Dive Brief:

• Digital workplace leaders need to put a framework in place to ensure digital workplace initiatives succeed, according to a new report from Gartner released Tuesday. The research firm identified eight critical "building blocks" companies should include in order to make digital workplace initiatives part of a successful wider business strategy, including vision, strategy and metrics.

• Technology is a critical component in the digital shift. Business leaders working to create a digital workplace have to capitalize on technology to ensure they can still connect with customers. At the same time, new technologies are on the horizon —  such as artificial intelligence and IoT — and leaders have to adapt the workplace to avoid the constant state of disruption. 

• One of the key aspects of creating a digital workplace is ensuring the business, IT and end users are aligned. Without alignment, lack of buy-in could make a workplace's digital push miss its goal. 

Dive Insight:

Gartner says the digital workplace can create a more efficient way of working while raising workplace agility and catering to consumer-oriented styles of technology. But a fragmented approach can lead to failure.

A comprehensive business strategy should include elements such as creating a strategy and vision with focus on shaping employee experience. Organizations should also have benchmarks to measure progress and make adjustments when necessary. 

Digital transformation is a growing priority for many companies. It includes not only forming a digital workplace for the organization but also creating digital connections with customers. International Data Corporation (IDC) recently predicted worldwide spending on digital transformation technologies is expected to reach $1.2 trillion in 2017, an 18% increase over 2016 spending.

By 2020, IDC says digital transformation spending could reach $2 trillion. But it’s not an easy undertaking, and companies that invest in such efforts will naturally want to ensure those efforts pay off.