We're still waiting for the new store to harness technological advancements and re-invent itself. The new workplace might help.
Physical retail as we know it, was born with the department store in the late 19th century. It still operates more or less the same, and is approaching the digital innovation, as it did the electrical one back then. It used it to light up the stores, improve manufacturing and operations, but the structure of the business itself was not affected. It remains today generally the same, with the exception of a more robust supply chain.
Retailers didn’t have to delve deep into the profound ways in which digital technology affected our lives, because it didn’t really disrupt their revenues stream. Sure, e-commerce created a new category and stole a big chunk of the traditional retail market, but it didn’t give these retailers a big enough scare, to make them stop, face the music and change their ways.
It's a different story for the revolution taking place in the workplace.
A new Pew survey indicates that more than one-in-three labor force participants (35%), are Millennials - the largest generation in the U.S. labor force - making companies get to grips with the profound revolution, digital and social media have on their employees.
The workplace today
The workplace is going through a soul-searching phase right now. New technologies and rapid market disruptions, have put a premium on acquiring top talents and creating a work environment, capable of fostering creativity and innovation.
According to a 2015 PGi survey of 3000 executives worldwide, 79% of all respondents are able to telecommute at least one day a week, and 60% of respondents would resign from their current position for a similar job with similar pay if they could work from home full time. These numbers are not very encouraging and tell a sad tale about the index of happiness at work.
Creating an optimal and happy workplace environment, need to take into account the aspirations and social life of the Millennials and anticipate those of the Z generation. To describe them briefly:
Millennials are constantly connected, get bored easily, aspire for variety in their environment and need a continuous stream of information and feedback. Salaries are less important to them, than the sense of fulfilment they expect from their jobs. They are also moving away from being told what to do and how to do it, and are expecting to be heard and granted more choices about how and where to do their work.
As for Generation Z, although a new Survey highlights how dangerous it is for them to practically live their lives on their smartphones, they might learn how to tone this use down but they will remain connected, and with the pervasiveness of IoT and smart homes, their lives might become even more transparent.
What do Millennials expect from their workplace?
Ten years ago, workplace design was not as important a topic as it is today. Work was regimented, office design was more or less predictable and followed a certain set of rules. Besides, there was not too many choices about how and where to work from. and the notion of being happy at work was not a priority.