Privacy and Security are of Paramount Importance<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe use of remote work tools like Slack, Zoom, and Webex (also known as the Work 2.0<\/em> stack), has increased dramatically during the pandemic. According to an investment report<\/a>, COVID-19 increased the total addressable market of the Work 2.0 stack by over 60%. The videoconferencing segment, which includes Zoom, was the biggest beneficiary, as its market more than doubled in size from $40 to over $100 billion.<\/p>\nAs more users interact with these Work 2.0 technologies, more data is being generated and stored in the Cloud. In a remote work environment, privacy and security become of paramount importance, given the expanded value and volume of the data stored, which in turn increases its susceptibility to attacks. <\/em><\/strong>In addition, governments around the world have recently adopted new data privacy laws<\/a> in response to major data scandals. The increased risk of cyber attacks, coupled with the regulatory shifts, emphasize the importance of protecting company data and the privacy of customers and employees.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/02\/Blog1-1024x370.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFigure 1: The \u201cWork 3.0\u201d Remote Transformation<\/p>\n
Over the course of the COVID pandemic, for example, Honda was forced to shut down its global operations<\/a> due to a ransomware attack, while Marriot was the victim of a data breach<\/a> that affected 5.2 million customers. Since the pandemic began, more than 170,000 instances of fraud have been reported, with an estimated cost of over $115 million<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe Trade-offs of Remote Work Must NOT be Ignored<\/strong><\/h2>\nYes, remote work may increase productivity. A survey<\/a> conducted by Boston Consulting Group indicates that over 75% of remote workers reported maintaining or increasing productivity during the pandemic. Remote work, however, can also have negative repercussions, such as reductions in collaboration and innovation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nA company study revealed<\/a> that, in a virtual environment, the connections we have with our close colleagues, our \u201cstrong ties,\u201d typically get stronger, while the spontaneous interactions with more distant colleagues, our \u201cweak ties,\u201d tend to drop. These \u201cweak ties\u201d have been considered the drivers of innovation: the biggest ideas emerge when two employees who do not normally talk, by chance, connect. That is less likely to happen when everyone is working remotely.<\/p>\nDue to these trade-offs, the remote work transformation should not end with the introduction and usage of the Work 2.0 stack\u200a\u2014\u200athere must be an added layer of tools leveraging AI, advanced analytics, and automation that are attempting to address these issues. This is what we define as \u201cWork 3.0\u201d. <\/em><\/strong>This AI-driven \u201cWork 3.0\u201d transformation is depicted in Figure 1.<\/p>\nNew Opportunities for Applying AI are Arising from the Remote Transformation<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to a report by CB Insights<\/a>, there are over 115 VC-backed startups that are integrating and accessing data from Slack (and other Work 2.0 tools) to derive insights and develop and offer new products and services.<\/em><\/strong> These startups are focusing on a variety of business areas and practices that could be impacted by the move to remote work (see Figure 2).<\/p>\nOne of these startups, for example, is using AI-powered bots to answer IT and HR-related questions that keep employees productive and \u201chappy\u201d; another is using AI, coupled with advanced analytics, to evaluate customer calls, meetings, and e-mails, that improve the customer experience.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/02\/Blog2.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFigure 2: Independent Analysis on \u201cWork 3.0\u201d Impact\u00a0Areas<\/p>\n
My analysis suggests these are areas where data from existing tools is most abundant and which, therefore, represent opportunities to apply <\/em><\/strong>AI solutions<\/em><\/strong><\/a> in order to increase performance<\/em><\/strong>. In addition, the broad range of practices that these startups are targeting is indicative of the behavioral changes (increasingly more dependent on technology) emerging from remote work in the last 5 years, which the COVID pandemic has \u201caccelerated by over 18 months.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\nDuring the pandemic, these startups have been adapting quickly to meet market needs, and reaping the business benefits accordingly: about 36% have released new features in response to social distancing measures; 15% announced new partnerships (like integration to other Work 2.0 tools); and 17% raised money (up to $75 million) to improve their AI and other tech offerings.<\/p>\n
As more users interact with these Work 2.0 technologies, more data is being generated and stored in the Cloud. In a remote work environment, privacy and security become of paramount importance, given the expanded value and volume of the data stored, which in turn increases its susceptibility to attacks. <\/em><\/strong>In addition, governments around the world have recently adopted new data privacy laws<\/a> in response to major data scandals. The increased risk of cyber attacks, coupled with the regulatory shifts, emphasize the importance of protecting company data and the privacy of customers and employees.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Figure 1: The \u201cWork 3.0\u201d Remote Transformation<\/p>\n Over the course of the COVID pandemic, for example, Honda was forced to shut down its global operations<\/a> due to a ransomware attack, while Marriot was the victim of a data breach<\/a> that affected 5.2 million customers. Since the pandemic began, more than 170,000 instances of fraud have been reported, with an estimated cost of over $115 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yes, remote work may increase productivity. A survey<\/a> conducted by Boston Consulting Group indicates that over 75% of remote workers reported maintaining or increasing productivity during the pandemic. Remote work, however, can also have negative repercussions, such as reductions in collaboration and innovation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A company study revealed<\/a> that, in a virtual environment, the connections we have with our close colleagues, our \u201cstrong ties,\u201d typically get stronger, while the spontaneous interactions with more distant colleagues, our \u201cweak ties,\u201d tend to drop. These \u201cweak ties\u201d have been considered the drivers of innovation: the biggest ideas emerge when two employees who do not normally talk, by chance, connect. That is less likely to happen when everyone is working remotely.<\/p>\n Due to these trade-offs, the remote work transformation should not end with the introduction and usage of the Work 2.0 stack\u200a\u2014\u200athere must be an added layer of tools leveraging AI, advanced analytics, and automation that are attempting to address these issues. This is what we define as \u201cWork 3.0\u201d. <\/em><\/strong>This AI-driven \u201cWork 3.0\u201d transformation is depicted in Figure 1.<\/p>\n According to a report by CB Insights<\/a>, there are over 115 VC-backed startups that are integrating and accessing data from Slack (and other Work 2.0 tools) to derive insights and develop and offer new products and services.<\/em><\/strong> These startups are focusing on a variety of business areas and practices that could be impacted by the move to remote work (see Figure 2).<\/p>\n One of these startups, for example, is using AI-powered bots to answer IT and HR-related questions that keep employees productive and \u201chappy\u201d; another is using AI, coupled with advanced analytics, to evaluate customer calls, meetings, and e-mails, that improve the customer experience.<\/p>\n Figure 2: Independent Analysis on \u201cWork 3.0\u201d Impact\u00a0Areas<\/p>\n My analysis suggests these are areas where data from existing tools is most abundant and which, therefore, represent opportunities to apply <\/em><\/strong>AI solutions<\/em><\/strong><\/a> in order to increase performance<\/em><\/strong>. In addition, the broad range of practices that these startups are targeting is indicative of the behavioral changes (increasingly more dependent on technology) emerging from remote work in the last 5 years, which the COVID pandemic has \u201caccelerated by over 18 months.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n During the pandemic, these startups have been adapting quickly to meet market needs, and reaping the business benefits accordingly: about 36% have released new features in response to social distancing measures; 15% announced new partnerships (like integration to other Work 2.0 tools); and 17% raised money (up to $75 million) to improve their AI and other tech offerings.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nThe Trade-offs of Remote Work Must NOT be Ignored<\/strong><\/h2>\n
New Opportunities for Applying AI are Arising from the Remote Transformation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/02\/Blog3.png\")
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