Did you land here after Googling digital workplace?
You’re not alone.
Because how exactly does one become a digital workplace — and more importantly, how do you create one that actually works?
And while we’re at it… what is a digital workplace, really?
Take our own collaboration platform, lynes, for example.
It’s a digital tool for work and teamwork — a space where people hold meetings, present ideas, brainstorm, grab virtual coffee breaks, give feedback, and get things done. It’s simply a workplace — just digital, and often remote.
So lynes is a digital workplace, right?
Well, yes… and no. With so many overlapping terms — virtual office, telecommuting, virtual workplace — it’s not always clear what’s what.
But does it really matter what you call it?
Aren’t all workplaces digital now?
We all use computers and Office tools, right? We’ve got fiber connections, cloud-based time tracking, and digital invoicing. So… does that make us digital?
Not quite.
Becoming a digital workplace doesn’t happen overnight.
It’s a process — something you become a little more of, every day.
You’re not
a
digital workplace — you’re
becoming
one
Sure, today’s workplaces are far more digital than they were 20 years ago. But in many cases, not much has changed — progress is slow, and no, having Office installed doesn’t make you “future-ready.”
For decades, offices have looked the same:
open spaces, fully booked meeting rooms, nine-to-five schedules, desks in rows, strict hierarchies, and technology that never quite works as it should.
Then came Covid-19.
And as the British comedian Ken Dodd once said — there’s no bad thing that doesn’t bring some good with it.
When the pandemic hit, we had no choice but to embrace remote work — whether we were ready or not.
The result?
A mini revolution.
By the end of 2020, an estimated 50% of the U.S. workforce was working remotely.
In the wake of that shift, countless companies began calling themselves digital workplaces overnight — and IT managers around the world finally saw their dream come true after years of digital resistance.
But hold on — wasn’t this supposed to be a process?
Exactly.
Because just having a few employees working remotely doesn’t make you a digital workplace.
It’s not about where you work — it’s about how you work.
When can you call yourself a digital workplace?
To truly qualify, employees need the tools and structure to collaborate efficiently across teams — to share information, communicate in real time, and manage digital workflows smoothly, wherever they are.
It requires a clear framework, just like a physical office — one that fosters connection, productivity, and clarity. And yes, it takes time for both leaders and employees to get comfortable with it.
So, our definition of a digital workplace goes something like this:
“A digital workplace is one where collaboration and teamwork are powered by technology — not by physical location.”
And whether your company embraced this shift early or later, the benefits of digitalizing your workplace are impossible to ignore.
What does it take to build a digital workplace?
Like any big transformation, it comes with some risk.
For leaders, the main challenge is helping the organization embrace new ways of working — new ways of communicating internally and externally — and reaping the benefits.
Because as many have now realized, digital workplaces bring massive advantages for both employees and companies.
Here are a few tips to help you build yours:
1. Start with access
Make sure everyone can reach your core systems — even outside the office. That means your accounting tools, CRM, customer management platform, phone system, invoicing software, ticketing system, and internal platforms.
We’ve already outlined how your workplace can become future-ready today.
2. Fix your internal communication
If your team isn’t in the same room, your internal communication system becomes your lifeline.
Email and phone calls won’t cut it anymore — you need something faster and smoother.
Read more about how to improve internal communication [here].
3. Simplify project collaboration
Working on projects can be tricky — remote or not. But how different is it really from working in the office?
Check out our tips in “Simplify project management with lynes.”
4. Include your international colleagues
Got offices abroad? Great — include them in your digital workplace.
When your systems are cloud-based and collaboration happens online, you decide where the boundaries are.
5. Lead with clarity
Many companies hesitated to embrace remote work because they weren’t sure how to manage teams from afar. And that’s understandable — it’s new for everyone.
That’s why we’ve created a guide: “How to lead remotely – remote leadership for managers.”
Ready to make the shift?
If you want to accelerate your transition to a truly digital workplace, let’s talk.
lynes helps move the process forward — fast.
In our platform, you’ll find everything you need in one place: chat, cloud-based telephony, file sharing, video calls, and a whole range of smart collaboration tools.
All integrated. All in one platform.
