Back-to-office is coming, people! But will your team be properly prepared? While what, exactly, “return-to-work” looks like will vary drastically from office to office, just how well your technology can handle the stress of hybrid work should concern us all. The right configurations can make (or break) any big transition, and the reopening of your in-person space is no exception.
Let’s dive right in; Here are few key considerations for balancing hybrid office technology.
Cloud Computing
Just because your employees are starting to flock back to HQ doesn’t mean you can afford to relax your cloud computing standards. In fact, as many businesses seek out a more flexible model, re-evaluating the efficacy of your current cloud solution is going to be necessary. Transitioning back to in-person work in any capacity – whether full-time, a few days a week, or even for meetings alone – warrants the full support of a robust, tailored cloud solution to ensure the quality of your work isn’t left at the door.
Real-Time Support
From setting up desktop monitors to onboarding pandemic-new-hires, great support is essential to the success of any working environment. The road to return-to-work is likely going to be a bumpy one for both your personnel and your technology. Enlisting the help of real-time IT support can smooth over any kinks you’re likely to experience along the way. While it may be difficult to predict every problem your team will face, you can rest assured that they (and their clients) will have the help needed to find a solution quickly.
Collaboration Software
Working well together while (somewhat) apart remains a top priority, even when back at the office. Collaboration software can decrease time waste, increase efficiencies, and help organize the day-to-day operations of your team whether you’re home or away. Keeping these efficiencies in place – while simultaneously reallocating those tasks that are best suited for in-person meetings – can ease growing pains when returning to the workplace.
Security
We’re not one to name names, but we’d be lying to ourselves if we said that we believed everyone had maintained proper cybersecurity protocols when working from home. While undoubtedly a lot of effort has gone into guaranteeing remote work is as safe as possible, the fact of the matter is that the more variables there are in play during your workday, the more your data is at risk. As employees begin toting around their home offices on commute, those variables can start to change very quickly, putting your sensitive data at an even higher risk.
While your team is getting settled, take stock of where you think your current cybersecurity protocols aren’t getting the job done. Returning to the office is also a great reason to ask employees to complete additional training courses, vulnerability scans, emergency response trials, and more.
Continuous Process Improvement
We’re heading into uncharted territory, folks! Much of our understanding of what is physically safe for the office, commuting, or collaboration is subject to change in the face of an ongoing pandemic. To weather this kind of uncertainty, it is vital to continuously reevaluate your business processes – both technological and otherwise.
Frequent changes in daily structure can (and should!) lead to adaptations in your technology. If your IT infrastructure isn’t adaptive to current challenges, it’s high time you made some upgrades. Our work is making things work for you. Let us know what you need by contacting the EMPIST team here, or by visiting us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
