The world of work has changed for good and employees will no longer be routinely in the office. With some staff at home and others at their desks, hybrid work is becoming the new norm. This change to our work practices so suddenly that not everyone was prepared to move to remote work. An unprecedented pandemic unsurprisingly caught many out and it has taken time to adjust. 

However, after a few months of settling into new routines and adapting the office to long term changes, it’s now time to focus on creating a sustainable digital workplace that accommodates hybrid work.  

What is a digital workplace and why is it necessary? 

Finding an authoritative definition of a digital workplace can be difficult. However, a digital workplace is simply a technology that streamlines multiple tools and applications into a single platform. At its best, it is accessible to employees no matter where they’re located, at any time, across any device.   

With companies moving to hybrid work to ensure safe workspaces, a digital workplace has become more important than ever. In a hybrid work model, employees can alternate between remote and in-office work. Regardless of where they are working from, employees need easy access to information and to be able to fully collaborate with co-workers. 

Why introduce hybrid work? 

A hybrid work model has become a necessity for several reasons. First, in the current health crisis, offices have had to adapt to ensure enough space between employees to allow safe social distancing. Not all organizations have brought employees back to the office but for those that have, certain precautions are necessary. More space between staff naturally leads to less room for desks and smaller numbers of employees in the office. The result is that it is not feasible for all staff to physically be in the office.  

Second, after months of imposed work from home, some employees have thrived and want to continue remote work. Organizations have recognized that remote working should remain an option for some or all staff. In fact, 60% of employees want more flexibility in where and when they get their work done. Offering flexibility is a great first step. But it needs to be supported with digital tools that make transitioning between home and the office easy. A digital workplace can provide this solution.  

Digital Workplace Tools to Facilitate Hybrid Work 

Remote working looks likely to stay for the long term and sustainable solutions are needed to keep employees and organizations happy and productive. A study by BCG found that employees satisfied with their digital tools are twice as likely to be productive in remote working. Any solution must however take into account both remote and in-office employees. In a hybrid workforce, employees need consistent communication from a central point and to be able to collaborate with co-workers, from anywhere. They need to be able to access information and documents easily and securely. Employees also need to have a sense of belonging and feel part of the company.   

Powell 365: A Full Digital Workplace Solution 

At Powell Software our mission is to connect organizations with employees through a complete digital workplace. We achieve this through Powell 365, a two-pillar solution. First, Powell Intranet for corporate communications and employee engagement. Second, Powell Teams to enhance Microsoft Teams with governance for IT and improved usage and adoption for end-users. Our ready-to-use and customizable templates combine these pillars to help transform business processes for hybrid work.  

Organizations no longer need to choose between an Intranet or Teams to engage with employees. In fact, combining both tools is the ideal solution to ensure effective communication and collaboration. Powell 365 bridges Microsoft Teams and Powell Intranet to provide a full digital workplace composed of two pillars.  

Powell Teams for Better Collaboration 

The collaboration pillar. The sudden adoption of Microsoft Teams by millions has led to the sprawl of virtual teams. Too many teams and a lack of organization can leave users lost in a haze of messages and documents. Powell Teams solves this with an easy-to-use homepage allowing users to find their favorite Teams and view the latest key information. IT can put in place governance, control the creation and life cycle of teams, and secure best practices using guided templates.   

Powell Intranet for Improved Communication 

The communication pillar. With hybrid work becoming the new norm, organizations must guarantee the inclusion of all employees. An important part of this is ensuring that everyone receives the same information. It’s also crucial to keep a social link at all levels of the organization and maintain a sense of belonging. An Intranet is a perfect solution. Powell Intranet allows Human Resources and Internal Communication teams to build an agile Intranet, with a modern design that is easy to install and update.   

Powell Teams and Powell Intranet are easily interlinked, to ensure a seamless transition between the two. With Powell 365 you can access your Intranet directly from Microsoft Teams and vice versa. Users don’t even need to leave the Microsoft Teams app to access the Intranet, it’s accessible in one click.  By integrating both platforms into the tools employees use daily, you can ensure they get important information, have access to all the knowledge they need, and can easily communicate.  

Things to Consider in your Digital Workplace Solution

Future Proof Solutions  

If you’re considering the next step in transitioning to a hybrid work model, consider what digital tools you currently have in place. Have you adapted to the modern work world? Are you confident in your ability to face future challenges? Your digital workplace should be adaptable and make you feel secure to take on the modern workplace. Future proof your organization with a digital workplace model that is continuously updated and relevant.  

Facilitate Remote and In-Person Work  

Facilitating in–person and remote work can be difficult. However, with the right digital workplace, a hybrid work model can present serious benefits not only to staff morale but also customer experience and ultimately the bottom line. Ensure your teams can collaborate wherever they are in the world. Get the right messages to people with no language barriers. The right digital workplace solution needs to include both in-person and remote staff. Make it inclusive, with Powell Intranet and our FlexDesk widget, employees can reserve their physical desk for the days they’re in office. Safely facilitating employee presence. 

Provide the Right Tools for Effective Communication and Collaboration 

Managing a remote and in-person team requires careful planning and a change of mentality. Make sure your organization is ready to make the move with a solution that bridges communication and collaboration software. With Powell 365, ensure employees have all the information they need and can work together effectively. 

If you’re interested in learning more about how Powell Software can help your organization move to hybrid work, schedule a demo today. Our team are experts in digital workplace solutions and can help you get yours up and running. 

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