As work from home became more common, this posed a new challenge for both businesses and employees. However, the growing availability of fast broadband internet, combined with the rise of cloud computing, has provided modern organisations with the infrastructure required to quickly adapt to work-from-home situations.

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Technology has aided businesses in making the necessary transition to remote working in recent months and years. Organisations have had to act quickly to find temporary solutions. Many employees can now work from home, services have been moved to the digital space, and day-to-day business operations have been modified to accommodate the situation. However, as time passes, it becomes clear that the impact of this pandemic will forever change the way organisations operate.

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You can use technology to promote training, productivity, mobility, and collaboration. Similarly, leaders can motivate and inspire employees to succeed from anywhere in the world. It has, without a doubt, altered the way businesses operate. To keep operations running, many businesses adopted a remote working culture. It has been difficult for both employees and employers to adjust. Employees encountered communication issues while supervisors struggled to manage their remote teams. Digital tools and platforms, on the other hand, have fundamentally altered the way we work. It facilitated consistency and stability while also promoting the work-from-home model.

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1. Location independent work

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One of the most obvious ways technology aided was by removing the need for businesses to have a physical office or workplace. It significantly reduced the geographical barriers. With a remote workforce, your employees do not need to be in the same location to interact and collaborate. Technological advancements have enabled employees to work while communicating with you and others via a variety of collaboration platforms and solutions.

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2. Communication

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The most significant impact on the modern workplace has undoubtedly been the development of communication technologies. Coworkers used to talk to one another in person, but now more than ever, thanks to smartphones, social media, and chat apps, people communicate virtually. It's also not unusual to see coworkers and clients corresponding with one another in a different city or nation. There is no requirement to be present in the same location thanks to video conferencing technology. With virtually unlimited communication options, there are numerous opportunities to adopt alternative office designs and working methods.

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The changing circumstances have increased the need for effective collaboration and communication. Fortunately, technologically advanced solutions have accelerated remote team management. It has given you an unprecedented level of interaction. You can instantly connect with any of your employees, coworkers, or leaders. The influx of technology allows for effective employee engagement and has completely transformed communication norms.

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3. Organisation

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New organisational techniques in the workplace are also made possible by technology. For instance, project management software has made it possible for businesses to start, plan, carry out, monitor, and control projects entirely online. Project managers can easily supervise tasks and activities and keep projects on schedule thanks to these programs. With the aid of project management software, accountability can be easily transferred from one employee to another, responsibility can be easily assigned, and productivity can be raised. Project management software also improves the quantity and calibre of work. It also helps with risk assessment by raising warning flags whenever a task or activity deviates from the intended course, which saves money as risks are found and reduced.

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4. Collaboration

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Collaboration with colleagues is becoming more common as more businesses go digital. This necessitates the use of appropriate technology to enable employees to work collaboratively and cohesively. Thankfully, technology has enabled us to communicate with one another regardless of time or location. This increased collaboration has aided in encouraging teamwork, strengthening employee bonds, and ensuring mutual understanding. It has also aided businesses that use technology to collaborate with clients in keeping clients up to date on projects and progress.

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It's easier than ever to collaborate with team members or coworkers, no matter how far apart they are. Through a centralised collaboration platform, you can send a message, make an audio or video call, and communicate effectively. Digital platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom, for example, have enabled organisations to foster an interactive and collaborative work environment. Setting up meetings, exchanging documents, communicating, managing teams and projects, and video conferencing are all possible with a unified collaboration platform. At the same time, wireless solutions enable you to communicate with coworkers from any location and at any time.

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5. Security

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Every business requires security, and technology plays an important role in ensuring safe and secure workplace operations. For one thing, using passwords to protect employee accounts and work has greatly aided in preventing unauthorised access. Passwords are being replaced by fingerprint and facial recognition technology. Because only authorised parties have access to sensitive information, these recognition features make workplace devices and systems even more secure. For good reason, businesses are increasingly investing in security software. Security software aids in the prevention of data breaches in businesses. Furthermore, it makes data theft more difficult and keeps sensitive information in the hands of those who need it.

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6. Remote work

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People can now work remotely thanks to the workplace's adoption of modern technology. Consider coworking spaces, which enable people to work away from their desks and instead collaborate with people from other companies in a common area. Coworking spaces are outfitted with cloud and mobile technology that makes it possible to access work instantly on a laptop or smartphone. Technology has had a profound effect on the workplace. The ever-expanding range of devices and software continues to improve our ability to work independently and collaboratively. We have clearly come to embrace technology, and our reliance will only grow in the future.

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7. Sense of independence

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Another way that technology facilitates remote working is by giving employees the ability to be autonomous. One of the most important factors in fostering employee engagement is autonomy. Employees can manage their time and projects independently because they are no longer subjected to office stress and pressure. However, because it relies on personal self-reporting and organisation, remote work adds a challenging new administrative layer to employees' lives. Their work activities, schedules, and expenses must all remain visible in order to maintain collaboration, performance management, and accounting. Autonomy is impossible to achieve without trust. You empower people by sending the message that they have control over their time, effort, and reward by allowing them to work from home.

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8. Opportunities for professional development

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Along with embracing the work-from-home culture, businesses have embraced E-Learning and online courses. While E-Learning allows employees to continue their education, it also allows businesses to train and assist employees in performing better. Digital content is a valuable resource that should be used. It encourages employees to learn new skills and motivates them to adapt to the changing demands of the workplace culture. Many organisations have implemented eLearning because they recognize how effective and valuable it can be.

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9. Global talent pool

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As businesses become more remote, technology creates a plethora of potential job opportunities for people all over the world. Working from home has become the new normal, allowing businesses to tap into a large and diverse talent pool. Remote work provides an excellent opportunity for organisations and employees to connect. You can leverage a global talent pool using technology, which can be an effective way to bring people with different attitudes, perspectives, and ideas to your organisation. A diverse remote workforce allows you to cast a wider net, tapping into emerging international markets that would otherwise be difficult to access due to geographical constraints. Diversity allows you to create a more adaptable work culture, which benefits both employees and the company.

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10. Scalability of business operations

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It is now possible to operate a large-scale business without a dedicated location. Additionally, we see more streamlined processes and operations, as well as increased productivity and efficiency. Scalability and technology are inextricably linked. Scalability enables you to boost efficiency and profitability while remaining cost-effective in managing an increasing workload. The most recent technological advances enable you to automate your processes and manage an increasing volume of work while improving your efficiency. These faster processes benefit both businesses and employees, making the work-from-home transition easier and faster. Furthermore, it allows you to manage distributed teams more effectively by maintaining continuous communication and connections with them. Regardless of their workload, your team can continue to provide timely updates, feedback, and team building activities, among other things. Your virtual workforce has the same level of authority as on-premise employees.

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Negative Workplace Effects of Technology

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1. Enhanced Workplace Stress. Stress can be caused by learning new computer programs and skills, especially for older or less educated workers. Additionally, throughout the course of the working day, employees are constantly connected to coworkers, clients, vendors, and business networks. Because interactions can occur instantly and people frequently want immediate responses, this can increase stress at work.

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2. Disconnectedness. A feeling of disconnection can originate in many different places. This disconnection can increase workplace boredom and decrease job satisfaction. Additionally, collaborating and communicating online rather than in person can make workers feel removed from their subordinates and superiors.

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3. Data Security and the Hacking Threat. Companies are vulnerable on two fronts as they transition to paperless offices. The first is that if there is a power outage, electronic data cannot be retrieved unless backup files are accessible at an offsite location. Second, any type of electronic platform is vulnerable to computer viruses and hacking. These have the potential to jeopardise vital records, databases, and client confidentiality.

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4. Surveillance and Privacy. Employee privacy concerns are being raised by surveillance equipment, key cards, and increased monitoring of phone and Internet use in the workplace. This necessitates the development of personnel policies to justify management's omnipresent watchfulness, as well as methodologies to monitor and enforce those policies. While such safeguards aim to ensure that time and resources are used wisely, employees may interpret them as distrust, or the feeling that everything they do is being watched.

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5. Constant Availability. Previously, you could leave the office at 5 p.m. and not have to think about it again until the next morning, and you weren't expected to take phone calls or respond to requests if you were sick or on vacation. The average workday has become significantly longer as a result of email, cell phones, and pagers, as has your accessibility by coworkers and clients. This blurs the distinction between work and home life and may increase your stress level.

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Conclusions

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The average workplace is rapidly changing, as are employee expectations. It is critical for businesses to understand and leverage the beneficial and integral aspects of technology in order to survive and thrive. Working from home, combined with the latest innovations, has numerous benefits for both employees and employers. It allows you to communicate with your team, collaborate on files, and connect with anyone in the organisation. You can complete tasks effectively no matter where you are. And, when it comes to how technology has shaped and aided work-from-home arrangements, the examples above are just the tip of the iceberg. It had a significant impact on how the business world operates, and it appears that we will continue to investigate its aftermath for many years to come.

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