The six tech advancements that are shaping the modern office

If we stopped to look around at how much technology impacts our day-to-day work life, we’d be shocked. Every communication, both internally and externally; every project; every presentation; everything we do in work is based around tech. It’s hard to imagine how we’d get on without it, but also hard to imagine where it will go from here. From the fax machine to cloud computing, technology has progressed light years in the mere decades. And these six major tech advancements are going to drive it even further.

AI (Artificial Intelligence)

The fact that many secretaries, PA’s and recruiters will be robots in the future is a scary thought, and with AI, it’s closer than you think. Artifical intelligence is taking over the modern workplace, and most administrative tasks like scheduling meetings, transferring calls, setting reminders and even interviewing people can, and will, be completed by an office AI. So big is its place in the workforce that just this year, Ireland’s first Master’s programme in Artificial Intelligence was launched, set to run in the University of Limerick from September.

EdTech

Edtech, put simply, is educational technology – online programmes designed to help the modern workforce upskill and improve their credentials. Being a ‘lifelong learner’ is now seen as crucial in the modern workforce, and employers everywhere are recognising its importance, even making time for it in the 9-5 work day. Online courses and platforms are available for everything from recruitment to design to business, and multi-national companies are putting a lot of money into making sure their workers are up to date.

Social media

Where would we be without it, eh? Social media is the single most important tool a business can use to build a brand, to communicate with customers and to be involved in the modern world. It’s pretty hard to find a business or someone who’s serious about their career, not being active on at least one of the big platforms like Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook. There are countless seminars, articles and courses designed to help you use it to your advantage.

Working remotely

With the massive advancements in technology over the past few years, a lot of the time, you don’t even need your employees to be in the same country, let alone the same room. With communications and collaborative working being so easy now, modern workers have the ability to work from anywhere, which can have a great effect on productivity and mental health of those with other commitments. As long as you’ve got a laptop, some good WiFi and self-management skills, you’re good to go. Even without a laptop, the capabilities of smartphones these days rival even the most high-tech laptops. If you’re ever out and about, a smartphone does the job of working remotely just as well.

Cloud computing

If you had heard the phrase “you can find those documents on the cloud” at all ten years ago, you would have backed away slowly from this clearly insane person. But now, everything and anything is on the cloud. Cloud computing, otherwise known as remote storage, is a godsend for collaboration on projects – everyone can access the same documents at the same time, work on them together, and have everything stored in the same place.

Digital dexterity

Since tech has become such a massive part of our lives, you may have noticed how easy switching between devices has become to us. That, dear readers, is called digital dexterity. Being able to move seamlessly between your computer, smartphone and tablet, and often using them all at the same time, is the true marker of a modern worker – and it’s the perfect illustration of just how important technology has become to how we work.