5 Hybrid Workplace Technologies to Power the Future of Work

Hybrid offices, designed to foster onsite collaboration as well as remote work, are appealing to modern employees for the flexibility they offer, such as emphasis on productivity, reduced cost of operation, redefined collaboration, etc. To effectively manage this new work environment for both the organisation and the employees, it is imperative to have the right technology in place.

Most organisations can provide better employee experiences, lower employee turnover, improved recruitment, and gain or retain a competitive advantage with the utilisation of the right hybrid workplace technology. Many companies, such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc., across the globe, have been exploring the transition to switch from remote work to hybrid work models for a few years now.

The adoption of technological tools to support this transition, such as content collaboration, reducing device downtime, team collaboration, etc., is becoming more complex. To lead tomorrow's workforce, HR chiefs or CIOs should have a technological blueprint planned for what tools are essential to be adopted and implemented.

Over the past few years, the workplace has seen a lot of discussion over how hybrid work should be managed - how often should employees work at the office? - when they ought not to? - Should they come to the office at all?

What's important to remember is that no matter what hybrid-work model organisations choose for their employees, they will need to disperse ample technology to support their modern digital workspaces.

What is a hybrid workplace model?

The hybrid workplace model is a classification of work environment that combines aspects of remote working with traditional office work. In a hybrid workplace, some or all employees can choose where and when they want to work, dividing their time between working at home and working in a central office.

If a company adopts a hybrid working model, only part of its workforce must attend regular offices, while the rest works remotely or from home. A hybrid workplace will enable the employees to remain productive and efficient in their preferred work locations while, at the same time, ensuring that the organisation's data remains secure through the implementation of technological tools.

But what kind of technologies support the blended workforce? We have compiled a list of 5 hybrid workplace technologies that organisations can implement to power the future of work. Let's dive in!

Team communication tool

An innate sign of danger could occur in an organisation when some employees show these signs of concern, such as - inequality of experience, inconsistent participation, and low engagement. An organisation's inability to engage employees due to miscommunication may be the silent killer.

A hybrid environment creates a real concern of passively disengaged employees, which leads to their departure. A very important tool that an organisation should consider during the transition to a hybrid working pattern is adopting a streamlined communication tool such as Notion, Threads, and Loom, etc.

Organisations implementing communication tools as a solution can bridge the distance gap with dedicated communication channels and platforms so that the communication gap is eliminated and productivity is retained.

Document management tools

Rather than relying on paper-based files to support remote workers, organisations need a solution for storing and sharing electronic files. Cloud storage options for file-sharing, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, etc., make it easy for employees to access, send files, and quickly distribute them among themselves.

Alternatively, an organisation can also utilise a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution wherein the IT admins of the organisation can remotely push and upload, edit, publish or even delete mission-critical documents and data on different mobile devices such as Android phones or iOS phones through a single dashboard.

Transferring files through these applications eliminates the distracting flood of notifications and files from email inboxes. Various types of files can be shared, including documents, videos, and even software.

By implementing a document management system, organisations can ensure that only authorised employees of the organisation can see, edit and delete files shared. To guarantee that all employees have equal access to information, existing records should be digitised, in addition to those that still require a wet signature, such as those for government agencies.

Tools for managing performance through outcomes.

An employee-manager relationship that exists remotely or only occasionally in person must be based on clear goals, defined outcomes and include regular check-ins to ensure that the employees are receiving timely feedback. Putting an emphasis on outcomes means setting meaningful goals for your team and letting them determine the route that they take to get there, instead of micromanaging each task they need to accomplish in a specific order.

Those who manage hybrid teams cannot personally monitor their workers (or their entire teams, if they are remote themselves) and may therefore micromanage their employees by concentrating on small tasks.

Micromanagement and explicit monitoring not only facilitate subjective employee performance reviews but also lead to a reduced level of performance among employees.

Employees' productivity and creativity are hampered if they're monitored too closely. Managing continuous performance first and foremost is a strategic approach in facilitating the hybrid workplace. Using tools such as Graphic rating scales, 360-degree feedback, Management by objectives, etc., can help bridge the gap.

Choose tools to manage your Endpoint.

Establishing an organisation's endpoint security system protects the numerous endpoint devices deployed by the organisation carrying the organisational assets on a centralised network, such as mobile devices, laptops, desktop computers, and servers.

A key function of endpoint security is scanning antivirus and firewall programs, making sure patches are up to date, and preventing dangerous processes from running. It also maintains data integrity by preventing confidential information from being cached.

Mobile applications

The use of mobile devices is growing each day exponentially even before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, mobile tools became crucial for ensuring workers' connectivity, implementing new technology, and adapting to an entirely new way of doing business.

Whatever the circumstances, employees need certain capabilities to be able to get their work done, whether they are working in an office or remotely.

Access to organisational information, authorised access to data and documents, and access to connectivity are a few options that should be included. The importance of mobile software and tools plays a pivotal role in ensuring this productivity.

Closing lines

By utilising the right tools, HR leaders can effectively retain and attract top talent, achieve inclusion goals, and ensure employee engagement with the same amount of rigour, depth, and transparency as in the pre-hybrid day.

Employers and employees can coordinate in-office and remote activities, gather data about what's working, and then tweak it to suit the ideal hybrid blend by putting infrastructure in place that makes the hybrid more measurable, observable, and adaptable.

About the author

Ayush Maskara is a Junior Content Writer at Scalefusion Windows MDM Solution. A media science graduate, a photographer, a fiction author, a storyteller, a fiction manuscript editor, and an avid self-help reader, Ayush has been penning the creative wisdom for six years and has stepped into the IT domain for further exploration and staying awake with technological trends across the globe.

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