiring contractors instead. They are doing this because it’s cheaper and contractors enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with it. These contractors freelance their time and skills rather than apply for a traditional work role. This flexibility is also a benefit to companies because they can hire someone to do a job without paying out traditional full-time employee benefits.
5. Technology Makes Work Life Better Balanced
A lot of meetings go on and on with no end in sight. These meetings are time wasters and they can make an organization run inefficiently. With technology, you can easily make a meeting much more efficient and the business more streamlined. Employees can accomplish more and more every day. Whether it’s sending out a document through Google Sheets or sending a message to their team members in a group chat, there is a lot that can get done through the use of technology in the workplace.
While traditional office culture isn’t likely to die, it’s not the center ground that it used to be. No one wants to spend all day and every day in an office. They want to live their life while getting work done. They are looking to leverage the freedom that technology has delivered and use it to work smarter and more efficiently in their business. Cutting out redundant commute time can save someone a lot of time throughout the day. This time can add up and it can make a job opportunity much more attractive to a prospective applicant than one that requires an extensive commute.
