Why a digital workplace is important for recruiting

The digital transformation is still in its infancy - and yet it has already revolutionized entire industries. Just try to find a travel agency in the nearest pedestrian zone or spontaneously rent a DVD somewhere. It may even be quite a journey to get to a bank office in the near future. On the other hand, small and medium-sized businesses are profiting from this trend - because they can adapt flexibly and quickly to new business models. According to the KfW, the government-owned development bank, small and medium-sized businesses currently employ 30.9 million people. The number of employees has grown by 5 percent over the course of a year. In comparison, large companies and public authorities shed half a million jobs over the same period. And in its current “SME barometer” report, Ernst & Young's management consultants predict that one in three medium-sized enterprises will create more new jobs in 2018. This is not how a gigantic job destruction machine looks.

The fight for the brightest minds

Rather, jobs that become obsolete are being reconstructed elsewhere: demand is not falling; requirements are changing. This is a challenge for people and companies alike. After all, digital transformation requires more than buying smartphones or booking cloud services. A digital work culture is based on a holistic strategy and thinking in in terms of digital processes. If the right framework conditions are lacking, it will be difficult to find the right staff. There is demand for people who are not only technically qualified and able to work in a team, but also have a high degree of digital savvy. Those are skills that are difficult to find right now in the current transition phase. For these people, how digital a workplace is a crucial aspect when choosing a job. But what does the digital workplace of the future look like?

The digital workplace is everywhere

Going digital makes working life more flexible. This makes it easier to balance the demands of work and family life. On the other hand, companies are able to recruit employees who would otherwise not be available, for example, because moving where the job was located was out of the question for the employee. Digital workplaces are tightly integrated. Regardless of where the work is done. That means people can work virtually anywhere - from their home office, outside, on the train or at the airport. Instead of sitting in an office from 9 to 5, working hours can be variable. It is not presence that counts, but projects.