As COVID-19 spreads rapidly, organizations such as Accenture are focusing on their primary responsibility: protecting their people. Highly visible measures such as cancelling conferences are making headlines, and there are many more actions worldwide such as mass travel bans, restricting office visitors, and re-examining workplace operations.
Leaders are preparing for the short-term, while also developing new capabilities and ways of working that will seamlessly enable longer-term changes to how they operate. Disruptions to the workforce as a result of remote working and higher rates of sick leave require an Elastic Digital Workplace. Interventions will differ for each organization, but they should be based on the following foundations:
As COVID-19 spreads rapidly, organizations are focusing on their primary responsibility: protecting their people. Highly visible measures such as cancelling conferences are making headlines, and there are many more actions worldwide such as mass travel bans, restricting office visitors, and re-examining workplace operations. Leaders are preparing for the short-term, while also developing new capabilities and ways of working that will seamlessly enable longer-term changes to how they operate.
Disruptions to the workforce as a result of remote working and higher rates of sick leave require an Elastic Digital Workplace. Interventions will differ for each organization, but they should be based on the following foundations:
- PROTECT AND EMPOWER YOUR PEOPLE: Adjust your workplace to enable your people to work remotely through digital collaboration tools. Build the necessary skills around these new ways of working. Start cultivating a digital culture. Construct a workplace of trust.
- SERVE YOUR CUSTOMERS’ CORE NEEDS: Adapt to changing global and local conditions by serving your customers’ core needs, including being transparent in your operations and compassionate in your engagements – all of which will create deeper, more trusted relationships.
- ESTABLISH BUSINESS CONTINUITY: Ensure supplier relationships and business to business processes are effectively supported. Develop new business processes to adapt to new ways of collaborating and decision-making.
An Elastic Digital Workplace is enabled by policies and culture, technology and communications. The fundamental elements include collaboration tools, robust network connectivity to enable virtual working and advanced security procedures. As important are clear business continuity working protocols and communications, as well as guidance for employees, partners and customers.
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a dramatic disruption to commercial, consumer and civic life that could become permanent shifts.
For example, companies will be forced to reconfigure their most vulnerable supply chains, meet growing demand for remote working, and offer more digital experiences. Expect manufacturers to accelerate their move into additive manufacturing, robotics and the cloud. Learn from consumer service providers as they accelerate the use of virtual reality to keep newfound online customers. Watch as safety-conscious consumers demand more contactless transactions, and protect themselves at home with drone deliveries. Consider how the healthcare sector will pursue new markets through a swifter adoption of remote medical diagnosis and treatment. Many businesses will apply new technologies to facilitate immediate responses, but these could pave the way for longer-term operational innovation and workforce strategies that improve resilience and competitiveness.
Photo credit: Accenture Int.
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