‘The hybrid work model is here to stay.’
A message overdone recently. As a result of the last few years people have a new ‘worth it’ equation when it comes to the workplace. Can I get it done in the office? Do I feel comfortable and productive there? Can I work the way I like to?
With employees asking these questions, business leaders are now left with their own question – is our work environment worth the commute?
At ACS a lot of the work we do with clients is around developing workspaces that enable people to enjoy being at work but also to perform at the top of their game. A big part of this is looking at the physical environment. How it looks and feels, but also assessing how the technology is enabling them to work. Because, the truth is, the best workplaces are created when both technology and workspace design are front of mind.
A recent Microsoft Surface report said: “Nearly 40% of technology decision makers said that improving PCs, laptops, and device management was a top employee request for supporting a better hybrid working environment.”
So, when it comes to creating inspiring and productive offices for your team, what do we believe you should be focussing on?
Firstly, let’s talk about the tech, it can help employees feel empowered to connect with one another, no matter where they are working. The combination of solutions like Microsoft 365 with Surface devices is something we see working seamlessly for many clients.
The Surface range provides HD camera experience and fantastic sound quality to ensure that people can be seen and heard clearly when on calls. Paired with Microsoft Teams, devices like this enable your team to work together seamlessly, even when physically apart.
When your team is physically together, does your office have the right spaces for them to come together comfortably?
For businesses that utilise the Surface range, these devices pair beautifully with touchscreen technology and are very easy to present with, either in laptop mode or as a tablet device.
We see the physical environment and technology having to work together for success. With the right devices but no appropriate spaces, it’s hard for your team to work collaboratively. Does your office include areas where your team can work together around a screen? Informal spaces for shorter meetings? There is no getting around it folks, the true beauty of productive workspaces is when the physical space and technology work in unison.
We focus heavily with our clients on task-based working. We essentially look at what spaces the different teams within your business require to perform at their best and be happiest when at work. Watching how the people interact with the space around them is essential to any office redesign. Look at how people are using the environment and you will soon start to see what is missing.
Cyber Security is also very high on the agenda for many businesses today with hybrid working putting extra pressure on how we keep our data safe.
Again, with Microsoft Surface you have software at your fingertips that allows the security of your hardware to be managed through the cloud down to the firmware level with just a few clicks. Devices for hybrid working, appropriate workspaces, and security are three key things that we should all be thinking about if we really want to make hybrid working work for our teams.
Reading the above, are there things you could change in your environment to truly enable your team to benefit from hybrid working?
Food for thought.
Contact ACS on 01604 704000, email info@acs365.co.uk or visit www.acs365.co.uk for more information
