How 5G Will Revolutionize the Future of Work

Most of the hype around 5G technology has so far focused on benefits to the consumer, such as almost instantaneous movie download, or powering the Internet of Things at home. However, there is a range of positive workplace impacts, too – namely greater efficiencies through increased speeds and more data. 5G technology will impact various functions across many businesses, from operations to recruiting, collaboration, and remote working. 

With the ability to unlock innovative capabilities in the workplace, 5G, the fifth and latest generation of wireless networking, will revolutionize the workplace for good. Backed by 5G technology, in the near future, employees will be able to participate in meetings with 3D holograms contributing in real-time. Employees will also be able to manage inventory easier as smart shelves automatically detect low product levels and automatically submit replacement orders, and learn on the job through an augmented reality headset giving real-time, guided instructions on how to perform their role.

It is still unknown exactly when the 5G network will become widely accessible. However, the technology is coming and has the potential to completely disrupt the way we work and how workplaces operate. This article outlines some of the main ways that 5G will change the world of work.   

Working Anytime, Anywhere

For the last few decades, telecommuting and remote working has grown in popularity, with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic propelling this into the mainstream. However, remote working requires access to a reliable, high-speed Internet connection, which has caused issues for some. 

5G will be the answer to overcoming these issues and powering the next level of remote working to the benefit of both employees and employers. With 5G technology, employees will truly have the freedom to work wherever they want. 5G technology will also make remote work possible for work that would traditionally have to be done in-person, such as blue-collar work and service sector roles. For example, with 5G technology, factory workers will be able to inspect and monitor real-time system performance remotely, while health care workers could use 5G connections to monitor their patients through portable devices.

With the number of remote workers rising, in the future, businesses may have the ability to reduce their physical office space, or transition to an entirely virtual working environment.

Powering Remote Meetings

With more employees working remotely, the need for remote meetings will increase. Videoconferences have traditionally been difficult due to video freezing and lag time causing communication difficulties. 5G connectivity will increase the experience of videoconferencing. In the short term, 5G connectivity will increase speed and bandwidth, however, the real effects of 5G will be experienced in the long term. 5G-powered technologies will support virtual meetings of the future, powering the use of holographic images so that employees feel like they are in a room with other participants, where they can physically move around and collaborate with colleagues on a digital whiteboard.

Acquiring New Talent

Through powering remote working environments, 5G will revolutionize talent acquisition and job-searching. With enhanced connectivity and innovative remote working capabilities, employees will be able to look for jobs out with their geographical location, and businesses will be able to broaden their recruiting areas. This will be of particular benefit to companies in secondary cities, who will be able to hire the best worker for the role, regardless of their location, as opposed to trying to find an employee based in the same city as their headquarters or having to incentivize someone to relocate.

Training & Upskilling Employees

With the widespread implementation of 5G technology, providing job training through virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) will become an option for more businesses. These technologies are currently being used by some companies; however, the applications haven’t yet reached their full potential. With 5G connectivity, AR & VR training will be much smoother and more effective. 

Improved VR and AR capabilities will provide opportunities for increasing employee performance on-site. For example, an employee may use an AR headset to get instructions on how to repair a piece of machinery. Or a new employee may be taken through the steps of their role virtually using the same method.

Training delivered through VR & AR is particularly effective for familiarizing employees with tasks that have safety implications, such as utility work or ensuring employees are prepared for dangerous or high-stress situations such as store robberies. AR & VR can also be used to evaluate how candidates or employees are likely to react in certain situations, which can result in better hiring decisions or highlighting areas that need more training.

The next generation network will provide higher data-transfer rates, lower latency, and greater capacity. This means that 5G connectivity will be faster, more reliable, and more powerful than its predecessors.

VIAVI Solutions is the industry leader in network testing and measurement, wireless and avionics solutions, and security and authentication. In this rapidly changing landscape of network and technology, you can trust VIAVI with any 5G validation, 5G testing, and 5G visibility needs you may have. Our industry-leading offerings deliver end-to-end network solutions. Learn more by visiting our website or contacting us today.