In our last article, Brad described the importance of making sure your digital workplace keeps pace with your organization's changing business needs. "True evolution covers the whole gamut - strategic, visual design, architecture, governance - these are the elements that turn a good digital workplace into a digital destination," he explained. In this article, Brad shares some key aspects of your digital workplace to evolve that will have a significant impact on usability, adoption, and engagement.  

Where do I start?

Starting to think about your digital workplace evolution can be a bit overwhelming. "From a strategic perspective, I work with customers to define and measure the success of their digital workplace. Over time, business needs will change and grow - your digital workplace plan must match the pace of this change to maximize your investment, " Brad explains. "How do you know when you're successful? That's simple! Create a KPI chart to identify objectives, goals, and build a program to achieve them."

Is evolution only about changes to the digital workplace itself?  

Updating your digital workplace is one of the more obvious ways to evolve. However, you need to consider how evolving the operational aspects of your digital workplace can impact your employees. "I see customers whose digital workplace has been up and running for some time and everything’s great. However, they know there's more they could be doing to ensure the digital workplace continues to succeed, such as updating their governance approach," Brad points out. "We can identify gaps or challenges, confirming who is responsible for various roles. A consultation focused on governance specifically can help identify things you didn’t even know you needed, those little tweaks that can turn a good digital workplace into a digital destination that runs smoothly and can adapt quickly with the support of a well-defined, well-organized team."

How do I reorganize my digital workplace after adding a lot of channels and new areas over time?

Even when you start with a solid structure, over time the additions and expansions start to weaken the structure you started with. That's why it's important to evolve this foundation, to properly support the growth of your digital workplace. "We need to take a look under the hood if you will," Brad says. He goes on to explain that "looking at the backend (site configuration) of the digital workplace and identifying areas where you might be able to improve the structure, navigation, and layout, can have an impact on the overall user experience."

How do I deliver an evolution that has a high impact on my end-users?

One of the highest impact elements to evolve is the look and feel of your digital workplace. This is an obvious evolution that your users will notice immediately. Brad advises that as your organization changes its image, so should your digital workplace. "Perhaps you’ve recently changed branding or added a new organization to your portfolio. Evolving the visual design of your digital workplace is the perfect way to update visual elements to create a stronger connection between your employees and your brand." Brad adds that the Igloo's Visual Design team can work with you to evolve your digital workplace look and feel. "Our designers use a visual design workbook to guide this type of evolution, focusing on three key building blocks for effective digital workplace design: usability, goals, and personas."  

Why do I need to evolve?

"Simply put, evolution is a natural progression — a logical next step in your digital transformation journey," explains Brad. "Whether you’re changing things up cosmetically or addressing a business need, your digital workplace should grow as your organization grows, so it’s always a destination where your employees want to go and an accurate representation of your brand."

Up Next: Evolution from the field. Hear from an Igloo Customer about their evolution experience.