Infographic 4 Key Plays to Manage a Dispersed Workforce
By Insight Editor / 15 Oct 2020 / Topics: Mobility Virtualization
Remote work has become a defining feature of the modern workplace. This leaves business leaders with the challenge of deciding how best to manage a dispersed workforce. In this infographic, discover four strategies to help you make decisions today to set your business up for success in the future.
Accessibility note: The infographic is transcribed below the graphic.
Go more in depth on these four strategies in our Tech Journal article, Smart Strategies for Managing a Dispersed Workforce.
Infographic text included for screen readers:
4 Key Plays to Manage a Dispersed Workforce
The workplace of 2020 looks nothing like it did in 2019 and, for most companies, there’s no going back. Remote work is here to stay, which leaves business leaders with the challenge of deciding how best to manage a dispersed workforce. Read on to discover four key strategies that can help you make the right investments today to set your business and your people up for success in the future.
Strategy #1: Optimize what you have.
According to a recent IDG report, 45% of CIOs say their top priority is cost control.
However, CEOs have a different top priority — a tie between digital transformation (37%) and improving remote work experiences (37%).
Luckily, these priorities don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Savvy IT leaders know the best way to control costs is by reducing legacy infrastructure and on-premises dependencies.
Decommissioning legacy architecture helps business leaders cut costs by:
- Increasing IT efficiency
- Decreasing security vulnerabilities
- Reducing the amount of office space needed to operate
- Lowering maintenance and utility costs, such as power and cooling
In fact, the need to replace outdated IT infrastructure is the top factor driving IT budget increases in 2021 for 56% of surveyed organizations.
Strategy #2: Invest in your future.
What you save on expenses through IT consolidation and optimization can be re-invested to fund digital transformation efforts.
44% of IT leaders believe they need to acquire new technology solutions or services in order to address the new work dynamic.
80% of businesses in North America and Europe expect year-over-year tech spending to either increase or stay the same, despite the revenue setbacks of 2020.
Expected IT budget allocations for 2021:
- Hardware – 31%
- Software – 29%
- Cloud-based services – 24%
- Managed services – 16%
Remote enablement technologies such as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and 5G are vital investments if your business plans to continue allowing remote work beyond 2020.
- 46% of organizations in North America and Europe either have or plan to implement VDI in the next two years.
- 34% already have or plan to implement 5G technology in the next two years.
There’s also the human element of enabling remote work, which will require bigger investments in end-user support, and endpoint management and maintenance services.
Strategy #3: See security differently.
With employees now accessing company data outside the office, security has become an even greater concern for IT leaders.
Since the transition to remote work:
An astonishing 85% of CISOs admitted they sacrificed security to quickly enable remote work.
Your people play a key role in keeping company data secure. And yet…
This is why we need to start thinking differently about security. Our approach must shift from device and network security to identity, data and application security.
Implementing these measures will help your data stay more secure:
Strategy #4: Build healthy, virtual culture.
While working from home gives employees greater flexibility and freedom, it has its drawbacks too.
The downside of remote work:
Luckily, virtual culture is a tool business leaders can use to help remote workers connect and feel seen.
What is virtual culture?
“A space where each employee feels comfortable, safe, respected and treated like a valued member of the team; it’s where they feel like they belong.” — Forbes
Build virtual culture with these remote work policies:
Ultimately, the majority of employees value the opportunity to work remote.
Sources:
FiananceBuzz. (2020, May 6). Almost Half of Remote Workers Report Feeling Isolated, But 81% Want to Stay Remote. IDG. (2020, April 30). CIO COVID-19 Impact Study.
Kurter, H. (2020, May 21). How To Build An Inclusive Virtual Culture With These 4 Effective Strategies. Forbes. Netwrix. 2020 Cyber Threats Report.
Spiceworks Ziff Davis. The 2021 State of IT.
