A recent report has highlighted significant challenges facing enterprises with hybrid office models.
- The study reveals that 65% of enterprises find their office spaces inadequate for hybrid working.
- Despite these challenges, 66% of organisations aim to encourage employees to return to the office.
- Key obstacles include outdated technology and inefficient workflows, impacting productivity.
- Efforts to address these issues include investments in unified communications and analytics platforms.
A comprehensive study from Kinly’s Trusted Connections 2024 report has brought to light that a significant portion of enterprises, precisely 65%, acknowledge inadequacies in their current office spaces which fail to support hybrid working models effectively. This acknowledgment comes amidst a period where approximately 66% of these organisations are expressing a desire to have staff return to the office, at least part-time.
The report, based on a survey involving 425 AV professionals across various regions including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordics, sheds light on the complexities related to flexible and remote communication, which emerge as a prominent challenge for roughly 28% of enterprises. This complexity is part of a broader issue where over half of the respondents have identified poor hybrid workflows, quantified at 57%, and outdated AV technologies, cited by 58%, as critical factors undermining productivity within hybrid teams.
To remedy these constraints, there is a marked emphasis on technological investments. A distinctive approach being adopted by these organisations includes investment in remote support and management systems by 35% of respondents, while 33% are looking towards enhancing unified communications and collaboration software, and an equivalent percentage is steering resources towards equipping in-office spaces with hybrid meeting room facilities.
A noteworthy barrier impeding seamless hybrid operations is the scarcity of actionable data, with 26% of AV professionals pointing out the absence of adequate analytics regarding working practices. This shortfall is notably impacting the fulfilment of organisational objectives, which prominently include a 61% aim towards increased efficiency and a 58% target to boost productivity. To counter this gap, a proactive stance is observed where 33% of the respondents are channeling investments towards analytics platforms specifically tailored for remote working, while 29% are investing in similar solutions for in-office analytics.
Simon Watson, Kinly’s Head of Innovation, articulates the ongoing challenges with hybrid working, emphasising that summoning employees back to the office is not a viable remedy for deficiencies in existing hybrid practices. He asserts, “Effective hybrid working relies on having the right technology in place at home and in the office, and most importantly making sure all these technologies work together seamlessly to give employees the same experience no matter where they work.” Watson also highlights a substantial improvement in enterprises that have recently undergone AV transformation projects, reporting a 42% increase in productivity and efficiency, alongside a 37% rise in staff retention.
Effective hybrid working strategies demand integrated technological solutions both at home and in the office to enhance productivity and employee satisfaction.
