Working from home - the new norm?

As the UK enters a second lockdown how will Working From Home (WFH) become the new norm? It is unlikely that everyone will ever return to offices and of course those in manufacturing can only work from a factory or similar.

The last few months have shown that business can adapt and that staff can work from home, it also shows that the technology is there for this too. We look at the key technology that can be used for a business to operate working from home.

To be able to work from home you will need a laptop and internet connection, you might want a mobile phone but not a must have. The next stage on is deciding the software needed and some of this you may already have. You need to have an email account through Gmail or Outlook (yes others are available), you will need a remote server access such as Microsoft Teams or a VPN to your company server, you will need a VoIP phone (voice over internet protocol) and you will also need a cyber defence application. Turn to page 23 for our feature on Cyber in Lockdown 2.

We spoke to the Midland Comms about Microsoft Teams and how Covid has triggered many companies to adopting Teams for an integration between those working from home and those in the office. Midland Comms has put together a really useful guide to Teams and we picked out three key basic tips from their top 10. The first was to get Teams and start a chat with colleagues, a great way to communicate in the moment; secondly add Apps to channels, such as Word and Powerpoint to integrate within chats and meeting, lastly elevate email conversations by adding an email to a team channel for continued conversation.

Up until recently VoIP telephony systems were really for big business, but advances in technology and also internet speeds has seen VoIP systems now available for any type and size of business. VoIP actually stands for voice over internet protocol, so it is a phone system over the internet and wish it comes significant cost savings for calls. In todays business setting telephone calls can be made through landline office phones, mobile phones, over the internet through WhatsApp and through VoIP, even Facetime is using VoIP technology and with it comes flexibility.

The Horizon VoIP system is actually the system chosen by iPlus Group, through Lister Communications, who use it as the front end telephone system with an 01242 area code and from that all staff have the Horizon icon on their phones, laptops and PCs. The system then routes calls to the team or individuals seamlessly with staff located within the UK and France. The Horizon system has all the telephony functionality you would expect from a phone system along with conference call facility and video calls and a low cost per month.

Get all the links you need in the full magazine, and well as some great tips for turning your home office into the comfortable, motivating space you want it to be!