2020 proved to be a year no one really saw coming. Although there were certainly some predictions around increases in remote work, no one could have foreseen the huge jump it took in the past year. Work, for many of us, has changed forever. As we begin the new year, let’s explore some predictions for the future of work in 2021.
1. One in five (20%) of workers will work from home at least one day a week
Before the pandemic, 5% of the American workforce worked full-time from home. While the full-time percentage will at least double to 10%, an even higher percentage will work from home at least one day a week – likely 20%.
2. Technology will continue to evolve to ensure that online interactions are more reflective of real life
At Preciate, we believe in this premise so strongly that we spent a good deal of time creating our patent pending Social Presence Technology, which is at the core of our virtual meeting & events platform. Our technology makes you feel like you’re moving through 3D space instead of staring at a 2D screen, enabling the expression of social signals and cues by allowing users to move away or toward people to start a conversation, hear the background noise of other people chatting, and give toasts.
3. Hybrid office-home work arrangements will drive an overhaul of management
As remote work arrangements make it impossible to “manage by walking around,” old school managers will first fail to manage well and then call for their employees’ return to offices. When their most talented people refuse to waste time and money commuting, managers will have no choice but to adapt to the new realities of managing. They will implement better tools and new techniques, or they will be pushed aside by ascendent managers who do.
4. Sales, events, and conferences will permanently shift from in-person to virtual
Over the years, sales has shifted from entirely in person to telephone to email. Today, making a sale is about catching the customer at the right point in their purchase process: more touches more often, powered by virtual meetings and socials, yields a higher return on investment. Similarly, conference sessions moving forward will be consumed asynchronously at the remote attendee’s convenience. While this can lead to more efficiency, it will require much more intentionality to draw attendees to sessions without the spontaneity of in-person events.
2021 is sure to be another year of change and innovation at work and beyond. Though it can be tempting to resist change and stick with what is familiar, this year will be an important time to adapt to our changing world whether that’s with new management techniques or a virtual socializing platform.
As we move forward with this new normal of work and the continuing hybrid or remote work life, Preciate has been embraced by over 3300 companies to help build healthier relationships and accelerate business. Instead of being stuck in a tile, meeting attendees can move around the room from one conversation to the next. Hosts can brand the room with personalized backgrounds and room items to bring your brand and core values to the forefront.
If you’d like to see Preciate for yourself, test it out for free. Or, contact us for a quick demo to show you how Preciate can help strengthen your company culture, wherever your employees are located.
