Lately it seems there’s been a lot of discussion about the future of home working and office culture after the Covid-19 pandemic. In March PriceWaterhouseCooper made the announcement that all of their staff would be hybrid-working with two to three days a week in the office and the rest based from home. They’ve opted for the flexibility of home working with the certainty of office space. PwC aren’t the only ones to consider scaling back office space and increasing flexible working, Nationwide and Santander have also had a rethink on the amount of time their staff need to physically be in the office.
If the pandemic and lockdowns have taught us anything it is that being in the office isn’t necessarily a prerequisite for productivity and there are undoubtedly smaller businesses which are now reconsidering how often they need to see their teams face to face. With that in mind, businesses now need to consider how they can create a seamless transition between home and office working enabling their team to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Microsoft Office 365
Microsoft Office 365 incorporates a number of applications that enable seamless sharing from any location. Using the Cloud as a storage point, users can access and edit their documents from any internet connected device. The addition of Teams and SharePoint also means that staff members can work together on projects, have meetings and chat conversations, and share documents safely.
The flexibility of Office 365 means that, provided there is an internet connection available, a user can stop working on one device and pick up on another with no disruption. Perfect for hybrid working.
Utilising the Cloud
Alongside Office 365, the Cloud offers a wealth of options for flexible hybrid working. From managed workspace folders and hosted desktops to VOIP telephony, using hosted services away from a physical server and desktop can make staff members and documents easily accessible.
Ensure they have the right equipment for the job
The pandemic may have changed more than just the places where we want to work. It may have also changed the way we use our office spaces. Now is an excellent time to reassess hardware and design an IT strategy for the coming few years. As an example, does your company still need desktops or would it be more cost effective and efficient to upgrade to laptops or 2 in 1 tablets? Could those devices be phased in as part of an overall IT strategy?
Additionally, if staff members are using their own devices for work, does your business have a Bring Your Own Device policy and should you consider Mobile Device Management in case a device is stolen, lost or hacked. For all of these considerations it’s a good idea to have a chat with an IT company who can then advise you on the best possible course of action.
External IT Support
Right, you’ve embraced the Cloud, upgraded devices, implemented VOIP calling so your team can get work calls at home, what happens if something goes wrong, and they are away from the office? The last thing you want is for a staff member to lose a day’s work because they can’t access IT support, which is why it’s a good idea to consider using a remote IT helpdesk. They can either act as a standalone service or as support for your existing IT department and can work remotely to fix problems.
LP Networks are a Managed Service Provider providing a wealth of IT solutions for companies of all sizes. If you are a business considering hybrid or flexible working contact the team at LP for impartial and accurate advice.