Hybrid working is the hot topic at the moment as organisations consider what work life will look like once employees make their way back to the office. But many workers want either a hybrid working model – where they split their week between the office and home – or want to work from home permanently.
Managers and IT decision makers now must carefully consider what tech they need to make sure their organisations are ready for a hybrid workforce, while making sure that the needs of the business are properly supported, and that employees are satisfied with their flexible working.
We spoke with four experts on what how homeworking this year compares to last year, what tech home workers need to ensure efficiency and the effect hybrid working will have on people working from home. Our panels are from Poly, EPOS, Yealink and Avaya.
How has homeworking played out in the first quarter of 2021?
Paul Clark
Paul Clark, Senior Vice President, EMEA at Poly, said that the sudden and immediate move to remote working last year was facilitated by “quick fix” technology, such as laptop cameras and consumer headphones. As the year progressed, most organisations recognised that these were only band-aids and couldn’t support effective, ongoing home working.
“Over the first quarter of 2021, companies have continued to invest in pro-grade technologies, like webcams and noise cancelling headsets, to create effective working spaces for employees at home,” he stated.
“However, as work and travel restrictions relax, companies are looking to the ‘new normal’ of 2021, making long-term plans for a hybrid working approach that brings the flexibility for employees to work in multiple locations.”
Rob Carmichael
Rob Carmichael, Workplace Specialist at Avaya, said that conversations with company’s global customer base are increasingly focused around the return to the office, but that does not mean a return to the old way of working. The idea of work anywhere has now been extended and businesses must figure out what model works best for them
“Businesses are looking at the myriad variations of work models available to them and working out the right mix for their businesses and industry,” he stated.
“Can employees still work as effectively from home as they can from the office? Can they continue to collaborate and communicate effectively using the cloud? And are employees likely to be engaged if they’re forced to work one way or another?
“To deliver an enterprise-grade hybrid working experience, IT managers need technology that is easy to deploy and manage in a huge number of dispersed environments, with analytics that will inform the running of the business”
Scott Houston
Scott Houston, Field Sales Engineer at EPOS, said, in his experience, the conversations about returning to the office are region-dependent.
“We have found that the first quarter of 2021 has been similar to 2020, however we are seeing regions starting the conversation on when to return to the office. Our North America colleagues are starting to return to some form of hybrid work, and scheduling in-person meetings and events.,” he noted.
“There is now tons of focus on how to make the optimal setups for businesses allowing people to work from home, the office [or] in the meeting rooms. The technology focus for us is speakerphones, media collaboration and premium wireless headsets.”
Lisa Zhang
Lisa Zhang, Yealink CMO, commented that employee expectations have changed permanently, and that the majority of managers expect more flexible work from home policies post-pandemic, and the vast majority of employees plan to take advantage of this flexibility.
She also noted that there is not one-size-fits-all solution for every organisation as they each have to review their exact requirements in a hybrid world.
“People coming from different industries may experience different challenges in working from home due to various work styles and requirements, i.e. equipment that is comfortable to use for those working long hours, privacy protection for business meetings or various hardware for productive work,” she said.
What technology do home workers need to be effective?
Avaya’s Life and Work Beyond 2020 research makes it clear that the workplace of the future requires an elemebt of flexibility, according to Carmichael.
The survey revealed that 46 percent of respondents feel trapped in a daily routine and 43 percetn are struggling to find the right work-life balance. Over half of respondents think that hybrid work has the potential to improve their wellbeing.
Poly’s Clark added that home workers need to have kit that is the same high quality as what they would use in the office.
“As working from home becomes core to hybrid working, it’s no longer good enough for employees to use makeshift technology solutions with poor sound or picture quality,” he elaborated.
“Pro-grade webcams, video bars, speakerphones and an all-in-one video conferencing monitors deliver the professional edge workers are looking for to look and sound their best wherever they choose to work.
“Solutions are being designed with convenience and flexibility in mind, to suit the working style and needs of any employee.”
EPOS’ Houston agreed with Clark, adding:
“At home workers need hassle-free, easy to use, nice to wear and have, crystal clear audio. Active noise-cancelling devices are key to blocking out background noise, such as a barking dog”
“Headsets must also be versatile and comfortable to wear all day long. This will allow workers to shift between back-to-back calls when working remotely.”
To work efficiently and productively, hone workers need multi-device integration, integrated speakerphone and earphones to give their ears a break and high-quality webcams, Yealink’s Zhang added.
How will hybrid working shape home working in the future?
Prior to the pandemic, businesses were looking at ways to optimise of office space but now it is all about balancing the return to the office with employee preference for remote working, said Poly’s Clark.
Social distancing and hygiene measures will also continue to be of critical importance for employees who will want low-touch and voice-based tech that limits physical contact with shared devices, he added.
“Looking beyond the immediate health concerns, 2021 brings the opportunity to rethink how and where we all work,” he said.
“Home working and co-working spaces will rise in prominence, but even with all the benefits they bring we’ll still see a need for a central company workspace for idea generation, collaboration and to give the workforce its sense of identity.
“For effective home working, organisations need to help their employees create highly functional, but inspirational spaces, with pro-grade solutions such as headsets and webcams so employees can smash every call or meeting.”
Avaya’s Carmichael agreed, adding that businesses need to adopt flexible technologies:
“With work being redefined to fit this hybrid mould, the technology supporting employee and customer experiences can’t be satisfied with monolithic apps”
“Businesses need the ability to compose solutions for specific use cases by being able to innovate at the edge.”
EPOS’ Houston countered that hybrid working might not be around for as long as the industry thinks it might be as ultimately, it is organisations that make the final decision on what form of work their employees use.
“While employees hope to keep some sort of hybrid or remote work moving forward, employers may have a different opinion,” he mused.
“However, for the near future it is here to stay. For example – If your kid is sick and needs to stay home from school, the parent does not need to take a day off, they can simply work from home. The technology and devices available today allow for a seamless shift in unexpected circumstances.”
Yealink’s Zhang said that the same level of professionalism in the office bight be expected at home and that that could become a hot topic once hybrid working becomes the norm. It might also give employees a freedom that they will expect to become integral to their work life.
She said:
“If hybrid working becomes the new normal, it could affect people’s choices as to when they choose to do their job; flexible work time and workspace become a new choice.The home office will also become a significant place for home workers. They may invest in professional personal devices to support their work”
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