Collaboration Tools
As mobile devices and applications evolve, some companies are moving away from using email as their main form of internal communication. Instead, they’re opting for collaboration apps like Trello and Slack. These provide employers with a visual platform for scheduling and tracking workloads, as well as allowing employees to collaborate on tasks from any location.
Why is collaboration so important? Well, according to a Stanford study, even the perception of collaborating on a task enhances performance among teams. The study showed that participants who believed they were collaborating on a project focused on tasks for 64% longer than their solitary colleagues. They were also more productive and experienced less fatigue.
Three popular collaboration apps
Slack
Used by millions and available on mobile and desktop devices, Slack allows employees to send direct messages and files to an individual or a team. Conversations about specific projects can be organised into different channels and the app also supports video calling. Slack is compatible with Google Drive and Dropbox.
Trello
This project management software enables users to organise projects and collaborate on them with colleagues. Working with boards or lists, team members can set up to do lists, delegate tasks and comment on individual cards for quick feedback. There’s also an option to use emojis.
Asana
Launched in 2008, Asana was designed to help companies track their employees’ work. Employers can organise projects in a list or board format, create to do lists, set reminders for deadlines and send requests. Posts can be commented on and there’s also a search function that enables past work to be located quickly.
Collaborative Tools like Trello, Asana and Slack are enabling many employees to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of remote working. They also make it possible to collaborate internationally. However, relying on digital communication to build good relationships with people from other countries often requires strong communication skills and cultural sensitivity.
Cloud technology
If you’re a millennial or a member of generation X , you’ll have grown up in a tech-integrated world where getting things done on the move is second nature. You’re also more likely to apply for a job if it involves working flexibly. This could include working from home or even from your favourite cafe.
Cloud computing facilitates flexible working by providing on demand computing services. These include apps like Office 365 and online data storage like Dropbox. Once a company has rented access to the software they need from a Cloud service provider, their employees can access their files and emails from anywhere, as long as they have a secure login and internet access. Everything an employee saves is stored safely online.
Companies that make the move to cloud computing tend to use less energy and less physical space, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint. However, if you’re used to working from 9-5 and having your own fixed workstation with a desktop computer, it may take some time to adjust to a flexible working mindset. You’ll also need to be confident when it comes to switching between various mobile devices.
Augmented Reality
Artificial intelligence is software built with algorithms to complete a variety of tasks that are normally completed by people. This innovative technology is changing the way we work, by taking on basic admin jobs and automating repetitive tasks. AI is also capable of using basic reasoning, analysing information and interpreting speech.
We’re already using AI in our homes, in the form of voice activated personal assistants like the Amazon Echo. Now Amazon and other companies are focusing on business owners, who are discovering that the Echo and similar tools can save time by setting up meetings, booking conference rooms, accessing sales figures and switching on equipment. Office 365’s intelligent search feature also utilises AI, as does Microsoft’s MyAnalytics , which summarises how a user spends their time and suggests ways to make better use of their working hours.
If you work in customer service you may come across chatbots, which are used to provide an interactive customer support experience. Also known as virtual agents, chatbots are computer programmes that respond to questions or commands round the clock. More sophisticated bots use AI to provide highly personalised interaction based on information from previous conversations.
While there’s no doubt that jobs will disappear due to Artificial Intelligence, experts predict that AI will create more jobs than it destroys. According to an Adobe survey, around 68% of professionals aren’t worried about the growth of AI in the workplace, as they believe that their roles will require uniquely human qualities.
AI might be clever, but it can’t match human emotional intelligence. Because people are built to enjoy social interaction, there are many jobs that will continue to require their ability to empathise, communicate and negotiate. In fact, as AI takes on more routine workplace tasks and automation increases, experts believe employees will be freed up to enjoy more interesting roles, some of which don’t currently exist.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Ever played Pokemon Go or used a Snapchat filter? Then you’ve already experienced AR. This state of the art tech uses a mobile device’s camera, gyroscope, accelerometer and GPS to overlay characters, objects, images and text onto the real world. But while the gaming market has popularised Augmented Reality, many other industries are starting to demonstrate its true potential.
