Why security, continuity and visibility are make or break   

The rapid acceleration of hybrid and work from anywhere arrangements is a shift that promises flexibility, but a reset of the traditional office model poses business challenges. 

The new world of work comes with questions:  

• How do you keep the user experience consistent across environments?  
• How can you safeguard security without slowing down remote access to business-critical systems?
• How do you maintain visibility and create genuine opportunities for collaboration and innovation outside the day-to-day interactions of a face-to-face office environment?  

See how the right technology solves collaboration conundrums and unlocks productivity. 

Change is a constant in collaboration 

Barry Fialkov, Outcomex Collaboration Practice Lead, says that companies have had to pivot their meeting space design to better address the hybrid work questions that the pandemic asked.   

“Companies are always experiencing change. A few years ago, the focus was on office fit-outs optimised for on-site video conferencing and collaboration – and that came with high expectations. During the pandemic, employees have become more accommodating and would rather see everyone on the screen at once instead of the life-size experience. “

“Obviously the pandemic sparked change; employees want a good reason to go to the office. The in-person experience needs to offer something not possible for the remote worker.  This has led to the owners of the facilities pivoting to provide a reason to return to the office.  Everything is back on the table, from office spaces to the tech and equipment that remote workers should have access to.” 

Barry Fialkov, Outcomex Collaboration Practice Lead

It starts with secure access

Support how people want to work 

Is it inevitable that collaboration will stall when the workforce is no longer face-to-face? 

“Workplaces are shifting, and many are seeing that they can achieve the same results and productivity without forcing commutes and presenteeism on their staff,” says Barry. 

“Companies are maturing; they understand their employees are delivering outcomes as opposed to delivering hours, and if the face-to-face happens to be via live video and they still deliver, there’s a compelling argument for remote and hybrid work models.” 

Cloud-based collaboration offers an inclusive alternative to traditional in-person events. Built-in closed-caption and real-time translation give everyone the chance to have their say, with polling and live Q&As are popular for increasing engagement.

Effective digital collaboration  

On average, the typical user accesses 9.4 work-specific applications per day. Each application is integrated into the network, but they’re not built to talk to each other. The result is a series of data silos that stymie meaningful collaboration and productivity. 

Purpose-built for a hybrid future, the Webex Suite by Cisco makes it easier to work together by pulling everything into a single system: calls, meetings, messaging, polling, webinars, events, whiteboarding and asynchronous video. One easy-to-use platform saves time, simplifies collaboration, and reduces your threat landscape.  

Not that long ago, you could pick and choose best in breed applications across vendors – but remote and hybrid work demands we move beyond disparate systems if we want effective digital collaboration. This is critical for your clients and stakeholders as well as your staff. A recent Cisco survey revealed that 33% of meetings include at least one external participant.