How is digital technology changing the modern workplace?
Organisations are digitising their assets, operational processes and customer services so they can exploit the digital and physical connections between systems, people, places and things to create what is known as the ‘digital edge’. They’re using this digital edge to drive revenue, create new value streams and enable new experiences for employees.
In a typical modern office, for example, employees may enter their office building using an automated card reader, order lunch at a kiosk and use self-service options to get technical support. Similarly, sales associates may use their smartphones to access details of prospective customers or collaborate and communicate with colleagues remotely via multiple channels.
In what ways is digital technology impacting on traditional job roles?
AI and automation will influence almost every facet of the workforce in some way in the future, with the former having the most impact on businesses in 2018. For example, AI, robotics and the internet of things technologies are being used to rapidly automate many of the repetitive tasks that have traditionally been done manually, particularly in human resources and finance. In most cases, AI and automation are being used to complement the skills of human workers and free them up to focus on more important tasks. Enterprises are also tapping into the changing skills and passions of their workforce, so they can allow employees to experiment with different internal roles and better match an individual’s talents to their job role.
Not only are these technologies introducing more innovative ways to work, but they’re also creating new job roles that didn’t exist a decade ago – both in the traditionally technology-focused and non-technology-focused industries. Job seekers who have mastered key skills in data science and software development will be successful in the changing employment landscape. However, traditional job roles that cannot be automated easily in the short term, such as waiting tables at restaurants, will continue to grow in number for the next few years.
How is DXC Technology working with Microsoft to help customers adapt to this new environment?
DXC has been partners with Microsoft for more than 30 years and our team comprises over 20,000 Microsoft-trained professionals. We currently manage more than 11 million Microsoft seats across over 500 enterprises, and in 2017, we extended our involvement in the Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers (CSP) programme. A fundamental component of Microsoft’s ‘cloud first, mobile first’ strategy, the CSP programme enables enterprises to purchase cloud software and infrastructure products – such as Microsoft Azure, Office 365, Intune, Dynamics CRM, and Enterprise Mobility + Security – as part of an overall business enablement solution. The programme also allows partners like DXC to offer greater value to clients by delivering the full lifecycle of services associated with the Microsoft cloud – including reselling, provisioning and billing cloud services, and providing user support.
What role does DXC Software Licensing and Management Solutions play in helping organisations to adapt to the new digital workplace?
Microsoft must continually modify its product licensing terms as new technologies – such as virtualisation, social media, mobile devices, analytics and cloud or hybrid computing – are introduced to the marketplace. Many companies struggle to keep up with these modifications, particularly when they operate in multiple regions or countries, or when they have to license multiple products. DXC is a long-standing Microsoft Licensing Solutions Provider and CSP, and its Software Licensing and Management Solutions (SLMS) team offers the expertise and proactive support organisations need to stay one step ahead of any licensing changes that could have cost or compliance implications. We offer a complete suite of services for all Microsoft licensing programmes, ranging from software licensing reselling services, to software licensing advisory services and software asset management.
What business benefits can companies achieve by using DXC’s SLMS services to manage their cloud or hybrid IT infrastructures?
DXC SLMS provides licensing services as individual modules or as part of an integrated DXC IT solution, empowering clients to gain better visibility into, and control of, the license estate for their cloud or hybrid IT environments. Our software agreements can help companies save up to 20% on licensing costs, while our mature software asset management solutions can cut IT costs by 30%. DXC SLMS also helps companies to take a strategic approach to software management and optimisation.
Can you share examples of companies that have benefited from implementing DXC SLMS?
We enabled a global media company to halve the cost of its Microsoft Office 365 cloud licence, and we’ve also helped a global pharmaceutical company to save US$15 million over a five-year period by implementing licensing best practices and more efficient administration, billing and consolidation processes. In addition, our SLMS team manages a consumer goods company’s US$200 million, five-year agreement with Microsoft, providing greater efficiency, control and visibility across 283,000 users and 213,000 devices running Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and Windows 10.