The flexible workplace

The rigid office routine, characterised by fixed working routes, times and locations, is increasingly disappearing as a result of digitalisation. Hierarchies, areas of responsibility and work processes are also undergoing change. The new forms of work are becoming more flexible, whether in terms of time or location.

By moving the entire office infrastructure to the cloud, employees can not only access files in the office, but also collaborate on projects from anywhere. Not only can individual employees work remotely, but also entire teams. Instead of sending files attached to an email, all employees can work on a project at the same time and track the changes made by others in real time. Digital applications therefore not only offer the option of carrying out activities from other locations, but also enable more efficient working. Those who are not dependent on customer contact at fixed times can also organise their work completely independently of time.

Industry is a good example of this. Work there is becoming increasingly decentralised, processes can be controlled via the internet and in many cases do not require a physical presence. Even troubleshooting and maintenance can be carried out from any location with Internet access. A similar trend can also be observed in the service sector: Working from home with flexible working hours on a trust basis (home office) has been made possible by the use of digital media. For the employee, this means both a great increase in personal freedom and responsibility. This is because neither superiors nor colleagues can look over their shoulders; instead, each individual is responsible for completing their work independently within an agreed time frame.

There are now numerous digital applications available that can be used to implement a decentralised and largely self-determined working day. These include project management systems to which all employees have access, can make changes and inform their colleagues in real time, or virtual conferences in which teams can exchange information as if they were in the same room, blurring the boundaries between the virtual and real working worlds.