Create digital workplaces that are age-agnostic

Good talent is increasingly tough to hire and retain, companies now more than ever need to ensure they create work environments that meet the needs of all their employees.

Work styles may vary, and different generations have unique experiences and preferences, especially where technology is involved. Some want to be unfettered, requiring support across different devices and access to their essential work applications, regardless of where they are. Others may prefer more personalised interactions, relying heavily on voice and video.

Companies that understand these nuances will be able to provide the right tools to facilitate collaboration more effectively and improve productivity.

To help enterprises with this, Microsoft released a report, How 5 Generations Add Up to 1 Productive Workplace, that outlines key characteristics of employees in five generations:

Traditionalists (born before 1945)

Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964)

Generation X (born 1965-1980)

Millennials (born 1980-1997)

Generation Z (born after 1997)

It is critical that organisations deploy productivity and collaboration tools that meet the needs of a five-generation workforce.

Traditionalists, for example, typically prefer desktop computers, landline phones, and fax machines. They need robust voice capabilities and traditional desktop applications.

Their millennial counterparts, having grown up fully immersed in digital technology, instead rely on text, instant messaging, and social as their primary modes of communication. To them, email seems outdated.

Baby Boomers, on the other hand, depend heavily on email and are less likely than Gen X or Millennials to use social media at work.

Regardless of which generation they fit into, all employees play an important role and place increasing value on workplace technology. Hence, enterprises need to make the right choice in adopting the appropriate tools.

DBS Bank is leading the way in Asia Pacific by leveraging cloud-based productivity technology to empower its diverse workforce of 22,000. DBS employees are highly mobile and have ready access to data on-the-go. As a result, they are nimble and responsive in addressing customer needs, building strong relationships and following business leads beyond physical workspaces and office hours - ensuring the bank remains competitive in a crowded marketplace.

This is only possible when organisations recognise the value of an age-agnostic digital workplace and provide the tools their employees need to be creative and engaged. Read How 5 Generations Add Up to 1 Productive Workplace to get more tips on how to support your multi-generation workforce.