New Data Shows Americans Will Expect Collaborative Work Experience

[Audrey Gertz (audreygertz)]

The Pew Research Center released a study today on Americans’ internet usage, and the outlook for visionaries championing the workplace of the future is so far, so good.

The non-partisan think tank based their review, titled, Americans’ Internet Access: 2000-2015, on 15 years-worth of data taken from 97 national surveys, and 229,000 interviews with members of the general public. The findings detail a closing of class, age, ethnic, and community gaps with regard to how much time users are spending online.

Particularly prominent was the spike in internet use by young adults, also known as members of the workplace of the future.

“In 2000,” reports the Center, “70% of young adults used the internet and that figure has steadily grown to 96% today.”

That means the status distinction between offline and online is continuously growing opaque. Future associates won’t ask if their colleagues are connected to the web; they’ll expect the lack of disconnect, and the intuitive question moving forward will begin with “how”: how are you connecting with your partners, customers, and internal network?

Fortunately, Polycom has heeded this shift in mindset by preparing for the collaborative future the workforce is heading full-speed ahead to. According to a study Polycom conducted with Aragon called, Six Game-Changing Trends Driving the Collaborative Workplace of the Future, the workplace of the future will rely tools that work in tandem with the information highway.

A few of those connective tools include mobile devices and apps, social networks, the cloud, and video collaboration like virtual video meetings. Most notable may be that last one, video collaboration, which not only provides logistical support in the workplace, but creates the strong bonds that foster both profitable and prolific teamwork.

“When people seem physically close,” says the Aragon study, “others may feel that they are psychologically close as well. This can break down boundaries, promote trust and improve learning, collaboration and negotiation. Human interactions can change under the influence of video.”

With increasing reminders from studies like the exemplied Aragon and Pew research efforts, and even our own daily experiences with workplace mobility, it's clear that the limits of social and professional networks and their means are boundless. Luckily, it's not too late to understand that preparing for the workplace of the future is critical. It's easier than ever to get your hands on options that defy distance.

Use your web savvy to defy distance and talk about options with your Polycom representative, or review your Workplace of the Future tools now with a live demonstration.