Think Your Organisation is Equipped for Hybrid Work? Think Again.

Odds are, your organisation moved quickly to adapt to a remote work posture forced by the global pandemic. Two-plus years on, your organisation continues to move toward a hybrid work model where some work remotely while others work in an office or job site full-time. Or perhaps most of your workforce spends a few days in an office and a few days at home. Progress, yes. Enough progress? Likely not.

Despite the work your organisation may have done to establish baseline hybrid work functionality, a new, five-country research survey conducted by industry analyst firm Techaisle makes it very clear that most organisations still have a way to go to support hybrid work adequately.

Techaisle’s new research surveyed 1,361 organisations across Australia, France, Germany, the UK, and the US to glean hybrid work insights from organisations of up to 10,000 employees across industries including construction, finance, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, IT, professional services, retail and wholesale, telecom, transportation, and utilities.

Techaisle’s findings were startling and paint a clear picture that there’s much more work to support customers and employees effectively and that modernizing an organisation’s business communications is a foundational element separating success from failure.

The research, which includes trends, similarities, and differences in attitudes regarding business communications in increasingly “hybrid-first” work environments, found several vital takeaways that apply across industries.

I encourage you to download and read Techaisle’s “Building a Strong Hybrid Work Foundation” white paper, but here are a few key findings to heighten your interest and urgency to act:

Organisations Must Invest More in Modernizing to Support Hybrid Work

Despite initial responses to the pandemic, organisations have a long way to go to support remote work adequately.

• Organisations expect that 43% of their workforce will work from home 3-4 days a week on an ongoing basis, and 20% will work from home exclusively. 
• Just 11% of organisations reported having a hybrid-first mindset when making organisational and operational decisions, and 44% of organisations possess only basic hybrid work capabilities regarding technology and tools that enable effective collaboration between remote and in-office employees. 
• On the flip side, 78% of employees agree that better communication and collaboration tools help them do their job better. Yet just 34% of organisations reported having mature remote work practices with advanced communication and collaboration tools.
  

Organisations Want to Modernize Through Convenient, Flexible UC Solutions

According to survey respondents, the right Unified Communications (UC) solutions allow for flexibility, include a breadth of features, and integrate well with other technology solutions such as office suites, project management, and CRM solutions, making them ideally suited for a hybrid work environment.

• 84% of organisations believe modern communications are vital to business success. 
• Organisations don’t want generic, “one size fits all” solutions. 69% of organisations surveyed want to invest in multi-purpose communication and collaboration technology rather than single-purpose, dedicated devices – effectively reinforcing the value of robust UC platforms. 
• Organisations also want convenient ways to purchase modern UC solutions, with 40% of organisations preferring to purchase UC solutions as a capital expenditure (CapEx), while 33% prefer an operational (OpEx), subscription-based expenditure model. UC providers who offer flexible purchase models, including services by subscription, are best positioned to attract organisations wanting to modernize their communications.

There’s a Clear Employer-Employee Divide, but it Can Be Bridged 

As “the Great Resignation” continues to play out, an apparent disconnect exists between employers and their employees.

• 51% of employees expressed worry about work-life conflict compared with just 23% of employers. 
• 50% of organisations reported having a continuous feedback and assessment process to gather employee feedback, but 26% still do not have an employee feedback mechanism. 

While there is still much more to explore in closing this gap between employee and employer perceptions, Techaisle’s research suggests that investments in modern UC solutions can catalyze more efficient work and seamless connections between employees, employers, and co-workers help alleviate stress and fuel engagement.

Check out our interactive infographic, The Drive to Modernization.

Mitel is Ready to Help Your Organization Modernize

Techaisle’s research underscores the urgent need for organisations to modernize their communications experiences in ways that will help employees and customers thrive in the era of hybrid work. However, with persistent change organisations will undoubtedly continue to face, combined with complex needs that vary significantly from one organisation to the next, it can be challenging to figure out how to navigate the modernization process successfully.

Mitel’s business strategy is rooted in comprehensive customer lifecycle management that gives organisations of varying sizes and industries the choice, flexibility, futureproofing, and support they need to win over employees and customers long term.

To engage with a Mitel authorized partner to begin your modernization journey, visit the Mitel upgrade page.