We live in times where in-person meetings have been replaced with virtual calls, bedrooms and kitchens are the new conference rooms, and our professional devices are not just for work anymore but are also the go-to for entertainment. The revelation in this virtual work-life has been the role of the best technology and the way it has paved for businesses of all sizes to unlock new opportunities. As organizations continue to make long-term hybrid work arrangements, the topmost priority for them must be to ensure a healthy flow of information amongst the devices used by their employees.
It is important to remember what worked in the past may not work in the present and the future. At Dell, we are reimagining what the new work-tech relationship should look like is important and how the companies need to embrace the changing dynamics in the hybrid work era.
- Eliminating the concept of ‘one-size-fits-all’: The concept of hybrid work is unique to each of us. It means something different to everyone, but with it comes an overwhelming sense of change and the opportunity to redefine our relationship with work. Today’s on-the-go business leaders need devices that enhance productivity, are easy to carry, look great and pack key collaboration, connectivity, and privacy features. Organizations must design a customized model that is best suited for them. More significantly, they need to achieve the best balance between flexibility and regularity by investing in the necessary infrastructure and technical enhancements
- Seamless transition to productivity as you move between locations: Whether it’s a C-suite executive jumping from video calls to in-person meetings or a creative professional taking a project from inspiration to reality, hybrid work means that team members will be more mobile than ever. This brings new opportunities and considerations for IT managers and facilities teams when thinking about office environments and technology infrastructure. At Dell, we are revolutionizing this through Concept Flow, an adaptable solution that could eliminate many of the frustrations and productivity disruptors. Our teams have married devices, industry-standard wireless charging technology, intelligent software applications, and Wi-Fi 6E docking technology to create a singular, seamless experience. Imagine walking up to an intelligent workspace where your laptop automatically connects to the displays, mouse, keyboard, and your trusted network before you’ve sat down. Although an idea at this stage, this concept puts us a step closer to what we see as work experiences reimagined
- Replacing traditional passwords with biometrics for higher security: As information is now no longer limited to a conventional space, security is a key concern as teams exchange sensitive data. It is time for organizations to evaluate how they are handling security on employee devices and consider incorporating biometrics to maximize employee productivity. Additionally, with the Bring Your Own Devices culture on the rise, physical protection of devices is extremely crucial
- Reimagining a work culture that brings offline and online employees together: While we’ve established that technology will be critical in defining the future of hybrid work, another important element for organizations to consider is driving healthy workplace culture. Experts argue that culture building in a hybrid work world must be deliberate, and organizations must actively prioritize and create opportunities for employees to learn, innovate and collaborate. They also caution against the rise of split cultures between employees who work in the office and those who work remotely – a key consideration that leaders must address as they move forward in a hybrid work world. For more than a decade, Dell Technologies has been championing a flexible work environment; a key component of our company’s culture. Established in 2009, our Connected Workplace program is a strategic business initiative that allows employees to choose the work style that best fulfills their needs on the job and in life in a highly mobile, collaborative, and flexible work setting. Our experience with this program and the events of 2020-2021 has affirmed that the majority of our team members can be productive and successful in a remote working capacity
The promise of hybrid work goes beyond productivity; we believe that the pinnacle of great hybrid work experiences helps achieve balance, and that requires both a culture shift and advancements in technology. At Dell, we’re excited about the future of hybrid work– how we worked yesterday will not be how we will work tomorrow. More importantly, there are opportunities for us to re-imagine how technology can help us achieve more than ever before, and we’ll continue to explore ways to improve work experiences.
Authored by
Indrajit Belgundi, Senior Director and General Manager, Client Solutions Group, Dell Technologies
