30 Mr Eckstein, issues such as the modern workplace and working from home are currently very popular. Is that just a consequence of the pandemic? Most people have wished to work more flexibly for a long time. However, many companies were sceptical about this for many years because they considered the risks rather than the opportunities and because there was no overriding need for it. During the pandemic, they were forced to offer working from home – and the results were surprisingly positive. Now demographic trends are also a major factor. Modern workplaces are now an incentive to attract new employees. Why are companies still finding it difficult? More often than not, it is simply a lack of preparation. In the period prior to the pandemic, people were more concerned with processing orders than thinking about the consequences of digitalisation for working life. Often there is a lack of the necessary technical infrastructure and lack of significant change management to guide people into the age of New Work. What will happen to the working from home after COVID? Although the pandemic has lost intensity, there is no going backwards. Quite the opposite, in fact: many companies are in the process of replacing structures that were dispensed with during the rapid changeover. This necessitates that large parts of the infrastructure migrate to the cloud. As a result, digitisation will automatically advance. In what areas do companies need support? Levels of prior knowledge and experience vary greatly. We have developed a concept that provides optimal support for businesses – regardless of the level of digital competence they have already achieved. Many come from a traditional IT infrastructure. This means that the focus is first on practical questions. And after that? After the first step, thoughts quickly turn to what could be digitised next. These are often the many unstructured documents, some of which are still in paper form. As a basis for this, we use Microsoft SharePoint Online. We have interlinked the document management very closely with the system environment. This creates a central information base that is supported by various sources. Transparent data is a major opportunity for modern workplaces. Isn‘t it also about the level of knowledge? Exactly. When managed correctly, connected work results in more convenience, more transparency and a wider information base. A good example is Microsoft Viva. This is a platform that provides information regarding employee experiences, resources or insights and consequently supports hybrid working. It uses data that is already available in the company. AI-powered algorithms take this information and convert it into usable knowledge by evaluating it or by contextualising it. Instead of forcing employees to share and read things, knowledge finds its own way through the company as a result of intelligent networking. What else can a company achieve by implementing modern workplaces? Modern technologies support decision-making and the automation of key business processes. Take Microsoft‘s Power Pages, for example. It can be used to very quickly design small business websites and business Andreas Eckstein, Team Manager Operations at the COSMO CONSULT Group Image: © COSMO CONSULT Modern Workplaces „A modern workplace is an effective way to attract employees.“ Modern workplaces are crucial components in the digitalisation of companies. The restrictions of the COVID pandemic have recently led to significant investments being made in this area. Andreas Eckstein, Team Manager Operations at the COSMO CONSULT Group, explains the key factors for the digital transformation in the workplace.
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