Send Your Hybrid Work into Hyperdrive with These Tech Tools
Remote work is full of perks. It’s easy to love the commuteless, work-life balanced freedom that comes from working anywhere there’s a safe internet connection. Even still, it can’t provide the in-person communication, camaraderie, and collaboration of a traditional office.
A hybrid workforce benefits from a blend of both environments – something employers and employees alike seem to agree on.
Microsoft explains, “Employees want the best of both worlds: over 70 percent of workers want flexible remote work options to continue, while over 65 percent are craving more in-person time with their teams. To prepare, 66 percent of business decision makers are considering redesigning physical spaces to better accommodate hybrid work environments.”
This hybrid tech overview covers the exciting new tools companies are prioritizing as they gear up for the back and forth.
Why a Hybrid Model Works
The criteria for a hybrid work model is simple: Employees spend some part of their time coming into a physical office and some part logging in remotely. How that gets put into practice can vary widely depending on the organization.
For example, different departments might rotate coming in on different days. Or, the office may have everyone work from home certain days of the week. Other companies leave it completely at the discretion of the individual to decide.
But data shows that the last option might not be the most effective strategy.
Employees who work exclusively from home are at the highest risk of burnout, while hybrid employees displayed the greatest levels of engagement.
In one Gallup survey, employees who work exclusively from home are at the highest risk of burnout, while hybrid employees displayed the greatest levels of engagement.
Meaning, it pays to mix things up. Given all the positive data that’s coming in, it’s unlikely hybrid work schedules will dissipate with the pandemic. They’re here to stay.
New Tech for Hybrid Work
Transitioning between your workplace and home office can create a logistical nightmare if you’re not prepared.
These five tools are here to help make the go between a little smoother.
1) Remote Device Access
No matter how organized you are, you’ll inevitably forget something at the office that you need to work from home, or vice versa. Using remote computer management tools, you can avoid this common headache and control devices from a distance. Some are as easy as downloading a web browser extension. Others require specific software or come enabled with your computer’s operating system. Plenty of free and paid options abound for your laptops, desktops, phones, and other devices, so make sure you compare before you commit.
2) Simulated Offices
Gamifying your workspace may sound counterintuitive. But virtual offices can be a great way to spark the spontaneous connections a regular day at the office would. These simulated, interactive spaces can be used for everything from meetings to company-wide conferences. Video-chat fields automatically emerge the “closer” you are to a colleague, encouraging conversation. Many also allow you to share documents or give presentations.
3) Hot Desking Schedulers
Whether you want to be intentional about the number of desks you have (and have to sanitize) or get a little help regulating social distance, try a desk reservation tool. They make booking workstations simple and straightforward. It even allows folks to see how populated the office will be in advance, a helpful decision-making tool when assessing crowd size and safety.
4) Contact Tracing Software
How nice would it be to know your COVID-19 risk level before coming into the office? With contact tracing apps like those in development from PwC, human resource departments will soon be flush with data that can help them prevent potential in-office exposures. How it works: “Using signals from users’ phones, it can tell how far away and how long two people were in contact. If someone at a workplace tests positive for COVID-19, HR can then look up which other employees are at the highest risk using the digital contact tracing system,” explains CNBC.
5) Touchless Office Systems
Reducing high-touch surfaces can reduce the spread of infection. That’s precisely what touchless technology aims to do. From door handles and light switches to elevator buttons, going hands-free is the new normal. Automating what were once common touchpoints helps give your employees more confidence the office space is a safe space.
The pandemic has hastened the shift from our office-centric culture to a flexible work culture. As hybrid work takes over as the dominant work model, workplace design will evolve too, supported by tools that encourage outcome and collaboration over rigid schedules.
Content created and provided by ONEAFFINITI.
