Canadian HR Reporter

NOVEMBER 2019 11 T he pendulum keeps swinging, from one side to the other. As technology continues to reshape the face of business, of organizations and of work itself, the changing demographics and expectations of the workplace are in turn impacting workplace technology. From both sides, workplaces and the technology they use are pushing and pulling each other. For business decision-makers, understanding the changes at play and ensuring that they are responding quickly — better yet, anticipating — is critical to create a workplace where every employee is as engaged, collaborative and creative as they can be. As business becomes increasingly global and cross-functional, silos are breaking down, connectivity is increasing, and teamwork has become key to success. Technology has reshaped the face of business. Every organization of every size across the globe must find ways to stay ahead of disruption — to constantly reimagine how they empower their employees, engage their customers, optimize their operations, and transform their products. EMBRACING EMPLOYEE PREFERENCES With five generations in today's workforce, there is tremendous diversity in employee expectations, preferences, technology habits, and attitudes toward work. While most employees find teamwork great for motivation and inspiration, they also value the quiet and focus that can come from working alone — either at the office or at home — according to a recent study released by Microsoft Canada. Sixty-eight per cent of employees said that they're most motivated when working within a team, but 50 per cent said they're most productive when working alone; only a fifth are at their most productive working at the office surrounded by people, found the survey of 2,000 employees. An organization's technology must accommodate and empower each of these employees to do their best work. Workers must be able to connect to their teams and the tools they need to do their jobs — no matter where they are located or when they choose to work. Organizations that continue to use outdated technology are feeling a sense of urgency to evolve. At the same time, companies that have committed to their digital transformation are seeing tremendous payoff in the form of more engaged employees, easier access to data insights, and improved customer experiences. NATIONAL BANK SEES GAINS WITH COLLABORATION National Bank is a Canadian financial institution that is evolving in an environment of constant change, exemplified by new strategic partnerships with fintechs to offer clients innovative digital solutions. At the more than 400 branches and newly renovated collaborative workspaces in its Montreal headquarters, National Bank employees have embraced the mobile connectivity of Microsoft 365 and, in particular, Microsoft Teams, to work in an agile and collaborative environment. Mobile employees are improving service by meeting clients where and when it's most convenient for them, while remaining connected to their team. Guided by consumer-style marketing, National Bank employees are encouraged to activate Office 365 apps from an employee portal the same way a consumer purchases apps from any online store. Just months after making Microsoft Teams available, the majority of employees use this single digital hub for all collaboration. "We know that great employee experiences enhance employee loyalty, which drives commitment to provide better customer experiences," says Denis Rousseau, modern workplace leader at National Bank in Montreal. "When employees gain the confidence to use new digital workplace capabilities such as Microsoft 365, and adopt modern, agile ways of working, they become engaged and empowered to make a positive impact for colleagues and clients." A HUB FOR TEAMWORK Microsoft Teams is unique in that it's the hub for teamwork. When people work together, there is less confusion between team members and the content they create. This is the design goal behind Microsoft Teams — bringing together conversations, meetings, files and apps into a single canvas. The amount of time employees spend engaged in "collaborative" work — in meetings, on phone calls or emailing — has increased by about 50 per cent and takes up 80 per cent or more of employees' time, according to 2016 research from the Harvard Business Review. Improving the collaborative experience is a significant priority for the modern workplace, and Microsoft Teams allows colleagues to actively connect and have a conversation right where the work is happening — whether co-authoring a document, having a meeting or working together in other apps and services. Teams is the place to have informal chats, iterate quickly on a project, edit team files, and work collectively on shared deliverables. It's about collaboration in real time to get things done. It's well-recognized that digital transformation unlocks new potential for organizations, but it's not only about technology — it's about empowering people. The expectations, knowledge and skills of every employee in an organization — from the factory floor or the front desk to the executive boardroom — need the right technology tools to maximize their potential and the organization's success. Empowering the workforce with tools for success is a determining factor for the level of transformation any organization can achieve to move forward in today's modern workplace. Jordan Sheridan is general manager, modern workplace, at Microsoft Canada in Mississauga, Ont. For more information, visit https://products.office.com/en-ca/microsoft-teams/group- chat-software Empowering the workforce with tools for success Every employee should be as engaged, collaborative and creative as they can be BY JORDAN SHERIDAN SPONSORED BY

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