Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 32 | Page 26

TRENDING Revolutionaries’, employees identified as those who work in fully-enabled digital workplaces where new workplace technologies are in widespread use, were 51% more likely to have strong job satisfaction, and 43% more likely to be positive about their work-life balance than ‘Digital Laggards’, those who have less access to workplace technology. The Revolutionary employees were also 60% more likely to say they are motivated at work and 91% more likely to praise their company’s vision • Digital working also supports professional development: A total of 65% of Revolutionaries reported they had seen professional development and growth through the use of digital technology, compared to just 31% of Laggards. With a digital workplace, 72% of Revolutionaries reported a higher ability to adopt new work skills as compared to 58% of Laggards • Productivity gains from digital technology quantified: A total of 73% of Digital Revolutionaries reported a positive impact to their productivity and 70% cited improved collaboration thanks to digital technologies verses 55% of Laggards • Continued advancements in digital technology and automation pave the way for better workplace experiences: While automation can be perceived as a threat to job security, our research found that there was widespread enthusiasm for it. A total of 71% of respondents said they would welcome a fully automated workplace in the future, allowing organisations to build smarter, more effective working environment • Globally, 69% of respondents said their companies have invested in digital workplace tools in the past year, and interest is growing in a new generation of technologies including smart building tools that automate temperature controls and lighting (24%), voice-activated and wireless AV technology (23%), and custom corporate mobile apps (23%) • Most respondents thought digital technology would result in a more efficient (56%), more collaborative (52%) and more appealing (47%) work environment While the benefits of digital workplaces are wide-ranging, the study also revealed that cybersecurity is a challenge for employers. • Although employees reported higher levels of cybersecurity awareness (52% think about security often or daily), they also admitted to taking more risks with company data and devices, with 70% admitting to risky behaviours such as sharing passwords and devices • A quarter (25%) of employees have connected to potentially unsafe open Wi- Fi in the past 12 months, 20% said they use the same password across multiple applications and accounts, and 17% admitted to writing down passwords in order to remember them Gamal Emara, Country Manager, UAE at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, said: “Our research shows that digital workplace trends in UAE are in line with global trends. Organisations in the country and the larger Middle East Almost all respondents (93%) thought their workplace would be improved through greater use of technology, while 64% said their company will fall behind the competition if new technology isn’t implemented. INTELLIGENTCIO “The organisations that capitalise on implementing a digitally-enabled workplace will gain a competitive edge, by helping employees fnish tasks quicker as well as making the process more collaborative and enjoyable. Simultaneously, companies need to be aware of the growing information security threats that are now a routine problem for increasingly connected organisations. Our findings suggest that the problem is as much about human failures as it is digital workplace design.” These findings indicate that companies must adapt to leverage the benefits of new digital workplace technology while simultaneously minimising security risks. Aruba recommends that organisations take the following actions: The study also found that employees are enthusiastic about new technology and have a desire for their employers to provide more. 26 region need to understand that more digitally-driven workplaces not only foster productivity, but employee well-being, motivation and job satisfaction. The road forward Emerging risks The same portion (64%) believe the traditional office will become obsolete due to advances in technology. “ WHILE AUTOMATION CAN BE PERCEIVED AS A THREAT TO JOB SECURITY, OUR RESEARCH FOUND THAT THERE WAS WIDESPREAD ENTHUSIASM FOR IT. Gamal Emara, Country Manager UAE at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company • Adopt a digital workplace strategy: IT departments need to work with business managers, end-users and other stakeholders to define a roadmap for their digital workplace evolution. This includes moving beyond established technologies to deploying new tools such as smart sensors and customised mobile apps that will create increasingly personalised workplace experiences www.intelligentcio.com