You won’t be surprised to hear that the workplace will look different next year, but make sure you have these trends on your radar and plan accordingly:
- Corporate travel is on the back burner. Business travel decreased by about 70% in 2020. Expect that most (if not all) conferences and educational programs will be held virtually through most of next year. At the same time, meetings with vendors, clients, potential customers, and other stakeholders will have to be held via Zoom or other video platforms. Consider redirecting some travel budget into equipment upgrades and purchasing cutting-edge technology, including laptops and mobile devices. Make sure cybersecurity gets extra attention and that employees are trained about identifying and preventing cyberthreats.
- Remote work is here to stay (at least for another year). Invest in technologies and resources now to keep remote workers productive and engaged and ensure that data is safe and secure.
- Training and education go high-tech. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation will play a greater role in how workers learn new skills and technologies. Make sure everyone has the tools they need to quickly solve problems, pivot and adapt during a crisis, and communicate effectively with all stakeholders.
