This post is part of G2's 2023 digital trends series. Read more about G2’s perspective on digital transformation trends in an introduction from Emily Malis Greathouse, director, market research, and additional coverage on trends identified by G2’s analysts. 

Will working from home work for us in 2023?

A virtual office for virtual employees

Miss spontaneous conversations with coworkers? Wish you could stop by your colleague’s desk for a quick question, but you can’t because you’re at home and would prefer not to schedule a call for something minor or trivial? You’re not alone—these are just a few of the existing conundrums that many remote workers face daily. This is where virtual workplaces software enters the equation, eager to bridge the gap between remote and in-person connections.

Since these tools are merged into a single platform, virtual workplace software can reduce the need to purchase multiple SaaS products. The potential cost savings alone could be appealing enough for companies to explore these products.

G2 data illustrates the rising interest in virtual workplaces

In January 2020, right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were only eight products in the Virtual Workplaces Software category on G2. By the end of the year, the category had nearly doubled in size and experienced a significant spike in traffic to the category page. Compared to January 2020, category traffic is up 889% and has remained elevated from pre-pandemic times.

This demonstrates a clear and consistent interest in virtual workplace software. Buyers are looking for solutions that aim to address the day-to-day needs of employees while also addressing the larger issues surrounding interpersonal connection and relationship building.

Below, you can see how the traffic for the Virtual Workplaces category has evolved from January 2020 to October 2022 and how the category has grown since it was created in 2018.

So, will it work?

Looking at virtual work from an employee perspective, there’s definitely room for improvement—primarily when it comes to fostering organic connections with people you rarely, if ever, see in person. It helps to cultivate a collaborative environment in addition to general workplace happiness.

The question remains: is it possible to achieve this kind of connection in a remote environment? Virtual workplaces software attempts to recreate an in-person office environment by boosting organic collaboration and productivity while promoting an overall heightened sense of team identity. G2 predicts more players will be in the virtual workplace arena in 2023, resulting in additional category growth and traffic in the year ahead. More companies, especially larger firms who have permanently adopted virtual and hybrid work into the corporate culture, will look to virtual workplace software to ensure this work model remains sustainable. 

Ultimately, employees that feel engaged, heard, and appreciated are more satisfied, which leads to reduced turnover, increased productivity, and better performance—a win-win situation all around. Will virtual workplace software solve all of our work from home woes? Time will tell. Until then, let’s put some time on the calendar to connect—coffee is optional.

Edited by Sinchana Mistry