# Workforce management; the next cloud resource for businesses? Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-10-12 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Cloud Computing Transforming Workforce Management in 2021 Meta Description: Discover how cloud computing is transforming the way organisations manage operations and create a highly optimised workforce in the digital era. Explore the URL: https://financedigest.com/workforce-management-the-next-cloud-resource-for-businesseshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/multiethnic-group-of-young-businesspeople-working-together-on-business-meeting-in-conf-sbi-302738018-1-1736837577265-compressed.jpg) ![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/richard-jeffery-1736837577187-compressed.jpg) _By **Richard Jeffery,** CEO of ActiveOps discusses how cloud computing changes the way organisations manage their operations and how their employees see themselves; a new, highly optimised workforce in the digital enterprise world._ The distributed enterprise was set to become a reality during the 2020s, yet it was last year that forced the distributed enterprise into reality for nearly every organisation. Now, everywhere, businesses are planning to embark on digital transformation programs, and this is due to new technology-led behaviours from their customer base. It is a [trend that has grown significantly throughout 2021 and it has remained competitive](https://www.financedigest.com/cardiac-valvulotome-market-growth-latest-trends-top-players-competition-technological-advancements-outlook-and-forecast-2028.html "Cardiac Valvulotome Market Growth, Latest Trends, Top Players, Competition, Technological Advancements, Outlook and Forecast 2028"). In a [digital economy, organisations must change their business](https://www.financedigest.com/3-reasons-why-businesses-get-stuck-at-the-starting-gate-of-digital-transformation.html "3 Reasons Why Businesses Get Stuck At The Starting Gate Of Digital Transformation") operating models, that not only deliver on the digital demands of the customer but also embrace new methods of working and measuring their business performance. A survey at the tail end of 2020 by employer rating [business Glassdoor found that 70% of employees expected a combination of working from home and the office as part of their career following the global](https://www.financedigest.com/2021-the-year-of-the-global-workforce-for-british-small-businesses.html "2021: The Year of the Global Workforce for British small businesses ") pandemic. A mere 4% of the employees surveyed wanted a full-time [return to the office](https://www.financedigest.com/are-we-witnessing-the-great-return-to-the-office.html "Are we witnessing the great return to the office?") – the distributed enterprise had become a reality. CIOs and COOs now require a [workforce and a workforce management](https://www.financedigest.com/6-keys-to-managing-a-remote-first-workforce.html "6 Keys to Managing a Remote-First Workforce") (WFM) platform to be as scalable and flexible as productivity applications such as data analytics, storage, and the infrastructure tools they deploy. **Why** [cloud computing?](https://www.financedigest.com/how-hybrid-cloud-computing-offers-the-best-of-all-worlds.html "How hybrid cloud computing offers the best of all worlds") Beyond the underlying technology, such essential tools like the cloud represents a mindset of IT being “anything, anywhere.” It is an adopted mindset that has increased in an [organisation’s approach](https://www.financedigest.com/cloud-migration-for-financial-services-organisations-whats-the-best-approach.html "Cloud Migration for Financial Services Organisations – What’s the best approach?") to its people in recent months. It is because employers and employees desire greater freedom from the bottom-line, that pressures of employing a [large workforce or being tied to a daily commute or employment contract](https://www.financedigest.com/botswana-awards-norways-scatec-first-large-scale-solar-plant-contract.html "Botswana awards Norway’s Scatec first large-scale solar plant contract"), continue to grow. [Cloud computing](https://www.financedigest.com/the-value-of-cloud-computing.html "The Value of Cloud Computing") is distributed in nature, using computing power, applications, and network resources from various locations according to need. [Organisations have found that cloud computing](https://www.financedigest.com/embracing-cloud-computing-how-and-why-organisations-are-set-to-invest-more-in-cloud-computing-in-2023.html "Embracing Cloud Computing: How and why organisations are set to invest more in cloud computing in 2023") provides freedom – they no longer need to own data centres, for example. Most importantly, the cloud can be instantly scaled in response to a [demand or issue](https://www.financedigest.com/tesla-investors-to-focus-on-demand-issues-in-earnings-report.html "Tesla investors to focus on demand issues in earnings report"). Perhaps the question asked by businesses is not so much why, but when? **Your workforce as a cloud** What has this meant for the workforce and how has the idea of freedom been defined? We have witnessed the rise of the [‘gig economy’](https://www.financedigest.com/meet-tilak-joshi-the-fintech-ceo-building-modern-solutions-for-the-gig-economy.html "Meet Tilak Joshi: the fintech CEO building modern solutions for the gig economy") which has seen C-suite executives become freelance consultants choosing to work during school hours as delivery drivers. [Hiring or commissioning project teams when there is a peak in demand reduces business](https://www.financedigest.com/reasons-why-you-should-hire-a-business-broker-to-sell-your-business.html "Reasons Why You Should Hire a Business Broker to Sell Your Business") costs and ensures the right calibre of talent for a particular project or outcome and this has been beneficial for finance-conscious organisations. In short, the workforce is fast becoming a ‘cloud’ in its own right – flexible, available anywhere, and scalable to suit the [need of the business](https://www.financedigest.com/4-kinds-of-software-your-new-business-needs.html "4 Kinds of Software Your New Business Needs"). **Trust is the future** Yet, it’s no different with the ‘workforce cloud’ – organisations [must trust that their people](https://www.financedigest.com/life-post-brexit-people-must-take-precedent.html "Life post Brexit – people must take precedent") won’t abuse the flexibility they’re being given, acting responsibly to protect their wellbeing and the company’s wellbeing. Just as with the IT cloud, organisations [moving towards a ‘cloud-based approach to people management](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-crypto-giant-binance-moved-400-million-from-u-s-partner-to-firm-managed-by-ceo-zhao.html "Exclusive-Crypto giant Binance moved 0 million from U.S. partner to firm managed by CEO Zhao") teams will require tools to effectively forecast, plan, and optimise that talent, whether employees or contractors. Any enterprise needs to ensure that resource is deployed in the right areas, at the right time, and quickly identify and mitigate issues that affect performance. By so doing, organisations can leverage the flexibility of the ‘workforce [cloud’ to ensure that business](https://www.financedigest.com/7-ways-cloud-technology-can-transform-business-finances.html "7 ways cloud technology can transform business finances") performance and wellbeing are protected. Balance this with the tools and [data necessary to analyse and optimise performance](https://www.financedigest.com/big-data-lowers-insurance-premiums-and-optimises-business-performance.html "Big Data Lowers Insurance Premiums and Optimises Business Performance"), and they stand a better chance of surviving the road ahead. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---