London, UK -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions has named five major digitisation trends that are likely to define workplaces this year and beyond. A paper entitled 'What will shape the digital workplace in 2021?' identifies - 'The hybrid office', 'Adapting security, safety and compliance', 'Working with limited budgets to implement big change', 'Process automation and data-driven decision making', and 'Digital workplaces as a steppingstone for more sustainable growth' - as key trends for workplaces looking to find solutions to keep their employees working effectively during the continued disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olaf Lorenz, Senior General Manager, Digital Transformation Division, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe comments, "We were never as ready as we are today to deal with the workplace-related implications of such a pandemic. A mere decade earlier, and most of the companies that are currently able to let their employees work from home would not have been able to do so."

Yoann Fortini, IT Services Go-To-Market Senior Manager, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe adds, "2020 was marked by ad hoc swift responses. This will have to change in 2021. We will need to return to dedicated strategic digitalisation approaches with a view of long-term change."

Trend 1: The hybrid office will be the new workplace

In response to the pandemic, the disconnect between the term 'workplace' from a specific geographic location has become a reality much more quickly than expected. In many cases, to keep workflows going, organisations have had to compromise, allowing for example, bring your own device strategies that they had previously dismissed.

Olaf Lorenz comments, "In 2021, we are entering the era of the hybrid office, which will have to provide employees with seamless and efficient workflows - independent of whether they are working from their office location or from any other place."

Trend 2: Adapting security, safety and compliance to the hybrid office

2020 saw a steep increase in ransomware and data theft attempts trying to exploit insecure home office work processes. "We unfortunately have to expect a further professionalisation of these attacks in 2021, strategically targeting 'weak links' and unprepared IT", states Yoann Fortini.

The shift towards hybrid offices will also have security implications in terms of physical workplaces. Fewer employees on premise and the higher home office presence in residential areas could see an increase in attempted break-ins to commercial buildings.

Trend 3: Having to work with limited budgets to implement big change

Interrupted supply chains and markets are placing constraints on budgets, even for high-priority activities such as digitalisation.

Yoann Fortini comments, "Cost-intensive capital expenses such as those for on-premise scenarios will give way to flexible and scalable hybrid and cloud-based solutions, enabling businesses to pay for what they use, rather than for what they own. This too is a trend we've seen develop over the past years that has now been accelerated by the pandemic."

Trend 4: Process automation and data-driven decision making on the rise

Organisations will need to use their most valuable resource as best as possible - their employees," says Jaromir Sponar, ITS Business Development Manager, Microsoft MVP at Konica Minolta IT Solutions Czech.

"Manual processes with arduous tasks using disparate systems lead to errors and frustrated employees. Further, in markets increasingly shaped by volatility and complexity, fast, fact-based decision making can be a make-or-break success factor for businesses. Similar to how the pandemic in 2020 created a breakthrough for digital workplaces, the volatile business environment of 2021 and beyond will create the demand for solutions that improve processes and aid decision making."

Trend 5: Digital workplaces - a steppingstone for more sustainable growth?

Olaf Lorenz comments, "Digital transformation enables us to rethink what is necessary, especially with regard to mobility-related emissions. This includes both daily commuting as well as business travel. Collaboration tools not only make communication and networking across different locations seamless - they are a good option when looking to avoid CO2 emissions resulting from business travel."

An organisation's future ability to grow will depend on its capability to navigate the shift to a low carbon, clean technology economy. Here, a higher digital maturity of the organisation can help achieve these goals, as Olaf Lorenz concludes, "We must consider that digital processes use energy as well - here, efficiency gains and renewable sourcing are key - and they will play an even greater role in years to come. Sustainability will therefore be a focus in the digitalisation strategies of 2021 and beyond."

For further details, please find the full version of 'What will shape the digital workplace in 2021?' here: https://www.konicaminolta.co.uk/en-gb/news/what-will-shape-the-digital-workplace-in-2021

For more information on Konica Minolta please visit: www.konicaminolta.co.uk

About Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd

Konica Minolta's innovations help businesses to shape the future, today, changing the way people conduct business and use technology to work smarter, faster and better. As a leading Smart Data and Digital IT Services company, we meet the changing needs of customers with our Digital Print, IoT, Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality solutions.

As a provider of comprehensive IT services, Konica Minolta also delivers consultancy and services to optimise business processes with intelligent workflow automation, and implements solutions in the field of IT infrastructure and IT security as well as cloud environments.

Konica Minolta's solutions are proven to improve quality, reduce cost, eradicate risk, increase accuracy and streamline business processes. Recognising there are no two businesses the same, we pride ourselves on our customer partnerships and tailor our solutions to our customer needs, giving them the competitive edge they need to remain at the forefront of their markets.

Combining our market leading, award winning and easy to integrate technological platforms, with our strategic partnerships, business solutions and services portfolio, Konica Minolta is continually improving quality, reducing cost, eradicating risk, increasing accuracy and streamlining business processes for our customers. Our strategy has our customers at its core. With strong and mutually beneficial customer partnerships, our aim is to achieve mutual sustainable growth through technological innovation - giving shape to our customers' ideas. We bring flexible solutions that not only meet our customer expectations, but exceed them, time after time.

Part of the global Konica Minolta Group, Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd is headquartered in Basildon, Essex and operates out of 10 offices across the UK, employing over 750 people.

Terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged.

Web: www.konicaminolta.co.uk

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