It’s no secret that screens have taken over our lives, especially in the workplace. In-person meetings are being replaced with video conference calls and meetings over Slack. While many would agree that this move to digital has made the workplace more efficient overall, the significant decrease in face-to-face interaction during the course of a workday is concerning to some.
If most of our interactions will eventually take place within the digital landscape, what does this mean for the collaborative platforms?
Well first, it means that more conversations are being recorded now than ever before. While that’s great news for managers that want to hold employees accountable and monitor progress towards goals, it also means that your customer's’ private information may be in more places than you realize. When regulations like GDPR go into effect next year, you’ll need to be fully aware of all of the locations where your customers’ personally identifiable information (PII) to avoid hefty fines.
A move towards collaborative software also means that your business may have more protection in litigation. For example, in the event of a IP litigation, having a legally defensible archive of your collaborative platforms could actually be a deciding factor in your case. By using an archiving service like Hanzo, you can use a native format viewer to show the exact conversation in question. When your company archives its team messaging platforms, you’re taking the proper steps to protect your business.
So, what does the future hold for these collaborative platforms?
Right now, technology shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. For the workplace, this means we’ll continue with the trend of digital interactions. As more technologies like augmented and virtual reality, along with artificial intelligence, take center stage in the new frontier of technological development, there’s no doubt they will eventually find their way into the workplace. For many, AI is already affecting their industries by revolutionizing processes to be more efficient.
Some experts also anticipate an increase in wearable technology, which could eventually be adopted by employers. Of course, as these technologies arise, it will be vital for businesses to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to preserving the content on these devices. By implementing proper archiving processes early on, your business can ease the transition to new technologies as needed.
What can I do to prepare for the future?
Focus on maintaining legally defensible archives. As we mentioned before, this not only serves as a record for your company, but it can also be extremely valuable in a litigation situation. Archiving can also help your company remain compliant when new regulations, such as GDPR, go into effect. Archiving allows you to keep a searchable record of your collaborative platforms, which can make managing customer requests for their PII much simpler. Overall, by creating archives now, you’ll be preparing for the future of collaboration, plus whatever else may come along.
If you’re not sure how to get started with archiving, one of our team messaging archiving experts can help you determine what you need and help you through the process. Set up a consultation to speak with our experts today!
