The New Normal for the Digital Workspace

June 21, 2021

As COVID vaccines are being distributed at a rapid pace, and states have relaxed many restrictions, most organizations are preparing for Return to Work. Every organization must again consider technology in their planning, just as they did when operations drastically changed at the start of the Pandemic. Let’s examine the past and present to provide the context for what may come. The history Not too long ago, perspectives of working from home ranged from an extreme of “never” to “sometimes.” Many leaders felt the risks were too high, the accountability was lower, and the outcomes would suffer as a result. Technology mobility was more of an afterthought for a few people in limited circumstances. For companies that supported full-time remote work, some would even provide a full office complete with printer, desk, chair, laptop, and extra monitor. Others opted for the “have laptop, will work” approach. The current state A few years ago, no one could have predicted what occurred with the onset of the Pandemic. Pew Research Center reported that 71% of employed adults were working from home most or all the time in 2020, compared to a mere 5.3% in 2018, according to the US Census Bureau. With little time to strategize, most organizations quickly adapted and sought ways to enable an almost completely remote workforce. Results varied greatly. For the last few years, modern architectures leveraged technology that was designed to focus on the cloud and mobility. This meant that those organizations with more forward-thinking tech were able to make the transition in more efficient and effective ways. Others lost productivity and struggled to evolve in the new world. The not-so-distant future Remote work has shown its strengths and limitations. Many organizations are preparing options that range from hybrid to complete return and are considering many individuals’ requests to remain fully remote. Gartner reports that 80% of organizations plan to allow at least part-time remote work and 47% plan to allow full-time remote. Overall, most agree with a more nuanced approach to remote work. The past year has forced organizations to adapt quickly, as we collectively jumped to the forefront of work-from-home capabilities. Many of the technologies required already existed, while others needed more substantial investments to scale to full capacity. The dividends of a security-first, mobility-first approach will far outgain any of these long-term investments that the Pandemic demanded.
Michelle

Contributor

Michelle Tomallo

Michelle is a co-founder of FIT and has served in many roles during the company’s history—from client services, to account management, to operations. She currently focuses on human resources as Chief People Officer, and is a driving force of the culture at FIT.

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