Extensive remote working may continue
Traumatic as it has been, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake with deaths and tens of thousands of people affected, Covid-19 has not only entrenched basic hygiene, it has made working from home a new global trend.
According to the latest research conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Citrix Systems, most employees are unlikely to be returning to their offices any time soon, regardless of the easing of lockdown.
This, said Citrix, was largely due to the rapid shift to remote working that has accelerated digital transformation at most companies. Companies are now preparing for a new work order, with technology in place to enable employees to collaborate as effectively as they can face-to-face.
In the survey, over 75% of more than 3 700 information technology (IT) leaders in seven countries said they believed the majority of workers would be reluctant to return to the office following the coronavirus outbreak.
The survey also found that:
A total of 69% of IT decision-makers found it surprisingly easy for the majority of employees to work from home, with 71% saying the technology put in place enabled them to collaborate just as effectively. This prompted the revival of digital engines and solutions to support remote work for the long haul.
More than 60% are considering downsizing physical IT infrastructure and transitioning to a cloud model.
Nearly 70% of IT leaders are worried about information security, due to employees working from home ,and 54% have seen a spike in employees installing unsanctioned software. More than 20% said unscheduled virtual personal network shutdowns had been a key problem over the past few weeks. About 42% anticipate introducing digital workspace platforms and 44% are looking to public cloud services to facilitate longterm remote work.
IT solutions specialist Troye Computer Systems chief executive Helen Kruger said the road to widespread remote work had not been easy. “Almost half of the IT leaders who participated in the survey say their companies did not have a business continuity plan, based on the vast majority of employees working from home, and 61% found it challenging to make the switch,” said Kruger.
Meanwhile, the widespread adoption of remote work has concerned property investors, with the coronavirus outbreak causing a sudden evacuation of offices and a likely long-term decline in demand for office space, according to Mark Callender, head of real estate research at Schroders.
Majority will be reluctant to return to the office