By: Xuanling Lu, Global Product Marketing Director, Jabra
Business leaders are always looking into their crystal balls to predict the next big trend as office workers continue to adjust to newer ways of working, following the rise of hybrid models. It’s not enough to just have an opinion on what the future will look like. So, Jabra conducted a comprehensive analysis of over 100 societal trends to identify 11 macro trends influencing the future of work.
Building on this, a holistic, in-depth survey that involved 76 academic and industry experts, ranging from business management and evolutionary writers to work psychologists. Together, they crafted six Work Futures scenarios for the next five years, addressing the four core pillars of businesses, employees, workplace, and technology.
Work Future #1: Focus on Employee Wellbeing
Employers are mindful of prioritizing employee well-being and are leveraging technology, such as AI and automated solutions, to monitor and enhance health both at work and beyond for sustained peak performance.
Increased visibility with employers resulting in happier and healthier employees: Not only will employers better recognize employees’ productivity, but monitoring and diagnosing potentially overworked and stressed employees will also contribute to greater employee satisfaction and a more positive working environment.
Mental health a key business driver will lead to greater involvement from leaders: Ensuring employee well-being will become a part of broader business strategies. No longer solely HR’s responsibility, it will form a key part of managerial duties. Providing self-help resources and implementing measures to ensure a non-toxic and inclusive work environment will be crucial.
Emotions and data will evolve the workplace:
Data from biosensors, combined with automation, will contribute to creating optimal working environments. Emotion-based workspaces will take centre stage, incorporating a blend of closed and open spaces. Various colour palettes and lighting setups are likely to be used to accommodate different emotional states and personality-based needs.
Tracking and diagnostics with technology:
Tools such as AI therapy chatbots, health tracking platforms, and wearables, will allow businesses to track key signs of burnout, guiding them to act before a crisis.
Work Future #2: Agile Superteams
The corporate business model is evolving with cross-company platforms promoting collaboration. Smaller core teams rely on a flexible partner network from diverse backgrounds, necessitating data security solutions. Breaking down communication silos enhances data access and enables AI-driven tools for efficient online collaboration, fostering a novel ecosystem.
Portfolio experiences make for effective members across teams:
Individuals will demonstrate their expertise through a portfolio sprinkled with experiences. Team building will grow in importance, and the ability to seamlessly transition between projects, understand client preferences and work with various languages will be key to employees’ success as effective members of multiple teams.
Smaller fluid teams will require added focus on company culture:
Business models will shift from having a large core team to a smaller core with a mix of partners. Known as a ‘Hollywood’ working model, the best people will be selected for any given project, meaning companies will have to work harder to promote and maintain their cultures.
Flexible BYOD:
Employers may no longer be required to provide tech for employees, so work resources will need to be cloud-based and accessible from any device. A seamless cross-platform connectivity and cloud-based storage and access will be crucial to accommodate those working for multiple companies at once.
Work Futures #3: Sustainability at the Heart of Business
Amidst escalating climate change concerns, businesses are embracing environmental responsibility. Business travel decreases, sparking innovation in communication technology. Emphasis is placed on eco-friendly practices, sustainable manufacturing, and energy conservation.
Better employee understanding of the impacts of sustainable living: With a heightened awareness of sustainability issues, employees will better understand how they can make a difference at work. Employees may be rewarded for choosing sustainable options like cycling or walking to work.
Sustainable practices in focus:
Businesses will prioritize reusing, recycling materials, and updating products instead of constant production of new ones. Not only that, offices will also have sustainable practices with AI and automation that will use data to ensure buildings are energy efficient by monitoring temperature and automating power supplies.
Software updates and data tracking:
Data and AI will help in tracking and optimising sustainability practices and company processes. A greater drive for hardware that lasts also means relying on software or replaceable parts for advancements, new features, or add-ons.
Work Futures #4: Office Everywhere
The future office is mobile and flexible, leveraging universal cloud technology and communication platforms. Work happens everywhere, supported by advanced hardware with noise cancellation and open-plan designs that encourage collaboration.
Flexible working could lead to emotional disconnect:
With the flexibility to work anywhere, compromise will no longer be necessary in achieving a work-life balance without the need to be in the office multiple days a week. Fewer in-person touchpoints may cause employees to feel isolated, making it more difficult to create and feel a strong sense of belonging at work.
Diverse talent requires evolved performance management:
Organisations can access diverse talent from broader geographical areas, eliminating the need for employees to live within commutable distances. Businesses will need to ensure that they can monitor performance effectively for new roles when employees are working at a distance.
Smaller office hubs with smart features:
Smart workspaces and office furniture will seamlessly connect in-person, hybrid, and remote meetings. With no need for a 5-day office commitment, businesses may opt for smaller offices, accommodating a dispersed workforce.
Digital dashboards and virtual workspaces:
Employees will make situation-based decisions on where they work regularly relying on personal dashboard data such as building occupancy and traffic conditions. Virtual meetings, conversations and training will become more immersive with the help of AR and VR, or just more sophisticated video and audio software integration.
Work Future 5: Investing in the Whole Employee
Inevitable workplace changes prompt a need for employee adaptation guidance. Hardware and software providers leverage data for personalized coaching, utilizing AI to enhance skills like speech, language usage, and time management. This boosts productivity and employee confidence, benefiting employers with a more efficient workforce.
Employee sense of belonging and reducing development bias:
Employees are likely to feel more comfortable being their true selves at work, where diverse skill sets and backgrounds are celebrated rather than minimized.
A new understanding of productivity and achievement could improve company image: Especially for larger businesses, tangible investments in employees will help reverse the shrinking trust in corporations. Productivity will be measured in a way that benefits both the company and its employees, and employees’ passion areas will be celebrated.
Moving the home to the workplace:
Employee input into working tools will expand to the office, with employees opting for the equipment and environment they find most comfortable. An increased focus on facilitating movement and regular breaks will reduce health challenges created by sedentary work.
AI and UX as an enabler:
AI will be essential if manufacturers are to be able to utilise data that flows across their devices to spot meaningful and relevant opportunities for training prompts.
Work Future #6: Consumerisation of Enterprise
The work-leisure boundary blurs with a hybrid work style. Employees seek seamless integration of professional tools into personal life, leading to personalized tech choices, interfaces, and AI assistants. This customization enhances productivity and job satisfaction.
Individual choice and styles:
Employees will manage how they work, with devices or software packages that suit their needs, working style, or preference. More variation in devices and software may lead to more variation in deliverables that would need to be reconciled.
Better employee engagement and larger customer base for tech companies: Enhanced user experience, enjoyment, and productivity resulting from a sense of investment in work tools will add significant perceived value at a minimal cost. With IT leaders no longer the sole tech decision-makers, tech companies must cater to a wider and more diverse customer base.
Clearer tech benefits and durability:
Tech must be clearly labelled with benefits and uses to guide consumer purchases. Devices should be durable for extended usage beyond professional settings.
In conclusion, adapting to these trends is essential for fostering success and innovation in the years ahead. This proactive approach actively contributes to shaping a future where businesses align with the evolving needs of the workforce, emphasizing well-being, sustainability, and flexible working habits as key pillars of a thriving workplace.
