A moment of opportunity
‘Our data on employer plans and the relative productivity of WFH imply a 5 percent productivity boost in the post-pandemic economy due to re-optimized working arrangements.’
This is according to Why Working From Home Will Stick—a working paper currently available through the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, there have been several studies on this topic since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. While the findings vary, one consensus is clear: working from home (to some degree) is the new normal.
With consideration of their own specific needs, companies must determine to what extent they may operate remotely—e.g., whether one pursues a fully remote or a hybrid model, the latter of which many seem to find attractive. Consider this survey, the State of Remote Work, by Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics, which asserts:
‘77% of respondents agree that after COVID-19, having the option to work from home would make them happier. Leaders and managers: 80% of full-time workers expect to work from home at least three times per week after COVID-19 guidelines are lifted and companies and workspaces are able to reopen.’
Employees that are content with their working environment, conditions, and etcetera, are going to be more productive overall—this has been suspected for decades and confirmed in the recent past. For example, a study conducted by the Saïd Business School, of the University of Oxford, in 2019, suggests a strong correlation between worker happiness and productivity, furthermore stating ‘the importance of employee happiness in driving productivity growth is likely to rise in the coming years.’
Here’s the reality: the business world has reached a turning point—the global pandemic catalyzed and accelerated this dramatic shift away from the traditional office; employees are pressed to keep their teams safe, healthy, happy, and productive; new technologies are making it all possible.
Taking a unified approach
Now it’s time to take a comprehensive look at what these tools are and how you can simplify your strategy for optimal productivity (and profitability).
Before you explore the top tools hitting the market, it’s important to note that:
1) Your business strategists should align with your technology leaders to ensure that the right framework is established—enabling a multifaceted approach that drives your day-to-day and long-term goals in unison.
2) Consider unified solutions with easy integrations, so there’s less ‘navigating your toolkit’ and more ‘getting back to business.’
And for each of the following categories, check out Gartner’s market overviews, listing sophisticated solutions for any company size, industry, and region.
Meeting solutions
While meeting solutions aren’t new, you’re already seeing modern capabilities being released, such as virtual backgrounds for your employees who have transitioned from the boardroom to the couch.
User authentication
Security vulnerabilities are growing for businesses, not only as malicious actors evolve but also as workforces become continuously more dispersed and cloud-based systems increase in number.
That’s where well-engineered zero trust architectures come into play—enabling straightforward user access control and management.
Strategy development
In a time of overwhelming uncertainty, one of the greatest values to prioritize is dynamicity—i.e., the ability to remain dynamic, agile, and prepared to change as needed. How can you strategize, enterprise-wide, for better business outcomes now and down the line?
Gain the advantage of strategy and innovation roadmapping tools—which, as defined by Gartner: “Allow EA and technology innovation leaders to visually depict the relationship between strategy, innovation and the state of execution over time.”
Bonus
Lastly, as you collaborate across time zones, it can be quite helpful to know what the time is anywhere. And, if you don’t have a classic array of 24 analog clocks wall-mounted above your desk—each one calibrated to a different time zone across the globe—there’s a website for that.
