Global Study Reveals Benefits Transcend Productivity, but OrganizationsMust Prepare for Data Security Risks

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 5 September2018 - Employees who work in digital workplaces are not only moreproductive but also more motivated, have higher job satisfaction, and report anoverall better sense of well-being, according to a new global study from Aruba,a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.

The study, Digital Revolutionaries Unlock the Potentialof  the Digital Workplace, reveals both the business and humanbenefits of more digitally-driven workplaces, and how companies that are lesstechnologically advanced are at risk of falling behind the competition and notattracting top talent. It also notes that companies must be vigilant as moredigital-savvy employees are taking greater risks with data and informationsecurity.

Key Themes and Findings

The study of 7,000 employees across 15 countries revealed a clear chasmin employee performance and sentiment between more advanced digital workplacesand those that employ digital technology to a lesser degree. A number of keythemes emerged:

• Beyond productivity, digital tools unlock human benefits: "Digital Revolutionaries" - employees identified as those who work in fully-enabled digital workplaces where new workplace technologies are in widespread use - were 51% more likely to have strong job satisfaction, and 43% more likely to be positive about their work-life balance than "Digital Laggards" - those who have less access to workplace technology. The Revolutionary employees were also 56% more likely to say they are motivated at work, and 83% more likely to praise their company's vision.
• Digital working also supports professional development: 65% of Revolutionaries reported they had seen professional development and growth through the use of digital technology, compared to just 31% of Laggards. With a digital workplace, 72% of Revolutionaries reported a higher ability to adopt new work skills as compared to 58% of Laggards.
• Productivity gains from digital technology quantified: 73% of Digital Revolutionaries reported a positive impact to their productivity and 70% cited improved collaboration thanks to digital technologies, vs. 55% of laggards.
• Continued advancements in digital technology and automation pave the way for better workplace experiences: While automation can be perceived as a threat to job security, our research found that there was widespread enthusiasm for it. 71% of respondents said they would welcome a fully automated workplace in the next 5-10 years, allowing organizations to build smarter, more effective working environments.

"No matter the industry, we're seeing a move toward human-centricplaces as enterprises strive to meet rapidly changing expectations of howpeople want to work," Joseph White, Director of Workplace Strategy, Designand Management, Herman Miller. "This depends upon combining advances intechnology -- which includes furnishings -- with the cognitive sciences to helppeople engage with work in new ways. This will not only mean singular, premiumexperiences for individuals, but also the opportunity for organizations to attractand retain the best talent."

"The very nature of the term "workplace" is beingtransformed, as companies begin to realise that effective space isexperience-centric, and must accommodate work styles spanning generations andpersonality types," said Francisco Acoba, Managing Director for DeloitteStrategy & Operations. "This ushers in new processes where ITsolutions, building systems and furnishings interact harmoniously with humansto create such spaces. Regardless of your enterprise's specific situation, whenspaces become active participants in the user experience it benefits the bottomline. After all, workers who feel comfortable in a space get their tasks done.Those who don't will eventually move on to a more inviting option."

Emerging risks

The study also found that employees are enthusiastic about newtechnology and have a desire for their employers to provide more. ThroughoutAsia Pacific, almost all respondents (98%) thought their workplace would beimproved through greater use of technology, while 70% said their company willfall behind the competition if new technology isn't implemented. The sameportion (67%) believe the traditional office will become obsolete due toadvances in technology.

• 75% of respondents in Asia Pacific said their companies have invested in digital workplace tools in the past year, and interest is growing in a new generation of technologies including smart building tools that automate temperature controls and lighting (14%), voice-activated and wireless AV technology (16%), and custom corporate mobile apps (11%).
• Most respondents thought digital technology would result in a more efficient (63%), more collaborative (53%) and more appealing (52%) work environment.

While the benefits of digital workplaces are wide-ranging, the studyalso revealed that cybersecurity is a challenge for employers.

• Although employees reported higher levels of cybersecurity awareness (56% think about security often or daily), they also admitted to taking more risks with company data and devices, with 73% admitting to risky behaviors such as sharing passwords and devices.
• A quarter (25%) of employees have connected to potentially unsafe open Wi-Fi in the past twelve months, 20% said they use the same password across multiple applications and accounts, and 17% admitted to writing down passwords in order to remember them.

The Road Forward

These findings indicate that companies must adapt to leverage thebenefits of new digital workplace technology while simultaneously minimizingsecurity risks. Aruba recommends that organizations take the following actions:

• Adopt a digital workplace strategy: IT departments need to work with business managers, end-users and other stakeholders to define a roadmap for their digital workplace evolution. This includes moving beyond established technologies to deploying new tools such as smart sensors and customized mobile apps that will create increasingly personalized workplace experiences.
• Build collaborative digital workspaces: Companies need to think about how the digital workplace extends beyond their head office to support remote workers, partners, and customers. IT leaders need to plan for, and invest in, a working environment without borders.
• Incorporate security from the ground up: Companies must architect the digital workplace with security as an integral part of the design, taking into account the role of human error as well as bad actors. To achieve optimum security that can adapt to change and unknowns, IT must look to emerging technologies in networking, cloud computing, AI and machine-learning.

"The consumerization of the workplace is a very real movement.Employees are consumers and we bring consumer expectations with us towork," said Janice Le, Chief Marketer for Aruba, a Hewlett PackardEnterprise company. "The workplace is getting smarter and therefore,employees are working smarter."

A new paradigm has started to emerge where smart buildingtechnologies are intersecting with the digital workplace to form the SmartDigital Workplace. This is where human-centered design meets IoT andbuilding automation. The Smart Digital Workplace can enablepersonalized experiences such as connected furniture and smart lighting thatadapts to the user. Buildings can go greener by dynamically optimizing energy utilizationbased on employee patterns. These new use cases not only foster employeeproductivity but also improve efficiency while putting people at the center.

Le concluded, "This global study indicates that choice,personalization, ease and automation are improving the top line and the bottomline for organizations who are defining the future of work. Our own place ofwork is a living lab for the Smart Digital Workplace and we are seeing resultssuch as faster hiring and higher offer acceptances. The benefits are tangibleand go beyond productivity."

To Read the Full report, visit: https://www.arubanetworks.com/worksmart

Research methodology

A total of 7,000 employees were interviewed in April and May 2018. Therespondents were from organizations of all sizes, across both public andprivate sectors, with a focus on the industrial, government, retail,healthcare, education, finance, and IT/ technology/ telecommunications sectors.Interviews were conducted both online and via telephone using a rigorousmulti-level screening process to ensure that only suitable candidates weregiven the opportunity to participate. Respondents were interviewed in theUnited Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, United Arab Emirates,the United States, Singapore, Japan, Australia, India, Brazil, Mexico, Chinaand South Korea.

About Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company

Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, is a leading provider ofnext-generation networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes worldwide.The company delivers IT solutions that empower organizations to serve thelatest generation of mobile-savvy users who rely on cloud-based business appsfor every aspect of their work and personal lives.

To learn more, visit Aruba at https://www.arubanetworks.com.For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook,and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products visitAirheads Social at https://community.arubanetworks.com/