Over the past decade, innovations in digital connectivity coupled with employee demands for flexible working arrangements have inspired a reassessment of the traditional business model. Many companies are now embracing a culture that embraces remote work to boost employee productivity and morale, a trend never more relevant as millions of people have spent the past few weeks working from home to control the spread of COVID. -19. As lockdown restrictions begin to loosen, businesses are beginning to think about what a return to the office might look like. Employee reactions to the task have been mixed. Some have benefited from the flexibility of working remotely because they have been better able to manage their work-life balance, while others have struggled with isolation and are eagerly awaiting the chance to physically interact with them again. friends and colleagues What they all have in common is the realization that technology can provide the vital link between colleagues, customers and supply chains when physical contact is not possible. As the world begins to open up, many people are hoping their employers will adopt workplace policies where they can choose how, where, and even when they work. While models are likely to vary from company to company, many companies are now focusing on finding a more balanced "hybrid" approach that offers staff a mix of home and office work. This structure is better suited to provide the physical interaction humans need to thrive, with the convenience, flexibility, and cost effectiveness of working remotely. Advanced technologies make this easy, empowering unprecedented collaboration in the workplace, and revolutionizing the way colleagues and clients communicate and share data with each other. Teamwork, in many cases, can now be effectively maintained regardless of location – a fitting bonus for the spread of globalization, international business practices, and now, the need to maintain social distance for the foreseeable future. Business leaders around the world are calling on business leaders to reduce the size of the workplace to maintain physical distance. Consultations with employees are taking place, but it is likely that many workers will be asked to continue working from home, while others will report to the office on designated days and in small groups. For the most part, communication will continue through video conferencing and virtual meeting tools, technologies that have already proven their worth during lockdown. Having fewer staff permanently in an office has additional benefits. Over time, office space can be reduced: reducing overall costs, while hours lost in crowded commutes can be spent on more productive endeavors. A reduction in international travel and business travel will also have a positive effect on the planet, as demonstrated in recent months by a significant reduction in global carbon emissions. This more fluid work structure also lends itself to the independent grassroots economy where workers are hired as needed in response to market demands. Entrepreneurs primarily work at home because they are a temporary workforce and are easily engaged with technologies that enable remote collaboration. This way, companies will also be able to react quickly to market changes and manage investments or disruptions in human resources as they meet the challenges of a struggling economy. The pandemic has also seen a sharp increase in the number of employees using their own devices and software solutions to interact with colleagues. The 'Bring Your Own Device' (BYOD) culture, fueled by an explosion in personal equipment ownership, has led to increased efficiency as it provides a more agile workforce where employees can use their laptops and phones. Own cell phones to work on the go. . Although this trend had already become firmly entrenched in many businesses before the pandemic, foreclosure gained momentum as employees were forced to search for alternatives to office equipment. There's also a rapid proliferation of people not only using their own devices, but wanting to choose their own software solutions for conferencing, what people call "Bring Your Own Meeting," or BYOM. This has gained ground with the recent explosion in popularity of solutions like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and many others. People often prefer a particular solution and don't want to be told that they can only use the "official" trading system. Companies must now build flexibility into their technology frameworks to allow employees to interact with one another using the virtual meeting and conferencing tools they know and trust. Of course, security is a key priority for all organizations, as sensitive data is transferred over networks and accessed by external devices and software solutions. There has to be a change in mindset around this potential security threat. With the right technology, security measures, and employee training, risks can be mitigated. The apprehension surrounding employees using their own devices and software solutions to access internal infrastructure is justified, but there are robust cybersecurity that can be put in place to protect company networks and protect the integrity of these. connecting devices. Computer systems can be protected against cyberattacks by ensuring proper identification and authorization steps are performed during setup and that all transferred data is encrypted. Personal devices are often lost or stolen, providing opportunities for unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data. Remote device management software can help counter this threat. Without a vaccine, the threat of a virus resurgence is always present. Engaging in a hybrid model where employees can work remotely if and when necessary will provide the necessary agility in the event of a second wave. A company that has the flexibility to adapt its infrastructure to the needs of its employees and to events outside of its control will gain a certain advantage. The disruption to normal work life in Covid-19 has been enormous, and technology has become even more vital in recent months. But remember, these trends were happening long before Covid-19. As people return to work, they will expect a structure in which remote work plays a bigger role in their work week. By responding to this demand, bolstered by digital collaboration tools, companies can give their employees the best possible opportunities to get their work done efficiently, safely, and productively, whatever the month ahead may be.