How the Digital Shift Will Affect Organisations in 2022

Since March of 2020, there’s been a major digital shift in working environments, ultimately transforming organisations and their business models with the implementation of remote and hybrid working.

Now, as we slowly come out the other end of the pandemic, it’s clear that this digital transformation is here to stay, not only changing how organisations operate but also changing workplace culture as a whole.

To give you more insight, below we go into more detail about how organisations and their employees will be affected by digital transformation in 2022.

The Future of Work 

While digital transformation wasn’t anything new to businesses before COVID-19 hit, under the unprecedented circumstances business leaders had no choice but to consider what these ongoing changes could mean for their organisations and employees moving forward.

As of this year, however, C-suite leaders should be aware that this digital shift has brought on additional shifts in business trends and priorities for 2022, including:

1. A focus on sustainability 

Now that so many organisations have adapted their business models to align with hybrid and remote working, it’s no longer a question of whether these changes work but rather how they’ll continue to fit into the (not so new) world of work.

This means organisations will need to maintain their focus on how to sustain the flexibility the digital shift has brought on, especially now that we know how well remote and hybrid working works for businesses and employees alike.

Not only do these flexible working options increase productivity and employee satisfaction (due to improved work-life balance), but they lower business costs and often improve production.

To this end, an increased focus on how to sustain these benefits is important so that organisations can remain resilient - and proactive - when it comes to the future of work and embracing current and burgeoning digital initiatives.

2. A focus on changing workplace culture 

In the midst of the pandemic, many organisations went from the typical 9 to 5, five day a week business model, one where the workplace culture was already quite set in stone, to a remote or hybrid model that - at first - seemed almost chaotic.

While getting a handle on the need for digital transformation can be a challenge, especially when business leaders already feel their processes are working, it takes more than simple upgrades in technology to ensure digital transformation has actually been implemented.

The reality is that the digital shift isn’t simply about software or technology, it’s about an organisation’s ability to adapt and to keep up with the change driven by digital technologies - and its success begins and ends with workplace culture.

So, how can you tell if your organisation harbours a digital culture? A few examples include:

• Using data analytics to predict what clients and customers want rather than using data simply as a measure of performance.
• Making decisions in real-time rather than waiting to make decisions strictly based on reports.
• Taking calculated risks in order for the organisation to grow rather than avoiding risk altogether, and
• Focusing on collaboration through different methods (i.e. top to bottom or bottom to top) to ensure there’s effective communication throughout the company.

In other words, without cultural change, digital transformation efforts won’t succeed.

3. A focus on employees 

Echoing the point above, an adaptable, digital workplace culture doesn’t exist without an organisation’s employees. Employees are, after all, the key to driving change.

That being said, the digital shift has impacted employees the most, and it’s made creating a positive digital culture somewhat difficult in the midst of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

While working from home or part-time in the office has proved to be a good change for some, many other employees have struggled with the high level of isolation that the pandemic brought on. 

As such, it’s no surprise that employees have been struggling a lot with their mental health and wellbeing over the course of the last two years, however, it’s the job of every organisation to be proactive about looking after their employees so that they feel supported through ongoing workplace changes - digital and otherwise.

When this is done right, employees will then be more motivated to work hard and in alignment with their organisation’s visions, strategies, and objectives.

This will help employees understand their role in the digital shift and how they’re contributing to and driving change.



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