Basics of Client Device Convergence for Enterprises

When you start looking at the digital evolution of devices and technologies over the past 10 years there is one overarching topic: Technology & Device convergence!

A convergence is when two or more distinct things come together. Technology convergence is when different forms of technologies coexist in a single device, sharing resources and interacting, creating new technology and convenience. This simplistic definition is only the tip of the iceberg however because technology convergence is technical and functional. Two of the most common examples of convergence are taking pictures with a mobile phone — which combines the functionality of a camera and a telephone — and surfing the web on television, which brings a task normally associated with a computer to a TV. This trend was kicked off by the invention of the iPhone and some still argue, that Apple is still the master of consumer technology convergence.

Technology & device convergence is influencing users to accept new concepts and technologies more easily. Take something people know – let’s say a TV – and add video on demand. Rather than just watching it in your laptop people are now widely accepting the possibility to watch VoD rather than broadcast TV. Convergence pushes alliances between once isolated industries such as TV manufacturers, device manufacturer, and online video rentals.

A similar convergence happens in the mobile and desktop industry. Innovations like Samsung DeX are giving us a glimpse of the future of the workspace by creating a phone that can support a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Essentially your phone with a docking station instantly becomes a complete computing solution for your desk. The monitor shows a full-screen desktop with Android apps, while the Galaxy S8 itself becomes a thin client for your workspace.

Add a VDI DeX client like tocario’s Dex optimized Android client (or VMware Workspace ONE) and you have a full feature thin client sitting in your pocket, where ever you go allowing you to access your corporate desktop and applications anywhere and any time.

This is a very good example of client device convergence by combining your phone (you will carry with you anyways) with a docking station and smart software technology to build a lean and intelligent B2B solution. For companies, the economics of making the enterprise smartphone the primary computing device for employees is very compelling.

Based on this idea tocario also implemented an iOS client that enables any iPhone or iPad to become a mobile workspace client including mouse and keyboard support as well as streaming to a screen via Airplay. As added functionality, the screen of the iPhone becomes a trackpad for a lean desk setup.

The benefits of convergence may be obvious. Everyone seems to approve when innovation makes our lives easier and saves lives, and when new technology allows us to do more with less. The benefits of technology convergence include:

  • Time-saving and cost-saving devices
  • Improving productivity and performance
  • Allows and encourages new ways to communicate
  • Encourages new product acceptance, as some of the functions are already well-known
  • Less siloed information with digital data needs solutions to safeguard corporate data
  • A single piece of technology simply does more and one set of infrastructure is cheaper to operate
  • Different price points can be addressed with essentially the same technology
  • Accessing workspaces and data on a wide range of devices

As client device convergence increases we will see higher adoption of Cloud Workspaces progressing into peoples lives. From an enterprise standpoint of view mobile device management, secure data stores and cloud workspaces to access the corporate workspace will be the standard set of applications rolled out to every employee.

The future Workplace in 2025

The dynamics of the Workplace are changing

In this modern age, globalisation has taken its effect and by its design we are now all interconnected and interdependent all the time, and from every part of the globe. Mobile data and information exchange is a constant. Even social coexistence and connectivity follows the new rules for flexibility and constant availability. People are more connected through technology today then ever in history. Almost everywhere on the globe, people are connected through their devices in one form or another. This kind of mentality has permeated the workplace, and there is now a constant desire for better technology and understanding of this interconnected world. “Hyperconnectivity” determines our life and work now and will have an even greater impact in the future.

The workplace in 2025

It is time for companies to realise this and take hold of their futures. If companies choose to not make plans for the future workplace, they will face increasing difficulties in recruiting new talent. They will also have to rethink their social and technological strategies in order to not get left behind, and stay ahead of the game. Therefore, we know that the future workplace will replace the known, unchanging hierarchies and departments with small, collaborative team networks. These are the findings of a study commissioned by Fujitsu from the independent European market research firm Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC). The study “Workplace 2025” outlines the core issues that will change the workplace over the next eight years. It also outlines the recommended steps companies should consider to stay competitive.

Our new reality

The expectations of the workers are high: 79 percent complain that their workplace does not offer the necessary flexibility; 56 percent have higher safety requirements than are met; 49 percent are convinced that traditional jobs will disappear anyway and 24 percent want more accessibility, also from a technological point of view. There are companies such as tocario, that are working with the idea of creating a digital workplace, where flexibility and accessibility can be achieved.

Employers have already done a lot or planned to reform the work environment. 70 percent want to adjust their company policies. 60 percent oppose or already practice open innovation and crowdsourcing within the company. 30 percent want to invest in analysis tools and almost half can practically imagine working with digital virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa. Half of the employers want to implement use cases and environments that are based on consumer behavior. However, only 29 percent of employers want to allow their employees to use end devices of their own choosing. At the same time, end devices will determine how access to information is regulated, how it is shared and distributed securely, and how valuable content is created.

5 important changes in the future workplace 2025

Future workplace 2025Cross-generational workplace management and administration

One of the major changes that will affect the workplace of the future is demographic change. By 2025, a large number of millennials, those born between 1980 and 2000, and thus the so-called “digital natives” will enter the workforce, expecting a better work-life balance and an agile and compelling work environment. At the same time there are Generation X employees who are active in the company until the 1960s and who will work with technologies that will help age not be a hindrance to physical tasks. This diversity of employees in 2025, with their very different preferences and needs, also requires companies to make radical changes in education and development.

There will be greater movement and flexibility

The study recommends forcing the agility of the “limitless” workplace. In order to continue to be perceived as an attractive employer, companies should develop a contextual and personalized work environment that is tailored to the individual needs of the employee. At the same time, they should strengthen collegial cooperation through the implementation of new technologies, such as augmented reality or digital workspaces. The “Workplace 2025” report predicts that today’s organizational structures will become much more agile and adapt to ever-changing economic conditions, competitors and customer needs. The still prevailing rigid hierarchies and departments are being replaced by small, collaborative network teams of employees and external freelancers, which are linked by unified communication and collaboration platforms and supported by intelligent assistants.

Recruitment via crowdsourcing

 

CrowdsourcingThis increased flexibility not only affects the skills required in companies, but also the search for suitable employees. The study concludes that the fastest growing companies in 2025 will be able to quickly identify and develop skills from a global talent pool. Instead of hiring permanent employees for a particular role, the trend is toward global crowdsourcing of freelance talent. Teams of all sizes must be put together quickly and according to their needs. A reliable and flexible technology platform that enables employees to quickly authenticate with biometric data to gain access to the tools and systems they need is essential.

 

The blurring of borders between industries

The development and expansion of such networks also poses new challenges to the technologies required. External partners need access to centralized enterprise applications, and cross-enterprise data sharing makes an appropriate security solution essential. In terms of security, companies strive to strike the right balance between providing the tools and frameworks needed for good internal and external cooperation while effectively addressing the continuing threat of cybercrime. The workplace of the future, therefore, needs simple, easy-to-use and adaptive security tools that will not stand in the way of productivity – like Cloud Workspaces.

Companies must lean on technology partners and IT

As a result of these evolving needs, technology partners are expected to become increasingly important to companies in the future, helping them to manage these new, larger ecosystems and to advise them on other challenges, such as security issues and financial risks. This model of digital co-creation offers the potential of a much higher enterprise value than the market-dominant, rigid contract models. Of course, not all jobs will naturally change so radically. Nevertheless, many companies will have to react in order to be able to win or retain the young employees. It should be borne in mind that 20 percent of administrative employees who work in a modern and forward-looking manner are advancing 80 percent of productive employees in terms of increasing productivity and quality.

To find more interesting blogs, or to learn more about tocario and how it fits into the future workspace, click here.

 

Five benefits of working in your pyjamas

Getting up early, downing a cup of coffee, endless traffic jams, crowded public transport, dropping the kids at school – being in a constant rush in the morning sounds familiar to a lot of us and is deemed a constant stress factor.

According to psychologists the stress of commuting takes a toll on mental health and your social life. Don’t we all want to avoid that rush and start the day in a relaxing way? If you have the option to work from home, it can save you a lot of time. Apart from that, working from home has a lot more benefits, both for employees and for businesses.

Giving your employees the option to work from home can build trust and they tend to become more engaged. But to enable that, you need to make sure you have the right infrastructure and tools in place.

Read below how to get more out of your home office time:

The 5 Benefits:

Digital Workspace technologies make working from home very easy. The Digital Workspace is a collection of evolving technologies designed around your user’s needs that give them the space and freedom to work securely anywhere and on any device. It optimizes their experience and engagement with the tools and resources they need to help them be more effective and productive.

The most important benefits of Working From Home are:

  • Work wherever you are on any device – Work from anywhere and at any time where you get most motivated and inspired. Also, avoid traffic, less time commuting and save money on public transport or petrol.
  • Optimize experience and engagement with the tools and resources – Allow your employees to easily find and collaborate on documents, communicate easily and get on with their working day all from one easy-to-use interface
  • Work/life balance – having flexible work hours and incorporate social life into your working week more flexibly – spending less time commuting.
  • Increases productivity – according to a Standford study, 13% of employees who work from home are more productive. There is less distraction than at the office.
  • The Cloud – Cloud solutions offer a perfect way to have a centrally managed infrastructure of services that can be accessed anywhere and at any time. That means your data, applications and service come with you. With a digital workspace solution you have your full desktop and IT service experience following you where ever you are.

Work from anywhere on any device

At tocario we develop the technology needed to build the digital workspace. Just imagine your trusted desktop with all data and applications being available on any device.

You office environment is Windows – access it from your iPad sitting in your garden and get those Excel calculations done. Combined with modern communication  and collaboration tools like Google hangouts, Amazon Chime or Skype for Business you have a fully functional office right at your fingertips.

What business advantage can the Digital Workspace bring?

The Digital Workspace can save your business money in the long term.

Less overhead costs – having your employees working remotely means less overhead costs such as IT infrastructure expenses, office supplies and extra office space. According to a Forbes magazine report, American Express has not only improved employee productivity, but also saved between $10- $15 million annually in real estate costs.

Hire the best employees from all over the world – By allowing employees to work remotely, you can hire the best employees from all over the world.

Productive and efficient employees – at home your employees will have less distractions, which enables them to focus better on their work. Also, fewer breaks and fewer sick days can be the reason to boost productivity and efficiency.

Satisfied and engaged employees – tools like Skype for Business and Google Hangouts help employees stay connected with their colleagues. According to Harvard Business Review, 87% of remote workers feel more connected through the use of video conferencing.

Working from home gives our employees the freedom and flexibility to plan their work life and personal life.

When I take advantage of the home office I avoid the traffic jam in the morning which saves me time, and avoid the distractions at work which enables me to focus on what I need to do and be more productive.