After more than a year of adapting business models due to COVID-19, many businesses have come to realize that supporting a remote workforce is a viable option, and one that in some cases, delivered higher productivity levels. As a result, businesses are looking ahead and developing business operating strategies in the post COVID-19 world.
In a recent survey I conducted via social media, I presented this question, “Do you feel that your company will revert back to a more traditional work model post COVID-19, or transition to a different model?” The results for me were not surprising in that seventy percent of respondents say they will develop a hybrid model that combines remote work and traditional work environments. Twenty percent cited they will revert back to their traditional models and only ten percent indicate they will transition to a completely new model.
While not all jobs are suited to remote work environments, there are many positions that can be managed remotely. These include customer service and support, sales, analysts, marketing and social media managers, training and more. This is reflected in an article by Emily Courtney on flexjobs titled, “23 Companies Switching to Long-Term Remote Work.” Some of the companies identified in this article include Amazon, American Express, Capital One, Facebook, Salesforce, Siemens, Skillshare and Target.
As businesses and employees weigh their options for the future, consider that remote work provides a better work-life balance, less or no stress from commuting, location independence and money savings for the employees. On the business side of this equation there can be downsizing of physical office space, decreased facilities costs, improved productivity, increased employee retention and a positive impact on the environment.
In My View
Now is the time for business leaders to take action in developing their future business models. As the previous data cited indicates, the majority of businesses will develop a hybrid model that combines remote work models with traditional models. These could range from certain positions are required to use the traditional model with others allowed to work remotely, to models that allow remote work for a specified number of days, say 4, and one day in the office.
Regardless of the models chosen, infrastructure will need to be strengthened, governance over processes, practices and tools will need to be standardized and optimized and new frameworks developed for the management of business information and corporate assets. In many cases, those I have spoken with are using their experiences in adapting their businesses over the past year, as the foundation upon which they will build their new models.
There is no better time than the present to move your business forward and begin the journey of enabling and supporting your Remote Workforce as you focus on moving away from traditional models.
