Remote and hybrid work is here to stay. Our technology must adapt.

As industries learn to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic better, many employers are clinging to the hope of a return to normalcy, that is, employees going back to the office full time. However, as we steer away from the shadows of the pandemic, a clearer picture of the post-pandemic workplace is emerging – more employees working from anywhere.

Remote and hybrid work setups have been existing for a long time as part of a larger flexible working trend; the pandemic has only hastened their adoption. But beyond accelerating the trend, the pandemic also made employees realize that work is not a place we go to but rather an activity we can do almost anywhere; and it’s not a sudden realization that struck our employees in the middle of their blue-sky thinking. It’s an epiphany that unfolded throughout their shelter-in days, which they are keen to keep onward in their professional journey.

According to the Cisco Global Hybrid Work Study 2022, 97.3% of the full-time employees surveyed in the Philippines now prefer either a full-time remote or hybrid work arrangement compared to full-time office work.?

It’s not difficult to understand the driving force behind this preference.

The majority of the respondents said that having a hybrid work arrangement improved their overall well-being (89.2%), helped them save money (89.6%), and increased their productivity (75.4%). In short, remote and hybrid work arrangements are making employees happier, wealthier, and more efficient.

As the COO of legal technology startup, Twala, which has been practicing remote work since its foundation, I’ve seen this firsthand.

Adopting a fully remote work setup makes our employees happier since they have more control over their own schedules. They can deliver work more promptly instead of being stuck on a long commute, have more time to pursue their passion projects, and spend more time with their employees. From an operations management perspective, we also benefit greatly from this setup. We can minimize our operating expenses since we don’t have office rent and utilities to pay. This allows us to allocate more budget to buy software or hire more talent to improve our products and services.

Outside the Philippines, remote and hybrid work is also seen as the future ways of working. In a column published by Bloomberg earlier this year, it was estimated that 30% to 40% of workdays in the U.S. in the future will be remote.?

With the increasing preference for remote or hybrid work, it’s high time for your company to start thinking or changing the way you manage your workforce; otherwise, you risk losing your top employees and competitiveness in the talent market.

Leading a distributed workforce with the right technology

Technology is one of the cornerstones of every successful remote and hybrid work arrangement. As such, it’s not only your people and processes that must adapt to this work shift but your technologies as well. Here are a few tips to ensure that your technology is ready for long-term remote or hybrid work:?

Evaluate your business needs

• Before you invest in full-suite software or purchase fancy hardware, evaluate first the work requirements of every team in your company to ensure your people have the right technology. For example, if your employees are working remotely full time, then you may want to provide them with audio equipment so they can effectively communicate and collaborate with their internal and external stakeholders.
• It would also help to speak with your team leaders before purchasing any equipment or software, as they know the tools their members need to deliver their work effectively. You can also run a survey to get their views on your current toolsets and how they can be improved. Getting this feedback will help optimize your return on investment.

Explore new technologies

• Remote and hybrid work present opportunities to innovate the way you engage with your employees and clients, so don’t be afraid to think outside the box and explore new technologies. For example, integrating electronic signatures into your sales process will facilitate customer onboarding since your clients can sign important documents anytime and anywhere with just a few clicks on their devices. This will not only make your clients happier as they’re able to receive your products and services faster but also save you money and time as you no longer need to print and courier documents to them for sign-off.
• Whatever new technology you decide to adopt, make sure that it is simple and seamless to use to avoid resistance from your users.

Make cybersecurity a priority

• Remote or hybrid work requires stronger cybersecurity policies, so make sure to follow best practices to mitigate cyber threats.
• Some of these best practices include developing a data security policy to ensure that your corporate data are being handled properly; equipping your employees with the right tools and technologies like VPN and antivirus to remain compliant; implementing multi-factor authentication for an extra layer of account security; and providing your employees with regular cybersecurity awareness training, among others.

Remote and hybrid working is here to stay. A large part of their long-term success hinges on robust technology and tools that ensure consistent employee communication and collaboration; build and promote work culture; secure important data and processes; boost productivity, and improve relationships with clients and partners. So, if you’re looking for a sign to reevaluate and restructure your technology inventories and processes, then look no further.