As WFH becomes ‘New Normal’: Businesses urged to invest in smart mobile technology

CEBU, Philippines —  As the work dynamics is expected to change, consequently embracing work-from-home set up, technology company Lenovo urged companies to invest in smarter mobile technologies designed to bolster employee productivity at home or outside the office.

Research recently released by Lenovo shows that employees and businesses are adapting to work from home (WFH) arrangements, with smart technologies having already enabled the rise of a global workforce that stays connected in a work-from-anywhere world.

“Our survey suggests that the employee experience was already changing before the pandemic hit,” said Michael Ngan, President and General Manager of Lenovo Philippines adding that in the past 15 years, the number of those regularly working from home has grown 159 percent in the US and the same increase is happening in other markets.

“While our current situation is extraordinary, we are seeing a real willingness from workers to adapt and adopt flexible work arrangements. This confirms that corporate technology investments are paying off, as most people now feel productive at home and believe that the workforce will move more in this direction once the crisis has passed,” noted Ngan.

Worldwide, the rapid adoption of WFH policies has been made possible by the increasing sophistication and affordability of smart mobile technology, which has enabled many employees to work when away from their desk.

  Changing workforce demographics play a part too. The Millennials and Generation Z employees who make up nearly 60 percent of the workforce today grew up with video on demand, networked video games, and video communication platforms. These digital natives are driving the development and adoption of technology for remote working and collaboration.

The ‘race for talent’ has also put organizations under significant pressure to rethink their workspace, technology, and culture to attract and retain the best people.

A 2018 Harvard Business School global study of 6,500 business leaders found that over 60 percent predicted that employee expectations for flexible working will significantly affect the future of work.

  With the government extending the enhanced community quarantine to May 15 in select regions, provinces, and cities, including the Province of Cebu and Cebu City to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the Philippines is joining the worldwide trend of encouraging people to work from home wherever feasible to intensify social distancing.

“At a time when all companies need to navigate uncertainty and keep their business running, technology enables them to keep moving forward. Companies need to adjust now and ensure their employees have the video tools, technology, and training required to succeed today and in a future where more remote working may be the norm,” Ngan added.