Go Digital in business — why it’s worth familiarizing yourself with new technologies?
The only constant element in the development of every company is change. However, the business success that every organization aspires to, depends not only on the change itself, but also on the pace and ability to adapt to a dynamically evolving environment. Even with the most unexpected situation, one can come out unscathed and use this to better prepare for the future, as the last few weeks have clearly proved this. The emergence of remote work and the ability to efficiently use technology to deal with unforeseen circumstances came first among the key factors for maintaining business continuity.
Sometime ago, remote work had already been mentioned in a Future Thinkers study report as one of the most important factors of change in the world of digital transformation. However, even during the study, no one realized how quickly the results of the research would prove to be true of the real world.
Organizations have already seen the benefits of home office and are following the “go digital” trend. This allows, among other things, for a significant reduction in expenses related to maintaining an office space. Harder to measure, but by no means less important is employee satisfaction. 21st century digital nomads value comfort and freedom, which is inherent to working remotely. They view the need to come to the office as an unnecessary waste of time. They work from home more effectively.
There are also challenges concerning remote work and transferring most processes to the digital sphere. Having remote employees means that there is a need to provide them with the right equipment, which has to be managed, updated and maintained. Equally important may be providing employees with access to necessary company resources, which means that the next difficult hurdle would also be to ensure the security of both devices and applications, as well as the data itself. Meanwhile, the digital risk that a remote worker could be exposed to is on the rise because the company is not able to control the environment in which the end devices are used.
Another category of challenges, this time not within the IT department but within the management sector, is carrying out effective work organization, maintaining the communication of both teams (including between them), as well as ensuring the highest standard of work. Remote contact also makes it difficult for team leaders to motivate and support their workers.
Pioneer companies themselves have learned the challenges on the road to digitization, such as Dell Technologies, which has paved the way for digital transformation for years, as well as for jobs. The company hires more than 150 thousand employees that come from all over the world, which is why remote work has become an everyday reality and part of company culture. The Dell Connected Workplace program ensures that employees around the world have the freedom to choose their work style, benefitting everyone. Referencing only numbers, I will say that the company has managed to save 39.5 million USD since 2013, and remote workers from the United States alone have avoided the need to travel almost 219 million kilometers, which has not only allowed them to reduce fuel expenses, avoid traffic jams and to save a few hours each day, but also contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases and pollution – says Iryna Szwabowska, Sales Manager for Dell Technologies.
Similar to working remotely, Dell Technologies is also ready to share its acquired experience with its partners. Going through the process of digital transformation and implementing remote work is much easier if one uses the support of the company, which has also undergone a similar transformation, developed appropriate procedures, created tools and solutions.
One example is VMware Workspace ONE: a solution that aids IT departments manage the distributed end users. Thanks to this, the administrator can centrally share any applications on any device easily and securely while also remotely managing their use (remote employees often prefer to work on their own devices, including smartphones and tablets). The solution can work both as a cloud service, as well as in the company’s own infrastructure, thanks to its adaptability to current needs.
VDI, or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, is an excellent solution that greatly facilitates work and increases security. Operating on the basis of a server-thin client structure, this tool allows for the optimal use of resources, taking a step further to centrally manage the entire work environment of the end device. For a better, more tangible understanding of its benefits, all you need to do is imagine any situation where there is a failure, cyber attack or user error. In the case of VDI, none of these events cause either a threat to data security or a longer shutdown of the end device.
The VDI solution has already proved successful in many companies – one being the company Eko-Okna S.A. (Eco-Windows JSC), which can boast about it’s extremely effective digital transformation. Employing over 7,000 people, the company decided to implement the VDI platform to service 2,500 terminal devices, providing nearly one-third of all employees with a flexible and secure remote work environment without increasing the workload of the IT department.
The digital transformation of a work place and flexible home office is as of now not simply a trend. Recent events have shown that the more a company digitally advances, the more likely it is for them to quickly adapt to new conditions and ensure business continuity. These are the directions that are worth pursuing, so as to build a competitive advantage and not fall behind.
Author:
Dell
Last Updated on February 16, 2021 by Karolina Ampulska