The top 6 things you must know to support a hybrid workforce

Let’s face it: 2020 was a difficult year for all of us, and 2021 promises a few more bumps along the way.

The good news is we’ve finally turned the corner. We’ve got multiple vaccines available, and many countries are loosening restrictions as they deliver shots into arms faster than originally planned. Companies are calling some employees back to the office, and many restaurants are once again hosting after-hours get-togethers.

While some businesses have struggled to navigate this unprecedented global pandemic, others have adapted, and many have absolutely thrived. Hybrid work styles have emerged as crucial foundations for business success in this new landscape, and the best-performing businesses have learned how to support their increasingly diverse and adaptive workforces – and what they’ll need to keep doing to stay competitive in the critical years to come.

Looking back, looking forward

Here at SHI, we worked closely with our experts and partners to help our customers not only survive the year but thrive. We hosted a 14-week series of webinars that covered key topics that were – and remain – top-of-mind to SHI customers grappling with the challenges of shifting to remote work, building sustainable models to support their hybrid workforces and prepare for whatever lies ahead.

Over the course of this series, our experts covered everything from developing a unified communications and collaboration (UCC) strategy, modernizing infrastructure, and upgrading networks to navigating a more complicated cybersecurity threat landscape, all while optimizing costs and streamlining operational efficiencies.

We’ve put together a recap of some of the series highlights, specifically focusing on the six key takeaways you’ll want to focus on in the near term to best prepare your own business for the challenges you’ll face as the planet slowly emerges from this event.

Our top six hybrid workforce takeaways

1. Demand for end-user devices is far outweighing supply. Worse, our experts foresee no improvement in 2021, which means you may continue having trouble getting the hardware you need, when you need it. And they may very well cost you more. So now is the time to review your inventory and plan your refresh strategy.
2. User expectations are high – and rising. Technology is the lifeline of all remote users, and they’re leaning more heavily on their devices than ever before. They increasingly expect modern, consistent device experiences no matter where they are or what they’re using. And delivery and support must be seamless. Their productivity depends on it. So does their satisfaction.
3. It just has to work. Employees will demand technology parity, ease of use, and uninterrupted connectivity regardless of location. This can be more difficult to pull off with remote and hybrid employees, so infrastructure roadmaps must be revisited and tightly maintained.
4. Cost control matters more than ever. Increased workforce hybridization can make it more challenging to identify – and control – spending. So, organizations must prioritize optimizing costs by identifying waste and rightsizing spending.
5. Technology is not a one-size-fits-all. Users want the ability to do what they need, when they need to, on any device. Are you currently set up to have these conversations with them?
6. It’s time to reimagine the workplace. Forget the notion of a “new normal”, because it isn’t happening. Hybrid workforces and work styles mean the office will become a place for “moments that matter.” The time to start figuring out what that means for your particular organization is now.

Get ready for hybrid everything

As we switch gears into the second half of 2021 and beyond, it’s important that you’re ready not just to support the hybrid workforce, but that you are ready for hybrid everything. This includes supporting hybrid workers, hybrid technologies and improving cash flow with a hybrid approach to cost management.

At SHI, we are committed to ensuring our customers are ready and able to meet these challenges and more and committed to continuing to provide you with analysis and insights to support you through ongoing uncertainty.

For now, we invite you to watch the full Hybrid Workforce Series on-demand here.