Navisite recently conducted a study to determine the impact of the overnight shift to remote work caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The survey found that over one-third of the companies were unprepared to support such a large scale remote-work model. Let’s dig into the details of their findings and the implications for businesses moving forward.
Survey Findings
The goal of Navisite’s research was to determine the impact of the widespread shift to remote business operations. They surveyed over 100 executives and directors in the U.S. to determine how the abrupt changes caused by COVID-19 impacted them. Specifically, they wanted to see how well companies were able to pivot to a remote work environment – practically overnight.
The survey found that a significant number of companies did not have the infrastructure in place to support employees working from home on such a large scale. This resulted in struggles with IT problems during the transition – and some organizations are still working to address those issues.
Statistically speaking, 36% of the companies were not prepared for this abrupt transition – and 51% of the firms reported having IT difficulties. At least 29% of the businesses that reported having technology-related issues with their remote workforce are still facing them today.
These issues stemmed from poor home internet bandwidth – with 49% of companies mentioning this concern – as well as security and compliance risk. 46% of these companies worried that compliance and security standards could not be maintained remotely.
Remote Work Moving Forward
It is likely that remote work, whether it is partial or full-time, will be part of the new normal even post-COVID-19. Before this global pandemic, only 14% of the companies surveyed had more than half of their staff working remotely – this number has now exceeded 64%.
Even the most prepared businesses could not have planned for this rapid transformation, but now that many have made the transition, they may continue this trend moving forward. Of the firms surveyed, 83% believed that they will allow employees to work from home regularly – even after restrictions are lifted.
Your Office, Wherever You Are
We are dedicated to making all office environments work and wholly believe that every workplace can have a successful, always and everywhere connected environment, even when the change is rapid. In the last six months, the world has proven to us that situations evolve quickly, and we must all adapt to new realities at an accelerated rate. In this day and age, you should be able to take your entire office with you, and be ready for what’s next – no matter what’s thrown at you.
Contact us to see how we can help to enable the rapid digital transformation currently happening in many workplaces.
