In just under two years, the remote work model has shifted from a differentiator employer occasionally tacked onto competitive compensation packages to business as usual. And while external factors mandated the shift (think global pandemics and worldwide uncertainty), our new ways of working are here to stay.
But adoption is not always easy. In fact, it requires a supporting technology infrastructure to power the shift—helping teams reach new productivity highs in a remote-first ecosystem.
Reimagining Work in a Post-Pandemic World
In May 2021, HR recruiting firm Mercer surveyed several hundred employers on their go-forward plans. The results tell an interesting story: An astounding 70% of companies had plans to implement a hybrid work model. Additionally, over 60% are currently reimagining their workspaces to support a more flexible workday than the classic nine-to-five ever could.1
The driving force behind institutionalizing hybrid work? Employees. FlexJob’s annual survey reports 97% of employees enjoying remote work during the pandemic are looking to make this temporary fix part of a permanent solution; 58% look to remain remote full time, while 39% advocate for a hybrid work environment.
So, the question becomes: How do employers effectively deliver on the employee push for a work-from-anywhere lifestyle? The answer: A right-sized technology infrastructure that meets employee requirements wherever they are in the world—whether on on-the-go, in an office, or traveling across the country.
Let’s dive into some of the tools global executives now consider essential to the future of work.
1. Video Conferencing
It’s no secret that video conferencing has become an operational must. Not only was it the link that kept disparate teams connected, but it also become the preferred tool for virtual hangouts and meet-ups when seeing friends and loved ones was not an option.
In just two clicks—once to login, once to start a meeting—users can mingle and mind-meld without being in the same room (or country for that matter). In 2020, video conferencing usage has grown by 535% because 76% of employees are actively using it to connect with their colleagues.2
Zoom
Zoom became a household name during the pandemic, and now boasts a network of over 300 million daily users.4 The product is easy-to-use and the company has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to innovation.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft launched back in 2017, and the product’s adoption was slower than anticipated, but catapulted from 20 million to 44 million users from November 2019 to March 2020, and then again to 75 million by April.5
Google Meet
Google Meet is an often forgotten video conferencing alternative that’s completely free to use, for as long as you want to use it—no time or usage limits. However, you must have a Gmail account and only 100 people can join a meeting at once.
2. Project Management Platform
It’s one thing to get a handle on communication, but organizing it into tangible next steps and action items along the way is a beast of a different kind. Enter, project management platforms. Communications can quickly become fragmented if they are not taking place in a singular environment. You have one conversation in Slack, one in email, and then a few over the phone, and project planning turns into a giant game of telephone.
Asana: “Work on big ideas, without the busywork”
Trello: “Helping teams move work forward”
Monday: “Work without limits”
Basecamp
3. Managed Mobility Services
The hard truth: No software or platform can exist without a device to house it. To take it a step further, you’re not going to see ROI if devices in your mobile estate are not being used.
At the crux of all tools promising productivity gains and remote collaboration is high-level orchestration. How do you track of all the devices keeping employees connected to their project management software or video conferencing service? Without continuous access to the right devices, the platforms will never realize their true ROI.
Managed Mobility Services (MMS) are remote work “assurance policies”—ensuring you are paying the right amount for devices in your fleet. Ensuring platforms are seamlessly integrating and actively exchanging data. Guaranteeing the right devices are in the right hands, at the right time.
Ask yourself: Do you know where every company device is in the world right now? How much are these devices costing you? Which apps are being used and when?
If you don’t have the answers to these questions, you have blind spots. And, blind spots compile into large losses. Finding a trusted partner to shepherd you through the world of telecom expense management will not just replace blind spots with holistic visibility—it will drive the efficiency gains you and your team need to go from surviving to thriving in a work-from-anywhere world. Contact us to get started.
Sources:
[1] Ryan Golden, “Most US Employers with Flexible Work Plans Choose Hybrid Work, Mercer Says,” HR Dive, July 14, 2021, https://www.hrdive.com/news/most-us-employers-with-flexible-work-plans-choose-hybrid-work-mercer-says/603304/.
[2] “20 Astonishing Video Conferencing Statistics for 2021”, n.d., accessed October 12, 2021, https://digitalintheround.com/video-conferencing-statistics/.
[3] “20 Astonishing Video Conferencing Statistics for 2021”, n.d., accessed October 12, 2021, https://digitalintheround.com/video-conferencing-statistics/.
[4] “Zoom Revenue and Usage Statistics (2021) – Business of Apps”, n.d., accessed October 12, 2021, https://www.businessofapps.com/data/zoom-statistics/.
[5] “Microsoft Teams Revenue and Usage Statistics (2021) – Business of …”, n.d., accessed October 12, 2021, https://www.businessofapps.com/data/microsoft-teams-statistics/.