Hybrid work – tips and ideas

Boosting efficiency with hybrid work models

The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we work. Whereas home office was previously the exception (sometimes even belittled, as a less busy day at home), it is now almost the rule and also valued. In many companies, however, a return to the office is now on the agenda – but not entirely.

The shift to remote working has made business owners consider how companies and teams can work when face-to-face meetings are no longer possible, or even made possible to save costs. Many companies are now looking at how to move forward in the future – from setting up flexible work arrangements, stocking up conference rooms, to ensuring a safe return to the office….

The hybrid workplace, will shape future working and is an opportunity for companies to work more effectively, encourage better collaboration and at the same time provide optimized conditions for employees.

Establish individual solutions or hybrid work concepts.

In various surveys e.g. Washington Post it turned out that 20% of employees would like to work full-time remotely in post-Corona times, while 17% of employees (i.e. almost the same) said they would like to work full-time in the office again. Large companies are preparing well for this: Microsoft, for example, is launching a Hybrid Workplace model that allows employees to move within the country. Google is requiring its approximately 130,000 employees to come into the office only 3 times per week in post-Corona times.

Expand and remodel meeting rooms for better distance compliance.

Due to the distance rules, it is recommended to reduce the capacity of the conference rooms, e.g. to remove every second chair as well as to avoid back-to-back meetings in the conference rooms so that sufficient ventilation can be provided after a meeting. For some companies, this means creating additional meeting rooms.

Multiplatform rooms for smooth communication

Within a company, there is usually a standard conferencing solution that was introduced under time pressure at the outbreak of the pandemic. However, if one now wants to communicate across company boundaries (e.g. participate with Zoom in a team meeting of a customer or supplier), it is often found that there are compatibility problems. Our recommended solution for this is to create multi-platform rooms that allow any standard video technology to join meetings on other platforms.

"Low-Contact Meeting Entry."

In conference rooms, the existing in-room technology (e.g., touch panels or remote controls) must be used again for steering. In order to keep the operating time (and thus a possible risk of infection via the interface) as short as possible, we advise setting up a clean workflow, ideally by having the meeting entry take place via OBTP (one-button-to-push). This also helps to avoid errors. We also recommend checking whether the use of operating elements such as touch panels can be abandoned as a matter of principle. Voice-assisted video systems or room control via app can already make this possible.

Smart Workplaces to control room utilization.

(digital signage, motion sensors and facial recognition) can provide valuable insights and ensure that room utilization can be managed better.