First things first. Remote and Hybrid Work isn’t new to India.
Several technology companies have been following this model since years.
What is indeed new is the size and speed of the shift; a shift from a niche model reserved for a select few to a wide proliferation, acceptance and preference for the Remote Work model across the board.
Though the word revolution often tends to get overused, the shift to Remote and Hybrid Work does truly qualify as a revolution.
Of course, it’s not suitable for everyone; professions like assembly line attendants, construction supervisors or repair & maintenance professionals may need to wait for massive improvements in 3D printing technology.
Medical professionals may need to wait for multi-fold proliferation of sensor-based hardware or massive refinements in the dexterity of robotic surgical equipment.
However, for a majority of knowledge-centric work – typical of financial institutions with digitally owned & controlled assets – the future has arrived. These institutions, already a part of the way there, are hungering to adapt to this New Normal.
Yet other organizations are keen to shift some sections of their organizations to Remote and Hybrid Work.
Unfortunately, as we all know well, the route to this fantastic place has wound through difficult times.
The Trigger
Though the world has been undergoing changes to the way we live and work since years, the COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly the trigger for the widespread changes and adoption. In some cases, changes have been accelerated by up to a decade by COVID-19.
In essence, Remote and/or Hybrid Work has proven to be the silver lining in an otherwise dark and dense cloud.
COVID-19 will likely be followed by more such major events in India and across the world during our lifetimes.
Perhaps several more (keep a look out for our detailed blog on this in the coming weeks).
The Good News
The good news is that we humans are adaptive at our core. Our adaptability almost defines us in some ways. There has been a significant increase in the confidence levels around the world in our ability to survive and even to thrive in such situations and upheavals.
The Change
Businesses struggled with the pandemic restrictions by shifting to working remotely.
Of course, the forced and hurried shift led to tremendous frustration.
Though initially adopted hurriedly to tide over the immediate crises, the long-term benefits of remote work and a distributed framework to their people (and on costs) soon became very apparent.
Moving away from fixed costs allowed businesses to future-proof themselves and, as a bonus, ingrain flexibility into themselves. Governments too have recognized the sustainability and positivity of distributed framework (compared to, say, the burdens of a static centralized office space where people commute for hours to gather each day).
Reacting to Change
Unfortunately, some businesses were unable to favourably react to the challenge and found that setting up a distributed infrastructure in a controlled and sustainable manner is a daunting proposition.
Unfortunately in some cases, these challenges have forced businesses to attempt to revert to the earlier state and abandon the benefits of Remote and Hybrid Workplaces.
Accepting Change
Most businesses have, however, recognized the all-round long-term benefits – to costs, flexibility, revenues, the bottom line, work-life balance, access to talent, employee retention, improvement in health, environment … the list goes on.
Acceptance and appreciation for the ‘New Normal’ has thus set in quite quickly despite the significance of the change.
Adapting to Change
The businesses that have accepted the change also appreciate the chance to lock in these benefits. However, they recognize the need to identify and manage risks from these changes in a sustainable manner.
They have realized that technology is just one part of Remote and Hybrid Work. In many cases, it’s the easy part.
A distributed framework to support Remote Work, for all its tremendous efficiency and cost advantage, also require focus on aspects like data security, workforce management, systems, privacy, sustained availability, employment laws, corporate laws, supervision, morale, municipal regulations, expense management, finance and accounting, human resources and critically, the sustainability of smooth daily operations of the businesses.
And That Brings Us To Today
It is clear that the path forward are Remote and Hybrid Workplaces. But it is also clear that Remote and Hybrid Work cannot look anything like the hastily cobbled together patchwork we rushed into when the pandemic hit more than a year ago.
When the many needed changes are analysed, assessed and incorporated (into your processes, your paperwork, your financial structure, your organizational culture and indeed, your life), it will feel like truly having stepped into the next phase of the evolution of work. Today’s gray clouds point to a great tomorrow.
