Introduction

A new approach to implementing safe, efficient, and productive working practices - wherever employees are working from

Introduction

A new approach to implementing safe, efficient, and productive working practices -
wherever employees are working from

The potential benefits of hybrid working are enormous, from improved employee wellbeing and retention, to streamlined internal and external communication, increased customer satisfaction, and tangible cost savings (for example, a reduced investment in permanent office space) that can be reinvested in other areas of the business. Hybrid working, in its broadest sense, means working from anywhere - whether that’s in the office or remotely - without compromising security, profitability, service quality, or the overall customer experience. While the concept itself is not necessarily complex, and many organisations have been utilising some elements of it for a number of years now, it has never been utilised at the scale required by COVID-19 and the resulting social distancing requirements, which makes considering every element of its successful implementation a vital part of any effective business growth strategy.

This means technology, processes, and company culture must evolve to not only make these concepts viable now, but also make them fundamental parts of organisations’ daily working practices in the future.

In this paper, we will examine the four pillars of successful hybrid working - customer continuity, communication and collaboration, compliance, and culture - that are required to put this into practice. We will examine the effects of COVID-19, the different ways organisations have adapted to the drastic shift, the role technology has had (and will continue) to play, and the ways we will connect with our colleagues and customers as we enter the new era of working.