The technological challenges of hybrid working

an interview

with Chris Southern

CHRIS SOUTHERN

GENERAL SALES MANAGER

ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS

THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF HYBRID WORKING

It’s no secret that hybrid working lifestyles have been widely adopted all over the world. With many employees having to adapt to a new way of working, this includes teachers and students too. Simon Hayes, Meeting Room and Collaboration Specialist from NEC sat down with Chris Southern, the General Sales Manager at Midwich to discuss hybrid working in the corporate world and what the education industry can learn from it.

Simon: 2020 saw many businesses enable remote working under extremely challenging circumstances. Now the dust is starting to settle, what is the key focus for businesses?

Chris: Businesses are now looking to invest in technology that will support their hybrid workforces for the foreseeable future. The key is to ensure that wherever your workforce is, they feel connected. 2020 was about working from home, but now, businesses are looking for technology that supports working from anywhere.

Simon: To allow working from anywhere possible, businesses need to find a way to balance remote and in-office work, how can they achieve this?

Chris: In-person meetings will continue to be vitally important for business and providing a space that’s conducive for creative thinking and collaboration is key. One element of this is the technology, as there will be remote participants who must feel as though they were in the room. I believe the future is flexible spaces that can adapt to changing needs and easily accommodate different group sizes with social distancing and environmental conditions in mind. Using sensor technology is a smart way to manage meeting room parameters such as optimising air quality and matching usage to capacity.

Simon: What is one of the biggest issues that workers face when they use a meeting space?

Chris: Connectivity! There is nothing more frustrating than technology not working. AV equipment in meeting spaces should be there to facilitate, but it often has little quirks… a jumble of cables, a necessary adaptor and remote that are missing or no signal. IT departments are notoriously resource-stretched, so a simple connection that ‘just works’ is essential. Simon: In what other ways can technology help relieve the pressure of resource-stretched IT departments?

Chris: If users can access already familiar tools and applications, there will be less demand for training and additional support. This is where Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) initiatives have been so influential. By plugging in their own laptop or tablet, workers continue to use their familiar interface, just on a much bigger screen that can be shared with other meeting participants.

Simon: Making people feel connected is an important point you raised. Is it possible for remote workers to feel as engaged and valued as their in-room colleagues?

Chris: Our lockdown UC experiences have helped to normalise video meetings: everyone feels less awkward and more comfortable with the camera on. But what is absolutely vital is the quality of the audio and visual experience. If you can be seen and heard as if you were in the room, this is the next best thing to being there yourself. Luckily there are many peripherals and tools to choose from but opting for a solution that has been certified by Microsoft or Zoom will be familiar and provide a high-quality user experience.

Simon: How do you think Sharp/NEC can help businesses with the changing workplace landscape?

Chris: When we’re talking specifically about hybrid working and the challenges that this might create, the NEC WD551 Windows Collaboration Display is ideal as it has been purposefully designed to provide the functionality that businesses need. I’m very happy that Midwich can offer this solution as part of our enterprise portfolio.

Education will need to mirror the hybrid working experience in the classroom with blended learning. Parents won’t accept anything less that the experience they are getting at work, for their children’s futures and education at school.