| | December 20199CIOReviewIn today's interconnected business world, network optimization is essential for business, and as technology evolves, these changes allow for greater flexibility and adaptability4) Telephony: Technology upgrades can be a significant financial investment, so it's a good idea to make cuts within your existing IT budget when possible. One of the easiest and most common solutions is telephony. The telephone was once the primary tool for instant communication, but today, more than half of Americans have ditched their landline. Nearly 40 percent of the workforce is now comprised of millennials who grew up with instant messenger and social media. There will be 1.75 billion mobile workers globally by 2020, accounting for 42.0 percent of the global workforce. And, 95 percent of Americans own a mobile phone. Ask yourself: Do your employees still need a desk phone? Increasingly, companies are opting out of land lines and investing in multi-modal communication strategies to accommodate an influx of digital natives into the workplace. And, similar to the Wi-Fi system, foregoing desk phones provides greater ease and flexibility when reconfiguring the office layout--no need to deal with pesky cables. Often, the biggest hurdle to implementing significant IT upgrades is justifying the cost to traditionalist leaders. In my experience, up-front costs often generate a return on investment in unexpected ways. At my company, Steelcase, we were happy to find some unexpected benefits when we optimized our campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following the upgrades, we experienced a marked increase in employees who felt the space enabled them to better collaborate, work more efficiently and spark creative ideas. An overwhelming 70 percent of our workforce agreed our optimized, digitally-centric space helps our company attract and retain talent. While we did find long-term, hard cost savings associated with optimized space management, we found the impact these changes had on our people, processes and culture were even more valuable.In today's interconnected business world, network optimization is essential for practically every business. As technology continues to evolve, these changes will allow for greater flexibility and adaptability. Change is never convenient, but in the long run, your people and your workplace are your greatest assets. When organizations build synergies between people, workspace and technology, they'll be better positioned to drive real business growth.
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