Feeling behind on workplace tech trends? Here’s how to keep ahead of what’s next
The calculator. The computer. The Internet. Technology advancements have caused tremendous shifts in the workplace, including which jobs are available and how they’re performed. Today, changes in technology are only happening faster and with greater impact.
You see it in the self-checkout lane at the grocery store. You see it during your virtual visit with your doctor. You see it when you deposit a check to your bank account via your mobile phone.
Technology is not only changing the way we live, it’s redefining the way we work.
Keeping up with workplace tech trends is not a choice. It’s a necessity. Today’s in-demand tech skills will be a must-have tomorrow.
How can you stay prepared for what’s next? First, stay informed.
1. The impact of technology on the workforce is only expected to grow — are you ready?
Job descriptions aren’t set in stone — neither should your skills be. Employers need flexible workers who are eager and able to keep up with ever-evolving workplace tech trends.
In today’s job market, your skills can speak louder than your resume. In fact, skills-based hiring (focusing on a candidate’s skills rather than their education or job experience) is on the rise. Nearly 90% of business and human resource executives say skills are increasingly holding more weight in how they assess workers’ value, outline responsibilities, and oversee career growth.
~90% of business and human resource executives say skills are increasingly holding more weight in how they assess workers’ value, outline responsibilities, and oversee career growth.
—Deloitte Skills-Based Organization Survey, Deloitte, May-June 2022
By keeping track of tech trends in your industry, you’ll have greater insight into which skills are likely to become sought-after — and you’ll have the ability to prepare. After all, embracing technology will continue to be a leading force behind business transformation over the next five years.
More than 85% of businesses point to the rising use of cutting-edge technologies and expanded digital accessibility as the key drivers of change in their operations.
—The Future of Jobs Report 2023, World Economic Forum, 2023
With an always-learning attitude, you can stay on top of workplace tech trends and grow your career alongside the growth of technology.
Upskilling and reskilling are two main paths for keeping up with opportunities presented in the labor force.
Let’s quickly explore what’s meant by “upskilling” and “reskilling.”
What is upskilling?
Upskilling is learning that expands your existing skillset. Upskilling can create upward career mobility. Example: a graphic designer upskills to learn animation.
What is reskilling?
Reskilling is learning outside of your existing skill set. Reskilling is good for lateral moves into new paths. Example: An in-store retail employee reskills in cybersecurity on the e-commerce team.
Whether your career path is vertical or horizontal, reskilling and upskilling will keep you moving forward.
Take a look at the top five things to know about upskilling and reskilling.
2. These 3 tech trends will cause the greatest shakeups in the way we work
Trends like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation are changing the way we work, regardless of role or industry. Those on the frontline are especially impacted.
Artificial intelligence is a machine’s ability to perform human work. Think: the calculator. But generative AI — technology that creates content based on a prompt, like ChatGPT — has the potential to completely transform jobs as we know it.
Today’s AI can write your emails. Manage your calendar. Automate cumbersome paperwork. AI may not eliminate your position like many fear, but it will certainly change your work activities.
2. Data analytics
Tools to gather, store, and analyze vast amounts of data give businesses a competitive advantage. From customer behavior patterns to market trends, data analytics tools help optimize tasks, enhance customer experience, and drive growth.
Customer behavior patterns inform retailers what products to sell and when. Analysis of past patient outcomes informs a doctor of possible treatment plans. These data-driven decisions have immense power. Employees who can harness data have a competitive advantage.
3. Automation
The new line cook at the local burger shop might just be a robot. Your contactless hotel check-in is performed at a kiosk instead of face-to-face. And have you recently interacted with a customer service agent, only to realize it’s a bot? Workplace automation is gaining speed.
3. The way tech trends alter the workplace is different across industries, from healthcare to hospitality
By 2030, activities that account for up to 30% of hours currently worked across the US economy could be automated.
But how do these trends impact your specific industry? Keep reading.
Top technology trends affecting healthcare workers
Electronic health records were just the beginning of technology’s impact on the healthcare industry. Consider the ways these trends change healthcare workers’ roles:
- Telehealth to treat patients remotely
- Remote medical monitoring to track the vitals of chronic disease patients
- Medical imagery AI to detect disease accurately
- Predictive analytics to analyze patient outcomes and determine the best treatment plan
- Robot-assisted surgery to give doctors precision in the operating room
- Automated paperwork to save time and eliminate human error
When new technologies take on tedious tasks, healthcare workers can do what they do best — provide the compassionate care that no technology can.
Top technology trends affecting retail workers
The rise of e-commerce has impacted retail workers significantly. Shoppers get what they need with speed. To compete, brick-and-mortar stores need to provide a superior in-person experience.
To increase efficiency and customer experience, retailers use the following technologies:
- Self-checkout systems to speed up transactions
- Inventory management software to automate tracking of product availability
- Sales data analytics to eliminate guesswork out of what products to promote and when
- Sensor-enabled shelves to alert workers what needs restocking
- Customer relationship software to analyze customer behavior and provide a personalized shopping experience
- Augmented and virtual reality (such as virtual try-ons) to augment the customer experience
What does this mean for today’s retail workers? Front-of-store staff need to be savvy with point-of-sale terminals and inventory management software. There will be a need for more customer service and less cashiers.
Behind the scenes, retail workers need to understand how to use vast amounts of data to improve the customer experience and drive sales. The popularity of online shopping created new career opportunities for retail workers. Those adept with e-commerce platforms have an advantage.
Top technology trends affecting people working in financial services
The widespread use of the ATM in the 1980s changed the role of the bank teller from cash-handler to relationship manager. Today’s tech trends in finance are continuing to automate the mundane and, in turn, demand more agile, sophisticated workers.
Technology that has transformed the financial services industry includes:
- Mobile banking and online trading to provide customers with greater convenience
- Autonomous finance and “robo-advisors” for algorithm-powered investment decisions
- AI to detect fraud and calculate credit scores
- Digital loan servicing to automate the loan process
- Cryptocurrency and blockchain as a decentralized solution for transactions
- Chatbots for customer service
What does this mean for financial services workers?
With so much automation, there is a greater need for online support. Your role may become more strategic, analytical, and customer-focused. With the rise in mobile banking and AI-powered investing comes a greater demand for programmers and cybersecurity professionals.
Top technology trends affecting hospitality workers
Tech hospitality trends are all about improving the guest experience. Imagine you check in to your favorite hotel, your room temperature is to your liking, reservations for dinner are booked, and you tap the hotel app to request extra towels. The power of hospitality technology makes it possible.
The following technologies help frontline hospitality workers provide a superior experience.
- Online booking to provide guest convenience
- Contactless services to speed up check-in and check-out
- Guest Relationship Management systems to track customer preferences
- Digital concierge services to provide personalized recommendations
- Virtual personal assistants to help guests with restaurant reservations and spa appointments
- Smart room automation to give guests the power to adjust temperature and lighting from their phone
All these technologies center on one goal for the hospitality industry — improving guest experience. Think of hospitality tech as an extra set of hands to meet that goal. Ultimately, hospitality requires a personal touch, something only humans can provide.
4. Finding the right resources to watch tech trends in your industry is critical — try starting here
Tech moves fast. Don’t just wait for changes to come. Anticipate change and stay up-to-date on the latest workplace tech trends.
The best way to do so? Be proactive. Join online communities in your industry, attend workshops, watch webinars, sign up for newsletters, or go to a conference.
Anything you can do to stay informed makes you more marketable. The following industry-specific resources are a start.
Resources for healthcare workers
- HealthIT.gov
- American Nursing Informatics Association
- HealthTech Magazine
- Business publications like Forbes and TechCrunch
Resources for retail workers
- Retail Dive (Subscribe to weekly retail tech newsletter)
- National Retail Federation
- McKinsey Retail Insights
Resources for financial services workers
Resources for hospitality workers
- Hotel Management
- Hospitality Technology
- Hotel Technology News
- Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals
5. Has tech already impacted your job? Here are some ideas for what’s next
Once you’re aware of the technology that will impact your job, using these steps can keep your skills fresh and job secure.
1. Identify the skill sets used or expected
Example: Today’s hotel staff need to be proficient in reservation management software, point of sale systems, guest relationship management software, keyless room entry systems, and a variety of communication tools. Hotel workers can also benefit from understanding basic data analytics to anticipate guest needs. An understanding of digital marketing and social media management is useful in attracting new guests.
2. Understand how your industry will adapt
Example: Hotel tech trends like online booking, contactless check-in, keyless entry technology, and chatbots as concierges all offer an efficient guest experience but also limit face-to-face interaction and shift staff responsibilities.
3. Figure out how your current skill set translates to predicted needs
Example: Your time at the front desk means you have the soft skills — communication and problem-solving — needed to provide a great guest experience. By upskilling in guest relationship management software, data analytics, and digital marketing, you can continue to provide that same high-level service, just more behind the scenes.
Remember to stay positive. New technology can be overwhelming. But with a willingness to learn new skills and embrace tech, you can thrive in the world of fast-paced, tech-driven change in the labor force.
So, you’re ready to level up your skills? Where do you start?
Many employers offer on-the-job learning to retain their employees. Businesses that invest in their employees are smart — training current employees is more cost-efficient than hiring new ones.
Employers may use tech upskilling to retain mid-career level talent who might otherwise have “job hopped.” So take advantage of your company’s learning and development benefits.
Through Guild, you can gain in-demand skills in your current job and build your resume to take on new roles. Certificates, bootcamps, and degrees keep you trained in the latest technologies impacting your industry.
What’s more, you get personalized support along the way.