Six tech trends we’re seeing in the workplace in 2019

The workplace is always changing. Shifting demographics, new customer requirements, and the arrival of freshly available technologies all contribute to an environment in which no year is quite like the last. 

2019 has finally arrived, and with it, 6 workplace tech trends that we’re bound to see (and hopefully benefit from):

#1. Sustainable technology 

Millennials are already the largest segment in the workplace, and their presence will only grow in 2019. By 2020, Millennials are estimated to make up 50 percent of the workforce in the US, while their younger counterparts, often referred to as Gen Z or iGen, are predicted to represent 36 percent of the global workforce by 2020. One big recurrent theme with these employees in the workplace is their insistence on sustainability. To reflect the values of this new generation can mean workplaces embracing technologies such as sustainable energy. That might take the form of solar panels, water-saving toilets and taps, or motion sensors used to turn off lights when no-one is present in a room. In short: don’t think that you can call yourself environmentally responsible without truly doing your part.

#2. A growing emphasis on data breach prevention

Combine a younger, more tech-savvy workforce with increased coverage of large-scale hacks and data breaches, and you won’t be surprised to hear that privacy issues are becoming a bigger part of the workplace. Employees (not to mention customers) will want to know that you’re doing everything you can to protect confidential personal information. They might also wish to know which data is being stored about them — as an illustration of the kind of company that you’re running.

Failure to keep data secure can be damaging to a company — both in terms of reputation and financial damages. For instance, massive data breaches which hit Yahoo in 2013 and 2014 resulted in the company having to pay $50 million in damages as part of a settlement. 

Fortunately, while attempted data hacks are becoming more common, so too are the tools you can use to protect your workplace. Specialist companies can help establish web application firewalls and protection against attacks such as DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks which can do everything from knock out your services to stealing data. These issues are making companies aware that they simply cannot afford to not have this kind of tech in their corner. 

#3. Alternative ways to communicate

Email revolutionized our communications when it became a standard part of workplaces during the 1990s. But, a couple of decades down the line, it is being superseded by other forms of communication — at least as far as internal communications are involved. 

Messaging tools such as Slack provide a less convoluted, time-consuming alternative to email; functioning as work-based chat rooms in which you can message individual or multiple co-workers, and share any files you wish. These messages archives can be made fully searchable, and don’t carry the disadvantages of an entire inbox filled with separate strings of messages to your colleagues. The results could push the workplace to become more collaborative than ever. 2019 might not be the year in which we finally say goodbye to email, but there’s no doubt that internal workplace communications are changing.

#4. Remote working becomes easier 

A desk job in 2019 looks very different to one even a few years ago. Today, the typical 9-to-5 workday is giving way to a more flexible working environment, in which remote working no longer comes with the same challenges it once did. On the contrary, working remotely can boost productivity, reduce employee stress, and maybe even slice your costs as an employer as well.

Making this possible are some of the new tools available to help. We’ve already discussed the rise of team-based messaging platforms such as Slack. On top of this there has been a rise in video conferencing technologies, ranging from Skype and FaceTime to telepresence robots and even virtual reality. These tools allow workers to communicate face-to-face, even when they are physically in totally different places. In addition, the migration to cloud computing storage means that it’s easier than ever to access the important software and files you need wherever you are.

#5. The workplace gets smarter

Terms like machine learning and artificial intelligence have been everywhere for the past several years, and the workplace is no exception. As AI tools continue to move from the lab into the real world, expect to see more and more businesses and workplaces using these kinds of smart tools to increase efficiency and eliminate cumbersome tasks. 

Exactly how artificial intelligence fits into your workplace depends on the kind of business you’re in, but the ability to utilize automation to carry out many tasks is something no business should fail to fully explore. After all, you don’t want to get left behind.

#6. Tools to help prepare your physical space for change

Keeping track of a dynamic, fast-moving workplace is tough. The changes mentioned above come with a host of exciting opportunities, but also possible pitfalls. For instance, it may be great for employees to no longer be stuck at their desks for eight hours a day, but if it’s not carefully considered by employers this can result in underutilized, wasted office space. Fortunately, more than ever, the tools are there to help optimize workspaces. 

POC’s Seating Allocation System makes it easy to perform space optimization and locate underutilized space — along with running seating simulations to see what effect workplace changes will have. It allows users the chance to model their office in a dynamic visual editor that’s designed for constant tweaking and “on-the-fly” amendments. This software promises to make the workspaces of 2019 more efficient than ever.

More in the pipeline?

Of course, the one thing about technology is that new innovations can come out of nowhere. But until a new kind of disruptive technology comes along and takes workplace efficiency to an even higher level, these 6 tech trends are sure to turn 2019 into an exciting year at the office.