Across every geography and industry, the world of work is changing. Businesses are witnessing a multi-layered revolution of talent and technology that is changing the way enterprises operate. From how they distribute their workforces to their means of driving intelligence and better overall outcomes, businesses are experiencing an incredible shift. The Future of Work has become more than a concept; now, it is a movement that has dramatically transformed the day-to-day operations of the modern business. And, it will continue to transform them in the years ahead.
The Future of Work reflects the dynamic transformation of the contemporary business and has sparked a new focus on how work gets done from workforce, innovation, and strategic perspectives. In 2019, the vast majority of businesses (81%) are focused on achieving real business agility, which translates into pressing need for real-time, on-demand, and dynamic approaches to how they react to both traditional and emerging competitive challenges. And, to boot, 76% of businesses today (according to upcoming Ardent research) are laser-focused on developing an “agile culture” in 2020, which includes agile talent (and the agile workforce, agile technology, and processes.
All of the above means one thing: 2020 is another year for businesses to continue to innovate around the idea of “work optimization,” and, the decade ahead will be built on the some of the major things we learned about the Future of Work in 2019:
- Digital staffing is about to hits its tipping point. Three full years of exploding growth behind them (and more forecasted, according to Ardent’s research), today’s digital staffing solutions are proving that businesses desire not only a direct means of sourcing its talent, but an on-demand and tailored experience for real-time talent acquisition. Digital and on-demand staffing platforms, which are actively adding additional functionality within its tools, are a key reason why the “agile workforce” is so critical to the Future of Work.
- Embracing change isn’t just a suggestion for businesses, it’s a “must” going into a new decade. Some business leaders eschewed the Gig Economy and missed out on incredible talent. Others actively ignore the shifts happening in the market (generational changes, shifts in how work is addressed, a focus on diversity and inclusion, advancements in technology, etc.) and will not thrive in the decade ahead. “Change” isn’t just a concept, it’s the foundation from which all businesses innovate and spark a revolution in how work gets done.
- Utilization of artificial intelligence in “work” and business operations will spike over the next few years, driven by 2019’s “year of innovation education.” While only 26% of businesses are actively leveraging some form of AI today, that number is expected to more than double within the next three years. 2019 was the average business’ opportunity to educate themselves on the viability, impact, benefit, and application of artificial intelligence…and the years ahead will prove that more and more enterprises are starting to learn how to implement this technology into their already-crowded stacks.
- The agile workforce is for real. The notion of “agile” in today’s workforce is only partly based on the shifts in how talent is engaged and acquired; the other foundational elements of the agile workforce truly reflect how businesses expect “work” to be transformed in the decade ahead, such as more fluid roles and positions, a decentralized workforce augmented by virtual and unified communications, and more project-based work.
- The criticality of skills and expertise will prove that, in 2020, these will be the hottest topics within the business arena. The greatest “fear of the unknown” for today’s businesses may not be another economic downturn, but rather a non-forecasted gap in skillsets and expertise. New and unpredictable skills requirements are the big question mark heading into 2020; advancements in technology and new outlets of innovation certainly assist businesses in getting work done in an effective and efficient manner, however, this continued progression essentially translates into a greater need for skills that do not quite exist yet (or are unaccounted for). The demands of the future organization will shape how (and to the extent in which) businesses harness predictive analytics and scenario-building capabilities for understanding what the years ahead may hold for skills gaps based on today’s data and intelligence. In any event, the conversation around future skills shortages is just beginning.
Curious about the Future of Work? Want to learn more? Be sure to check out the Contingent Workforce Weekly podcast for more insights on how work, talent, and technology are evolving and how their convergence will transform the way businesses think in the decade ahead.
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