Balancing the benefits of remote work with the face-to-face connection and greater sense of team cohesion inherent to office work is key to modern business strategy.
So what’s the future for remote working, and how can your business support it moving forward? In this blog post we will explore the benefits of a hybrid approach and look at how technology can be used to enable flexible working.
Device independence
Many business managers and executives have identified a hybrid working approach as being a crucial part of their plans for the future.
This presents some technological hurdles to overcome. Many firms struggled to effectively manage and organize their work at the start of the pandemic, but Cloud technologies rapidly emerged as the ideal solution. Unified Communications services like iPECS ONE and iPECS Cloud can be used from any device. Desktop, mobile and even browser apps ensure that your staff are able to collaborate and communicate using whatever device they choose.
Being based in the Cloud guarantees that the same powerful features and great service are available from anywhere in the world. File sharing, together with video calling and instant messaging functions, allow your staff to seamlessly transition between devices without any interruption. Cloud storage means your files are always available, just as Cloud communication tools mean your teams are always available.
Re-imagine your office space
Do you still need to provide desk space for all employees? In fact, do you even need desks at all? Research from leading firms has shown that more than 20% of the workforce have roles that can be performed remotely for at least three days a week without any impact to productivity.
As such, we are starting to see office space transition away from traditional layouts as businesses realize the benefits of hybrid working. For example, with fewer of your staff working from the office in any given day, more of your office space can be dedicated to meeting rooms and collaboration spaces.
Video conferencing technology and Cloud services are promoting a move towards seeing the office more as a collaboration space and less as a place to work.
It is clear that the office still has a huge part to play in the future of business life, but it’s equally apparent that many tasks can be done remotely without sacrificing any productivity. This is opening new possibilities for businesses to downsize to smaller premises. Designing your office to cater better to the functions of your work that can’t be done remotely is a great way to maximize your space efficiency.
Sales and strategy meetings, staff onboarding and training all tend to be more effective in person, so why not move to premises that offer more open spaces for collaboration?
Transform collaboration with UC
Successful remote work depends heavily upon your colleagues’ ability to collaborate with each other. Many businesses have struggled to promote effective collaboration over the pandemic, but new technologies focusing on flexible work breathe fresh life into the way we collaborate.
A unified approach to your business communications can revolutionize remote collaboration. UC platforms consolidate all your tools into one app, creating unique synergy that adds value to each of them.
For example, UC allows you to launch a video call with a single click from an instant messaging chat. Loop colleagues into your conversation with another few clicks, or share your screen to get quick input on a project or idea. This recreates the ad-hoc, collaborative atmosphere of an office among remote staff, allowing you to continue offering the benefits of remote work without any impact to efficiency or productivity.
Equipped to succeed
Giving your staff the freedom to choose where and how they work can have an enormous impact on morale in your organization. In fact, it’s been shown that the majority of employees feel they would benefit from being able to work remotely at least three days a week.
With many staff working from home, it is important to ensure they are set up to succeed. A comfortable and ergonomic working environment is just as critical to success at home as it is in the office.
For example, are your staff struggling with the equipment they have at home? It may be worth investing in laptops and other technology like WiFi to ensure they’ve got the tools they need. Indeed, thanks to the hardware independence we’ve discussed above, many businesses are choosing to deploy Cloud services and provide funding for staff to equip their work spaces as they choose.
If you’re interested in promoting effective flexible working practices in your business, iPECS could well be your ideal partner. Find the iPECS partner in your location.
iPECS Cloud and iPECS ONE provide industry-leading reliability and availability, together with state-of-the-art communication features. With unmatched security, regulatory compliance and cross-platform support, iPECS can enhance the mobility of any business.
