Over the past two years, the demand for online services has sky-rocketed following the Covid-19 pandemic compelling restrictions on travel & contact. Organizations that embraced digitalization have managed to stay afloat, thrive even, while those that failed to do so have struggled to survive and stay competitive. Even though vaccination has served to bring about a sense of normalcy, it is apparent that most millennials prefer to continue working from home for a number of reasons. A recent article on Forbes suggested that employees preferred to work remotely devoting more time to their families and personal lives.

What are the benefits of digitalization for employees?

The article goes on to explain how due to not having to commute to work, employees are able to save money as well as time thus promoting efficiency. This is a win-win for the employee as well as the employer. Employers on the other hand can cut down on expenses such as rent by switching to digital platforms as opposed to the conventional on-site model.

Going from physical to virtual: Where to start?

Making the transition from physical to digital can be challenging if proper mechanisms are not in place to manage and monitor the workflow. The good news is, however, there are many applications available today that do exactly that – enable employers and employees to manage operations smoothly. DigiEx is an expense workflow management platform that serves to centrally monitor and process all internal & external transactions within organizations sans lags and delays.

The app can be downloaded for free from App Store or Google Play & doubles as a virtual archive for- invoices and other documents for later retrieval. DigiEx is easy to use and has a pay-as-you-go payment model.

Insurance was one of the first industries in Sri Lanka to adapt to the ‘new normal’ by modifying products to include coverage for death & hospitalization due to Covid-19. The DigiMed app accelerates the claims process for hospitalizations, especially OPD claims, by digitally acquiring all relevant documentation and completing the process much faster than when done manually. Similar to DigiEx, DigiMed too stores documents for later retrieval.

Meanwhile DigiEye is a service designed for motor insurers which simplifies the claims process relevant to road accidents. The damages are assessed via live streaming & the location of the accident will be detected through GPS. This platform eliminates the need for waiting at the site of the accident until an agent arrives to assess the damage in person. This is a safe and convenient alternative to the conventional procedure and thus has received an overwhelming response from local as well as international clients alike. All three apps are highly encrypted to ensure safety of confidential information.

What are the benefits to the employer?

Digitalization can help businesses stand out and stay ahead of competition. Based on current trends it is apparent that digitalization is likely to be a permanent arrangement as opposed to a temporary fix.

Apart from the obvious benefits such as speed, accuracy and efficiency, digitalization also eliminates the need for paper which is an eco-friendly alternative to how businesses carried out operations, pre-pandemic. Although going ‘paperless’ was encouraged, businesses truly embraced it following the lockdown and digital revolution that followed it. Recently LinkedIn announced that most of its 16,000 global associates can choose to work from home permanently if they so choose to. Needless to say that the future of work will continue to be remote and virtual and the sooner organizations embrace the change the greater chance they will have at remaining relevant.

Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/08/30/how-technology-companies-can-thrive-in-a-remote-work-world/?sh=5d4d221b3bed