InterviewUC&C1 Feb 2021 · 4 min read

What Happens after Digital Transformation?

Jay Latta says digital transformation now demands collaboration, cooperation and HX communication for the hybrid workplace.

Rob Scott

Here at UC Today, our fantastic UC Summit experience has started for the year of 2021, and we have plenty of exciting things lined up. We’ll be discussing all the most important topics around communication and collaboration, from market leaders all through the industry.

Our first featured keynote for day one was the wonderful Jay Latta, an Engineering Technology Strategist with over 35 years of experience in his field. For his keynote, Jay explored the rise of the “New Normal” in the workplace and the three Cs that will lead to a more successful business environment.

Latta acknowledged how important it is for today’s business leaders to embrace the fact that the world is changing and adapt to that change – rather than trying to go backwards.

The Transformation of Mindset

[caption id="attachment_34239" align="alignright" width="200"] Jay Latta[/caption]

According to Jay, the world and society we live in have changed at a foundational level, and it’s continuing to change. Innovation is quickly becoming the key to helping human beings adapt to the new normal that we live in, and that’s what digital transformation is all about.

In the last year, we’ve experienced a significant change in the way that people work, with remote working becoming the “new normal.” Latta says that going forward, efficiency may increase for people with white-collar jobs because they’ll be able to skip the stress of the daily commute.

Workflow automation and predictive tools, with AI guidance, will allow team members to focus on the things that they do best and enjoy more creative tasks. Elsewhere, conferences and meetings will grow increasingly immersive as companies search for ways to develop more spatial experiences for the hybrid workplace.

Already, we’ve begun to see several behavioural shifts. People have become more “minimalist” and started searching for purpose in everything they do. We’re moving further away from the standard computer for work and focusing more on tablets and smartphones.

According to Jay, all these changes require more than just a physical or geographical adjustment – the road to future productivity depends on a mindset transformation too.

Adjusting After Digital Transformation

Accelerated digital transformation, sparked by the 2020 pandemic, have pushed companies into smaller buildings, or outside of the office building entirely. This minimalistic trend is great for saving companies money, but it’s also important to recognise the impact it has on the business community.

Company culture can be harder to maintain in a world where everyone is mobile and disconnected. The modern team will need to have the right mindset to thrive – one empowered by curiosity, and adaptability.

Latta says that the three “Cs” of work will become the centre of everything we do:

Collaboration: Learning how to think as one piece of a puzzle and understanding the part you play within the rest of the team. Companies need to enable teams around the globe to operate in the same place with the same tools
Cooperation: Knowing how to see the bigger picture and support people effectively. People can’t just hold onto information and hide it anymore
Communication: Improved communication is a must-have for today’s teams. Multi-modal communication based on HX (Human Experience) will allow people to connect in more contextual and visual ways

The Merger of Work and Private Life

The significant changes in the world of work have already had an impact on our personal lives too. People commuting less to work and going on fewer business trips are also looking for new ways to travel without damaging the environment. Public transport, biking, and other practices are becoming more common.

[caption id="attachment_34240" align="alignright" width="200"] Amy Peck[/caption]

The demands of social distancing mean that we’ve shifted almost completely to contactless purchasing and payments. Everywhere we look, human beings are becoming more connected, and more reliant on technology to thrive.

To survive after digital transformation, Jay believes that we need to embrace a multi-modal environment where consistent communication happens in both the social and professional worlds.

He believes that only when we realise there’s more to communication channels than fixing problems, and discover the benefits of true human connections, can we discover the right strategy for the new normal. Make sure you visit Jay’s session to learn more.

This week, it's Collaboration Week on the UC Summit, with a keynote on the 1^st of February (Monday) at 15:00 GMT. Amy Peck, the CEO and Founder of EndeavorXR, will be discussing global collaboration in XR, and how it changes the way we work.