Source: Microsoft. Digital transformation requires change both externally and internally.
A recent study by Microsoft highlights the need for Singaporean organizations to adopt a new work culture to successfully navigate digital transformation. The research reveals that a significant 77% of surveyed employees believe their organizations could invest further in cultural development.
The Microsoft Asia Workplace 2020 Study identified several factors impacting Singapore’s current work culture:
A More Mobile Workforce and New Security Concerns:
The growing use of mobile and cloud technologies allows individuals to work from various locations using multiple devices. The study shows that a mere 38% of respondents work exclusively from the office, while 84% utilize their personal smartphones for work, raising potential security issues for organizations.
The Rise of Diverse Teams:
The study also reveals that 26% of Singaporean employees are simultaneously engaged in over ten teams. This necessitates readily available insights and effective collaboration tools for optimal productivity.
Employees Lack Digital Skills Despite Leaders’ Digitalization Efforts:
While industries adopt newer technologies, their implementation remains inconsistent. In fact, 74% of respondents believe more can be done to address the digital skills gap among workers.
Borko Kovacevic, Director of Productivity Solutions at Microsoft Singapore, notes that “The rise of digital technologies, coupled with the influx of Millennials in the workforce, necessitates addressing evolving employee expectations, knowledge, skills, and the tools they employ.” He emphasizes that “workplaces need to adapt to the technological habits of these digital natives” and that “organizations need to rethink workforce reskilling to develop creative and strategic skills for the future.”
While 75% of business leaders in Singapore recognize the importance of digital transformation for success, its effectiveness ultimately hinges on people and the tools they are equipped with.
Kovacevic stresses that “People are central to digital transformation.” Their expectations, knowledge, skills, and work tools significantly influence an organization’s transformation capacity. The current challenge lies in cultivating a modern work culture that empowers Asian workers, particularly those on the frontlines, who account for an estimated two billion globally.
These frontline workers, being the first point of contact between companies and the outside world, embody brand representation and witness products and services in action. Microsoft emphasizes the need to empower these individuals by addressing core values crucial for a new work culture:
Encouraging Employee Creativity:
Collaboration through idea sharing and a connected work experience fosters innovation and flexible work styles across devices. However, the Microsoft Asia Workplace 2020 Study indicates that a majority (58%) of respondents feel restricted by their current work environment, needing to be physically present in the office due to equipment limitations.
Promoting Teamwork:
Providing employees with universal collaboration tools empowers them to choose how they work together and engage in real-time collaboration. Notably, two out of five workers in the Microsoft Asia Workplace 2020 Study highlighted the importance of technology for timely responses to internal and external requests.
Strengthening Security:
While 61% of respondents use company-issued PCs, 84% also utilize personal smartphones or corporate devices for personal tasks, raising security concerns. Admittedly, 66% access personal emails on company devices for convenience. Therefore, leaders need to prioritize security measures that don’t hinder productivity to protect sensitive data.
Simplifying the Workplace:
With the increasing use of apps, devices, services, and the rise of security risks, simplifying IT management is crucial. Organizations need to eliminate service silos, consolidate data effectively, and reduce complexity. A Microsoft Asia Pacific study revealed that 72% of IT decision-makers (ITDMs) in Singapore acknowledge the need to streamline their existing IT security infrastructure.
Kovacevic reiterates that “every worker, irrespective of their position, contributes to an organization’s collective efforts.” He believes that “involving firstline workers in digital transformation will create unprecedented opportunities” for employees, organizations, and society. Microsoft envisions empowering frontline workers with appropriate tools like Microsoft 365 for successful digital transformation.
Microsoft has been enhancing the Microsoft 365 suite to address workforce challenges. Microsoft 365 F1, for instance, offers tailored features to nurture firstline culture, facilitate employee training, digitize processes, provide real-time expertise, and minimize risks and costs. Key features introduced at Ignite include:
Microsoft 365 F1: This version combines Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility + Security to empower over two billion firstline workers globally.
Intelligent Communications: This vision aims to integrate Skype for Business Online capabilities into Microsoft Teams, alongside cognitive and data services, making Teams the central hub for teamwork in Office 365.
Intelligent Search: AI and machine learning enhance search relevance across Microsoft 365.
Enhanced Security: Microsoft 365 offers improved advanced threat protection (ATP) features, such as enhanced anti-phishing capabilities, expanded protection to SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Teams, and better integration between cloud and on-premises identity threat detection.
End of Support for Office 2007: As of October 11th, support for Office 2007 will end. Users still reliant on Office 2007 products and services are encouraged to upgrade to Office 365 or Microsoft 365 for continued support.
Kovacevic urges organizations to “consider Microsoft 365 to modernize their workforce” as cloud-based productivity tools become increasingly popular among Asian mobile workers for enhanced team collaboration.
Source: Microsoft. Infographic illustrating findings of the Microsoft Asia Workplace 2020 Study,
Interested?
Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about the Ignite announcements
*Microsoft Asia Workplace 2020 Study, conducted between February and March 2017 involving 4.175 respondents in 14 Asia markets. The 14 markets include Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. All respondents were prequalified as at least spending 30 hours per week in a full-time role, or spending at least 20 hours per week in a part time role. This included 307 respondents from Singapore.
_*Microsoft Asia Digital Transformation Study. The study surveyed 1,494 business leaders from Asia, including 118 from Singapore. All respondents were prequalified as being involved in shaping their organisations’ digital strategy. The study found that only 34% of business leaders in Singapore have a full digital transformation strategy while half are in progress with specific digital transformation initiatives for selected parts of their business. Another 16% of respondents said they had a very limited or no strategy in place.
_**Microsoft Asia Pacific survey of 1,200 IT leaders across 12 markets, including Australia, mainland China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Four in 10 (41%) of respondents are working in organisations with 250 to 499 PCs; 59% work in organisations with 500 and more PCs.