In 2019, 19% of employees worldwide worked remotely. By the end of 2021, that figure rose to 32%. This surge in remote work, which has continued into 2022, has caused PC and tablet sales to exceed 500 million units for the first time in history. However, the impact is not only seen in sales but also in the way people relate to their work environment. Keep reading to learn more about the trends shaping the new era of online work.
The New Reality of Remote Work
What once seemed like an idealistic dream or utopian wish has now become a reality: telecommuting is now part of the daily routine for many workers. This situation was triggered by the pandemic, aimed at preventing the spread of the virus, but it has also marked a before and after in how both workers and companies perceive work. So much so that some businesses are considering adopting remote work as their preferred or only option.
It is important to note that remote work is not a new concept. However, it became necessary unexpectedly due to a global event. Many companies had to digitize to not only protect their employees but also safeguard the health of their customers and comply with mobility restrictions.
Benefits of Remote Work
Many people have found that their productivity and efficiency have improved with remote work. According to a study by Microsoft, involving 3,600 employees from 36 cities around the world, 41% of workers reported being satisfied with remote work, and another 15% considered it a positive method and wished it would be implemented at their company.
In addition to the points mentioned, the major benefits include:
1.- Time savings
2.- Improved quality of life
3.- Cost savings
4.- Reduced pollution and better environmental impact
Remote Work Will Change How We Buy and Use Technology
This trend in remote work will also drive organizations to accelerate their digital transformation plans by at least five years by 2024. These strategies will have to "adapt to a post-COVID-19 world, which means greater and permanent adoption of remote work and digital touchpoints," according to Atwal.
This scenario will require companies and public entities to continue investing in technologies that facilitate remote work and others related to hyper-automation, artificial intelligence, and collaboration.
The growth of the hybrid workforce will continue to increase the demand for PCs and tablets. In fact, this year, sales of these devices will exceed 500 million units for the first time in history. Other areas will also see growth, such as global spending on public cloud services, which will increase by more than 23% this year, as CIOs continue to prioritize applications in these environments. Meanwhile, the global market for social and collaboration software will grow by more than 17% this year.
Regarding networks, by 2024, according to the analysis firm, at least 40% of all remote access usage will be served predominantly by Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), up from less than 5% by the end of 2020. Although most organizations will not completely retire their customer-facing VPN services, ZTNA will become the primary replacement technology.
What Trends Define This New Way of Working?
Hybrid Work
According to an IDC study for Latin America, remote or hybrid work will be incorporated or expanded in more than 68% of organizations within their Human Resources policies, making it the strongest trend. This is because it has been proven that efficiency and productivity of local and global teams increase. Additionally, monetary and time costs of commuting to an office or meeting space have been reduced, improving employees' quality of life by decreasing stress and fatigue through more flexible work hours.
E-commerce
The second projected trend is the rise of e-commerce and the gradual disappearance of physical stores. Last year, worldwide e-commerce grew five times faster than before the pandemic.
The study indicates that by 2030, new job positions will emerge in sectors like telemedicine, digital banking, and streaming entertainment, adjusting to new market dynamics and transforming productive roles in the supply chain.
Use of ICTs
A third trend will be the increased use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). According to the study, more than 62% of companies will diversify their supply chains to act more swiftly in the face of crises or unforeseen situations. More than 60% will implement touchless and automated operating models to provide more effective responses to customers and suppliers.
Video Conferencing
A recent study highlights that in the coming years, meetings will include video as a standard measure to promote collaboration between people physically present in offices and remote participants. In this context, the ability to share content in an accessible, visible, and interactive way from anywhere in the world will be another trend that will need to be implemented in offices.
Industry Automation
The third and final trend is the automation of production chains and the integration of artificial intelligence into the market. By 2020, two-thirds of global organizations had increased investment in automation and artificial intelligence.
This could lead to a shift of human capital to other performance areas and new academic training paths.
Digital Training
According to experts, entrepreneurs in startups or SMEs must continue to educate themselves and try to understand topics like big data, artificial intelligence, automation, and other aspects of digital transformation.
“Small business owners and startups shouldn’t have problems, as it’s no longer necessary to have a technical background to learn about technological solutions. We can see this with the abundance of webinars, courses, and conferences available in the market, which will meet their learning needs,” they said.
At the same time, it is expected that in 2022, the trend toward digital adoption and cloud migration will continue.
Focus on Diversity
Employers will increasingly invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) as part of workplace trends in 2022. Much of this investment will shift from setting goals and transparency to action and accountability.
In 2020, many employers set ambitious DE&I goals, which generated a lot of goodwill from employees and society. However, that goodwill will not last without employers acting. Many employees still have doubts about their employers’ commitment to DE&I.
In 2022, employers will need to commit more to sharing data and progress on their DE&I goals. This can help guide companies toward accountability and ultimately help drive progress and elevate the conversation. Sharing progress can create a set of data and common language for people to use to discuss DE&I efforts in the future.
Remote work is a trend that took hold in 2020, continued into 2021, and will persist into 2022. However, as we've seen, remote work is not always done in the same way and tends to evolve. It's important that, as businesses, we stay informed to improve the work environment and implement technological innovations that facilitate and optimize remote work. Contact us for advice.
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