Complex endpoint management, rigid working time models, license jungle, inflexible access to applications and data, frustrated users: the Unified Workspace tackles all these problems. We explain what a Unified Workspace is, which advantages it brings and how it can be implemented easily and effectively at the same time.
Unified Workspace: Definition
Unified workspaces provide a coherent, contextual digital workspace experience. They are enabled by a variety of technologies, including tools for device and application management, as well as for content and collaboration, contextual identity management, workspace analytics, and security tools. Unified Workspace is a relatively broad term that primarily describes the intuitive user experience as well as the management platform that enables access to applications and data independently of time and place.
Why the Unified Workspace?
Over the past few years, companies have developed a fragmented management structure for traditional, virtualised and mobile devices. Compared to uniform IT workspace management, these structures are highly complex. This is where the Unified Workspace comes in:
According to the IDC study “Advanced Workplace Strategies in Germany 2016”, 45% of the IT decision-makers surveyed expect Unified Workspace Management to provide easier user support as well as simplified access rights. This desire is closely followed by the expectation to reduce costs (41%), for example through tool consolidation. In addition, IT managers expect greater transparency with regard to software licenses and contracts used (39%). According to the study, one in two companies today automatically renews licenses even though they are not being used. In addition, the standardisation of heterogeneous software landscapes and processes could immensely increase efficiency across departments throughout the entire company. Identity and access management also plays an important role here. The standardisation of user identities and passwords as part of a single sign-on has a positive effect on both employee productivity and IT security.
Benefits for End Users
The biggest advantage, which the Unified Workspace delivers to end users, is its absolute ease of use. Data and applications become available anywhere and from any end device – conveniently in a central workspace. Whether for private purposes or mobile working via smartphone, tablet or laptop: Unified Workspaces provide simple, secure and intuitive access to all data and applications that end users need.
Benefits for Companies
But the Unified Workspace not only provides benefits for employees, companies can also benefit and use it to modernise the entire corporate structure.
Classic working models, where employees spend plus/minus eight hours a day at their assigned workspace in the company office, are outdated today. “Today, working is a state of mind, not a place”, Oliver Bendig, CEO of Matrix24, aptly summarises the modern view. Mobile working and smooth switching between terminals are two key prerequisites for a modern work culture.
In addition, the speed with which employees use new devices and applications for their daily work has increased dramatically. Workspace solutions used must therefore be scalable in order to be able to flexibly adapt both the changing number of users and the number of applications and devices used.
This is exactly what the Unified Workspace enables. With little effort, enterprise IT can be simplified and its scalability maximised, while employee productivity increases through flexible work models, as well as through free choice of endpoints and preferred applications.
Tips for Implementation
Since, as mentioned before, the Unified Workspace is a complex of numerous partial components, the implementation of the Unified Workspace requires some considerations. Depending on the company’s requirements, different services, technologies and processes are used to create a unified workspace:
- Rely on investments that create the most agile client computing environment possible because it radically simplifies the IT environment and also reduces the cost of the transition.
- Examine the investment holistically, because possibly individual steps to the Unified Workspace must be undertaken independently of others. Have you considered all the components your company needs? Lack of a coherent approach can lead to gaps and inefficiencies in the business and end-user productivity.
- Determine which components (lack of expertise, strategy, or budget) are still missing on the way to Unified Workspace and plan investments over the next few years.
Your efforts to implement the Unified Workspace will be rewarded with numerous benefits, including increased productivity and employee satisfaction, improved competitiveness, simplified IT management and end-user support, as well as an agile, motivating, and intuitive digital working environment.
oneclick™ – the Unified Workspace in the Browser
The probably easiest solution for the implementation of a Unified Workspace is the oneclick™ platform. Web apps, native applications, desktops and data are centralised via a workspace in the browser and securely delivered to users via streaming – from any end device, anytime, anywhere. The setup is simple and can be implemented by companies themselves without special knowledge.
With the use of oneclick™, mobile device management is no longer necessary. Internal IT gains control over the entire infrastructure and is relieved due to process automation. Even legacy applications can be brought up to the latest state of the art through the oneclick™ platform. The security architecture of the oneclick™ platform shields the entire IT infrastructure from external attacks.
Sources:
- https://www.lenovosoftware.com/unified-workspace
- https://www.citrix.com/content/dam/citrix/en_us/documents/analyst-report/idc-technology-spotlight.pdf
- https://www.computerwoche.de/a/mit-unified-workspace-management-in-die-zukunft,3316121,2
- https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3196018
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- Image 1: rawpixel @ unsplash.com
- Picture 2: rawpixel @ unsplash.com
- Picture 3: nappy @ pexels.com
