How has Digitization Impacted Traditional Ways of Working?
Digitization, the process of converting texts, images, sounds and signals into digital formats, has been the talk of the town for quite some time now. And the latest straw came in with demonetization when the entire country was compelled to use the digital ways of transacting. Cashless transactions were cringed about in the beginning, but one can’t deny its worthiness that gave us a more easier, faster and secured way of making payments. Digitization has proven to be beneficial in more ways than one.
This blog focuses on how digitization has impacted, and thus changed, our idea of an “office” and other traditional ways of working.
1. Flexible working: Digitization promotes both, flexible working as well as independent working. And because of this “work-from-anywhere” trend, the traditional, brick-and-mortar office building is no longer an absolute essential for running a business.
Professionals don’t need an office space to work. They can make their office wherever they start working. The launch of Digital India has upped the growth and quality of infrastructure that facilitates flexible working. Nasscom reported India to rank third globally in the number of startups. This directly reflects the high number of independent workers in India. Today’s fad of working from home or from a coffee shop is taking over the need of a regular traditional office which is also impacting the real estate sector in a big way.
2. Rise in independent professionals: Digitization has influenced the growth of independent workers in India especially in the tech-enabled field. According to the latest Nasscom report, the number of tech-enabled startups in India was slated to grow by 10-12% by the end of 2016. Technological advancements and better network has fuelled the urge in many to become independent professionals. The traditional thought process of ‘landing a job after graduation’ is replaced by ‘creating a job after graduation’. And with digitization being at the fore front of developmental priority by the Government of India, independent workers in India are bound to be on a rise. Whether fresh graduates or corporate emaployees, both – young talents and subject experts – are giving away the traditional ways of working, thereby resulting in the rise of independent workers in India.
Infact, even the highest paying jobs like chartered accountancy, legal advisory and scientific research and development are witnessing drop in the numbers of successors to the chair. These professional experts are quitting their desk jobs and opting for independent work.
3. Flexible timing: Digitization gives the freedom to work at the time slot of your convenience. You could be – an independent worker who is more productive during the late hours, or a consultant in India required to handle client queries from the overseas, or an independent professional earning your supplemental income by working at nights – digitization makes it all possible. The flawless connectivity and data transfer supports supports not just the workers, but also translates into supporting the economy.
4. Reduced response time: With emails, chat messengers and videoconferening replacing the letters and face-to-face meetings, one doesn’t have to wait for days or travel for hours to get answers/solutions. This has shortened the turnaround time of proposal-to-closure, thereby allowing businesses to close deals faster. With significant resources being saved, the revenue reflection in the balance sheet looks impressive.
