To support the increasingly remote and hybrid workforce, companies will need to invest in more purpose-built hardware, according to a new study from IDC sponsored by AV hardware company Poly.
The study, “Digital Work Transformation: Equipping the Hybrid Workforce Across the World,” finds that organizations that equip their employees with the right remote work technology are more likely to thrive in hybrid and remote work situations.
According to the study, 47% of organizations that already had longer-term digital transformation strategies and investments before COVID-19 are showing strong signs of growth, and 62% of organizations with a longer-term commitment to digital transformation are investing in cameras and headsets for their entire workforce.
Once vaccines are widespread and offices are safe once again, 83% of organizations plan to provide more opportunities to work remotely than before the pandemic.
According to the study, just 8% of organizations in North America worked primarily from home before the pandemic. Now, 54% of organizations are primarily working from home. Post vaccine, that is expected to drop to 16%, but still remain high enough to support a new hybrid work model.
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According to the study, 48% of North American organizations said they’re investing in peripheral devices like headsets and video cameras to augment their endpoint devices.
Meanwhile, 96% said they’re investing in team collaboration solutions, 95% said they’re investing in management and security of endpoint devices, 90% are investing in videoconferencing solutions, 39% are investing in device upgrades and 32% are investing in mobile connectivity.
According to the study, just 8% of organizations worked primarily from home before the pandemic. Now, 54% of organizations are primarily working from home. Post vaccine, that is expected to drop to 16%.
These new ways of working are demanding a robust investment in videoconferencing and collaboration solutions both in the office and at employees’ homes.
In the coming months, organizations will be investing in these tools to enable “technology parity,” which IDC defines as the requirement that all employees have access to resources required to do their jobs regardless of their preferred device or location.
The pro AV world and integrators need to continue to shift their focus toward supporting the needs of the increasingly hybrid workforce.
