The world of work has undergone a profound transformation. The rise of digital tools and remote work strategies has not only redefined where employees work, but also how they collaborate, learn, and engage with their organizations. For large, distributed enterprises, this shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity: to modernize the employee experience (EX) in ways that drive productivity, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
Remote work is no longer a temporary solution—it is a foundational element of the modern workforce. But leading organizations are moving beyond the logistics of remote work to embrace a distributed work mindset. This approach is about intentionally designing collaboration, culture, and technology to enable teams to thrive together, regardless of geography. At Publicis Sapient, this evolution is anchored in five pillars: collaboration over cooperation, digital place-making, psychological safety and inclusion, purposeful technology adoption, and continuous cultural evolution.
Historically, employee experience has been undervalued in digital transformation initiatives. Yet, research shows that breaking down silos between EX and customer experience (CX) can lead to significant revenue growth and improved business outcomes. Modernizing EX is not just about recruitment or retention—it’s about creating end-to-end journeys that empower employees to do their best work, wherever they are.
Today’s talent market is fiercely competitive, especially for digital and tech roles. Flexibility is a top priority for employees, with younger generations demanding control over their schedules and work environments. Organizations that treat the employee experience with the same rigor as the customer experience can attract and retain top talent by redesigning remote EX journeys. This includes:
For example, Publicis Sapient helped a leading media group develop a self-service onboarding journey, reducing manual coordination and accelerating access to critical resources for new hires.
Employees are the enablers behind every digital customer experience. When internal processes are fragmented or outdated, it impacts not only employee satisfaction but also the quality of service delivered to customers. By mapping employee journeys alongside customer journeys, organizations can identify pain points, streamline workflows, and create digital solutions that benefit both employees and end users.
In one case, a health insurance provider partnered with Publicis Sapient to redesign both the employee and customer experience. By consolidating platforms and simplifying processes, the company improved employee productivity, reduced operational costs, and enhanced the digital experience for doctors and patients alike.
Agility is the new gold standard, but rapid change can be daunting for employees—especially those less familiar with digital tools. Successful transformation requires strategic change management that empowers employees to co-create solutions, own implementation, and adapt to new ways of working. Techniques such as pairing non-digital natives with tech-savvy mentors, identifying early adopters, and providing ongoing support through digital ecosystems can accelerate adoption and foster a culture of innovation.
Publicis Sapient’s Globally Distributed Delivery (GDD) model exemplifies how distributed work can unlock innovation, diversity, and business growth. By assembling high-performing teams from across the globe, the GDD model enables seamless integration of expertise in strategy, product, experience, engineering, and data & AI. This approach not only delivers solutions at speed and scale, but also fosters a culture of inclusion and flexibility.
Expansion into emerging talent markets—such as India’s growing tech hubs—demonstrates the power of remote-enabled teams to attract and develop world-class talent. Flexible work arrangements, robust support systems, and a focus on well-being have driven high employee engagement and strong business performance, even during periods of global disruption.
Modernizing the employee experience is not just an HR initiative—it is a strategic lever for business transformation. When employees are empowered with the right digital tools, clear processes, and a culture of trust, they deliver better outcomes for customers. The result is a virtuous cycle: engaged employees drive innovation, which in turn enhances customer satisfaction and fuels business growth.
The future of work is distributed, digital, and deeply human. As organizations continue to navigate this new landscape, the most successful will be those that invest in modernizing the employee experience—leveraging digital tools, remote work strategies, and inclusive cultures to unlock the full potential of their people. At Publicis Sapient, we believe that by reimagining work from the inside out, organizations can build resilient, agile, and high-performing teams ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.