This isn’t your parents’ web – or their workplace either

raduation season is almost upon us and a fresh class is leaving university and preparing to join the workforce. Most of these future employees have ideas and expectations about what their workplace will be like and how they’ll make contributions to the workforce, but they probably haven’t heard of or taken the time to consider how web 2.0 is about to drastically shape their work experience.

The office landscape is constantly changing and the next generation that will be joining the workforce intuitively relies on web 2.0 for collaboration. In fact, as younger people begin to fill the seats in cubicles, they may begin to wonder how anything got done before you could just turn to your computer. Web 2.0 applications are so ingrained to the workforce now that it is impossible to imagine a functioning workplace without it.

The workforce collaboration tools allowed by the interactive and responsive web permeate all aspects of the workplace and facilitate meetings, idea sharing, organization and record keeping, just to briefly name a few. The value that web 2.0 brings to the table is irrefutable, the internet has moved far beyond a static medium for reading information. This has allowed work groups to disperse and coworkers can collaborate more effectively across an office, hundreds of miles and from other continents.

Any organization that relies heavily on team projects, genuine idea sharing and file across offices is going to suffer if they don’t have effective web 2.0 based applications. Employees now have the flexibility to work from home and on the go. The option to work remotely allows for flexibility, fast response times, more accessibility and productivity when normal work and office hours are disrupted. Employees are also empowered by the workforce collaboration tools – they can quickly troubleshoot problems and pull in multiple opinions as they can casta wider information-gathering net, sourcing ideas from more avenues in record time.

Working through web 2.0 applications is not going away as these workplace collaboration tools have becomes expectations, not benefits, of the next generation joining the workforce. So while they may not take the time to consider what tools they are using and the stark differences between how offices used to function and how they are now functioning, the workforce of the future expects and needs these collaboration tools, so why deny them? Why make working together harder than it has to be – try and find collaboration tools and software that encompass most day-to-day needs to avoid fragmentation. Task management tools that offer communication and organization, as well as storage and sharing are essential. Don’t get caught behind the times.