Companies around the world have been heavily armed with the coronavirus pandemic to review established work methods. Many companies that were once reluctant to allow employees offline have come to recognize the benefits of a remote model above all else, including access to a broader talent pool and better work-life balance. - Don't come at the expense of productivity. However, as countries begin to loosen lockdown measures, it remains to be seen to what extent the changes necessitated by the pandemic will hold in the long term. Richard Rawcliffe, Vice President and General Manager of UK Public Sector at Dell Technologies, says it is essential that the ground gained in the drive to modernize after the unfortunate pandemic is not abandoned once restrictions on living and working are lifted. has been raised. "We have all learned a lot, and it would be almost a tragedy if we go back and return to the current situation," he told TechRadar Pro.
The future of work
Unlike many companies, Dell Technologies has long supported remote and flexible working. The company's flirtation with remote work began about 11 years ago with the launch of its Connected Workplace initiative. According to Rawcliffe, about 65% of Dell's workforce had a level of flexibility even before the pandemic, with 40,000 to 50,000 employees working remotely at any given time. For this reason, the company was as well equipped as any when the need to switch to a universal teleworking system arose. But Rawcliffe acknowledges that many companies have not been so lucky. "There are a number of organizations that probably thought their infrastructure was good enough and now they find that it's not really good," he said. “It was built by the way they worked, without offering this crucial level of flexibility.” “The reality is that the global pandemic has been more influential in driving digital transformation than almost any other factor. Where the opportunity has been seized to modernize infrastructure and automate processes surrounding existing work practices, these are the ones who have transformed their businesses. " For Rawcliffe, who worked from home for 30 years, the return to some semblance of normality represents a pivotal moment for companies, which must decide whether or not to focus first on the distant culture. " Validating the things we've always wanted to talk to our customers. Now we all have the opportunity to change the way we think about work, and work is no longer just about going to the office. "