Initially considered a short-term response to the first national lockdown, remote working changed the way we work and became the new normal. Many organisations recognise the benefits of remote working, such as reduced costs and increased productivity. It’s no surprise that employees also recognise some benefits such as better work-life balance and reduced stress levels.
Despite the advantages listed above, employees miss their colleagues, find it harder to stay focused and feel more disconnected from the workplace. So the workplace is not yet out of the picture.
Hybrid Working – The win-win solution
Hybrid working describes a flexible work environment where employees can work both remotely from home and the office. LifeSearch’s latest update to the Health Wealth & Happiness Index found that 44% of British employees prefer some form of hybrid working to be the new normal in the workplace, rising to 65% among Generation X (aged 18-24 years).
But the hybrid working model comes with a unique set of challenges.
Seamless connectivity
Seamless connectivity between office-based and remote working employees is essential. Disruptions in the working hours not only break concentration but also cause stress and frustration. Effortless communication with remote teams is more important than ever to maintain and improve productivity and avoid knowledge loss. There’s no doubt that video conferencing will enable organisations to work as productively as possible in the coming years.
Security challenges
To overcome the cyber security threats of hybrid working, businesses need to accelerate cloud maturity. Despite common beliefs, cloud-based systems, such as SaaS, benefit from built-in encryption and are just as secure as on-premise infrastructure. While there’s nothing available that’s 100% safe from cyber-attacks, confidence in the security of the cloud is at an all-time high.
By keeping all data on the cloud, employees whether working from home or at the office will have secure access to their tools and applications.
What can we do for your business?
Today’s remote workers often operate from many locations beyond the office or their home. Wherever they are, they’ll need a secure Internet connection. Our Mobile Broadband service provides this connectivity in any location through wireless 4G routers — and it comes with Cloud Telephony, too. This service allows users to take advantage of a host of VoIP features from any location, includes free internal calls and reduces your costs for telephony hardware and equipment.
We will work with you to re-assess the needs of your business and help you to transition to hybrid working. If you have any questions for us, please get in touch with our friendly team.
