Digital workplace technologies, a relatively new category in our yearly study of technology trends, receives the best customer satisfaction score from our survey participants. Digital workplace technologies are a set of tools and electronic capabilities that allow workers to communicate and collaborate virtually from anywhere. The pandemic originally served as a springboard for the surge in this technology. But many companies, recognizing the value these tools provided during remote work, are now adopting or expanding their use to support ongoing remote or hybrid work models. We expect digital workplace technologies to play an increasingly significant role in business in the coming years.
As shown in Figure 3 from our Technology Trends 2024 study, digital workplace technologies tops the satisfaction list, followed by IoT. The ratings are based on the percentage of companies saying they are satisfied or very satisfied with their experience with each of the 15 technologies in our survey. The satisfaction ratings are based on a relative scale determined by the highest and lowest values for all technologies in the study.
Our study demonstrates that the emergence of smart technologies is enabling workplaces to become more productive, and it also facilitates a work-from-anywhere model. More companies are using tools such as videoconferencing, document collaboration, workflow management, content management, instant messaging, and unified communications to enhance collaboration and productivity.
“Another great thing about digital workplace technologies is that you get your money’s worth,” said Waynelle John, research analyst for Avasant Research, based in Los Angeles. “Only 7% failed to recoup their investment over a two-year period.”
Amid the push to adopt digital workplace technologies, IT leaders should keep in mind that not all employees adapt equally well to these tools. The work-from-anywhere model may not suit everyone, so managers must proactively support employees who face challenges. Implementing a clear change management strategy is essential. Tracking productivity during the transition period may also be necessary and offering mental health support is crucial. Additionally, integrating these technologies with human resources/human capital management (HR/HCM) solutions can help optimize employee success.
The full study is designed to give business leaders insight into the adoption, investment, and customer experience for 15 technologies in each category. It provides a glimpse into how quickly an emerging technology is being adopted, how deeply more established technologies penetrate the market, and how positive the customer experience is with each of them. The study also delves into the specific types of solutions under consideration.
By understanding the adoption trends, investment activity, and customer experience, decision-makers are in a better position to assess the potential risks and rewards of investing in each of these technologies. They also can gain insight into just how aggressively competitors and peers are investing in them.
The full study also takes a quick look at an additional 16 emerging technologies. These include biometric identification, blockchain, digital currencies, 3-D printing, drones, autonomous vehicles, metaverse, non-fungible tokens, holograms, digital twins, quantum computing, self-healing systems, human-computer integration, Web3, ultra-high-density data storage, and exascale computing. The study evaluates whether IT decision-makers are familiar with these, whether they see a potential use for them, and whether they have already implemented them or have them installed.
Sample pages from the full study are available for free download.
This Research Byte is a brief overview of our study, Technology Trends 2024. The full report is available at no charge for subscribers, or it may be purchased by non-clients directly from our website (click for pricing).