Organizations are preparing to return to a physical office that will look a lot different, according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey.
The coronavirus has made its mark on the economy and society with record jobless numbers and new social distancing guidelines that won’t go away even after the virus dies down.
Eventually we’ll have to return to work, but that will look a lot different, says a recent PwC survey of finance chiefs.
Judging by the survey, AV integrators and the technology industry can play a large role in the recovery.
As tech companies stabilize operations in response to the crisis, the percentage of finance chiefs in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) industry anticipating revenue and/or profit declines is down 19% from two weeks ago to 65%, the survey found.
The data suggest that TMT companies are preparing for a future in which virtual work options gain greater acceptance over traditional office settings. TMT companies are more likely to reduce their real estate footprint as they transition back to on-site work (38% compared to 26% for all sectors), and 55% say they’re planning to make remote work permanent for positions that allow.
Of those who said they’re considering deferring or canceling planned investments, TMT companies are less likely to reduce digital transformation investments (13%) than all sectors (22%). Their increased optimism about digital investment as they strategize for the future is further borne out by the data: Two weeks ago, of those who said they were deferring or canceling planned investment, TMT was on track to reduce digital investments at the same rate as other sectors (25%).
The world is just getting used to remote work, but that likely won’t go away anytime soon, as 49% of respondents said remote work will remain for at least some roles.
That’s encouraging for the AV industry, as these solutions already help power the economy, enable remote work and help us do our jobs from anywhere in the world.
Other data from the survey illustrates how the workplace will change in the post-COVID-19 world.
According to the survey, 77% of respondents said they will prioritize health and change workplace safety measures and requirements, 65% said they would reconfigure work sites to promote physical distancing, and 52% said they would change and/or alternate shifts to reduce exposure.
