When information gets to where it’s needed
A report on everyday working life the day after tomorrow
The way we find information, share knowledge and stay connected with one another in the workplace is set to change rapidly in the digital age. New tools, artificial intelligence and global collaboration are opening up possibilities that, just a few years ago, seemed like a distant dream.
Tim Kreitlow, Head of the Newsroom in Corporate Communications, outlines what communication at TÜV NORD will look like in a few years’ time: How will relevant information find its way to exactly the colleagues who need it? How will ‘digital agents’ support us? And, most importantly: How can we ensure that people remain at the centre of it all, despite all the technological changes?
This text is neither fiction nor a forecast; it paints a picture of the future: an invitation to reflect on how communication can, in future, make work easier, collaboration more effective and knowledge more accessible. Because for us as employees, it is not just a question of which technologies we will use in future – but how they will support us in working together successfully.
Peter Müller is sitting at his desk in Essen; his first coffee is still steaming. He boots up his PC and, even before the emails start flooding the screen, a brief message appears in the start window: “Business success in India: major contract secured.” Below that are three lines that are more than just a headline. Peter reads about which services tipped the balance, why the client chose TÜV NORD – and, above all, what impact this will have on his work. A suggestion appears right next to it: “Your ‘X’ project can adopt this approach. Here are the two colleagues from India who documented the process.” One click, and Peter is taken to a team area with a brief summary, responsibilities and a proposed date for a 20-minute discussion – complete with an automatically generated agenda.
AI-generated
At the same time, Cluster Manager Verena Meister’s smartphone vibrates. It’s not the next push notification, but a personalised ‘field service overview’ updated daily: which client appointments are most suitable today, which contacts are available, and even conversation starters based on current industry topics. “Client A: Focus on resilience & compliance. Client B: Enquiries about the new EU regulations.” Verena taps on “Briefing”, and a short note shows her which colleagues are currently working on similar topics – in Hamburg, Bangkok and São Paulo. Communication suddenly feels less like “searching” and more like “finding”.
AI-generated
At 3.30 pm, the same message pops up on both their screens: “Company sports club running session today at 6.00 pm – meet at the usual spot.” Below it is a link: a feature on colleagues taking part in company runs, city marathons and charity events – including international ones. Verena takes a quick look at her to-do list: can her last appointment be rescheduled? A tick, an automatic suggestion for new time slots, and she signs up for the training straight away. At the same time, Peter checks his working hours summary – and can register online the time he finishes work later.
Effective communication happens when information reaches the right place at the right time.
What may sound like a pipe dream here is, at its core, a simple principle: effective communication happens when information reaches the right place at the right time – and when working languages, time zones and systems are no longer barriers. This is precisely what the introduction of Microsoft 365 as a shared platform stands for: an integrated workspace for information, collaboration and exchange – across countries, business units and functions.
Instead of files in inboxes and silos of knowledge on drives, a shared database is created: content is searchable, version-controlled, protected – and located exactly where it belongs. Teams becomes the hub for collaboration, SharePoint the reliable ‘single source of truth’, and modern security and compliance features ensure that sensitive information remains secure – even on mobile devices. For communication, this means: less wasted effort, less duplication of work, and greater clarity. For Peter, it means moving more quickly from message to action. For Verena, it means being better prepared for discussions.
AI-generated
And after that? After that comes the next stage: agents – digital assistants that not only provide information but also help with tasks. An agent can collate updates from projects worldwide, gather outstanding questions, prepare votes or compile the relevant content from approved sources for a client meeting. Internally, this supports staff and managers by promoting transparency and prioritisation; externally, it enables consistent responses, faster reactions and communication that is more closely aligned with the needs of clients and partners – ensuring that a human touch remains evident.
When Peter laces up his running shoes in the evening, his working day has not been ‘full of messages’, but full of decisions that were easier to make. Perhaps that is the most important answer to the question ‘How will we communicate tomorrow?’: less information as a burden – more information as a tailwind.
Editor’s note: The characters mentioned in the text are fictional; any resemblance to real colleagues is purely coincidental.
