Consumerisation has been a big buzz word for the past few years, but as our business landscape rapidly changes, consumerisation moves into a paradigm. Previously, consumerisation has meant the re-orientation of product and service, moving away from a b2b focus and instead treating the end user as an individual consumer. While this is still applicable, consumerisation is becoming more of a stronger focal point across many different industries, and a result, it is changing slightly in its function.
According to Peter Miscovich of JLL, speaking at WORKTECH New York in May 2017,
“the digital workplace of the future with demand and require autonomy”.
Employees are becoming more than just ‘workers’
Your employees are individuals, with individual needs, and should be encouraged to work in a manner that best suits them.
When people are left to work to their own rhythms and needs, they reportedly benefit from increased levels of productivity and happiness at work. While many workplaces have already picked up on this approach – just look at the popularity of flexible working and coworking spaces for proof – bringing consumerisation to the fold can boost results even more.
Freedom is key…
…particularly when it comes to technology and consumerisation. Some businesses have already found success with ‘bring your own device’ style schemes – after all, why should we be using a separate (and likely standard issue) computer or smart phone for work, when we have our preferred option at home? Wouldn’t most of us prefer to get to work on our much-loved laptop than our clunky office computer? Making way for employees to choose their own technology can likely only yield good results.
Beyond technology in the workplace, applying the concept of consumerisation to the actual working space can also have a positive impact. We know that for 2018 workplace trends and beyond, the lines between work and home are continuing to blur. It’s not just because of our changing approach to work itself, or the way we’re using our time – our surroundings play an important part in affecting our mood and mental capacity. Depending upon the nature of business, more adaptive and fluid workspaces may be necessary to improve working conditions for many employees. Think about encouraging social interaction and different approaches to collaborating with the office design – adaptable space that can be used for different functions, landing zones and communal seating, and areas for chatting and encouraging social bonds between teams (preferably with great coffee available, and comfortable seats!).
Overall, applying the notion of consumerisation to more than just products, but also surroundings, may just have a knock-on effect of positivity and productivity.
Doesn’t everyone want that for their workplace?
