Hybrid working is a relatively new concept that business managers would have turned their noses up five years ago. Some companies, perhaps the ones that would like to refer to themselves as the cool ones, have adopted hybrid and remote working models for years. Google, for example, is the prime example of a relaxed company trying to be cool. Generally speaking, most companies followed a corporate business model that is centered around the office environment.
But the pandemic caused a shift in the paradigm. Businesses were forced to work from home, and now the overwhelming opinion is people don’t want to return to the office. One study saw 97% of respondents say they don’t want to return to the office. Could this be the next best thing for a B2B model of working? Yes, and you can find out why below.
Buyers Want Remote Sales, So Why Not Have Remote Workers
One of the emerging trends in the B2B world is buyers wanting remote, self-service sales – two-thirds of them do, to be precise. And when you look at the entire buying cycle, buyers only make contact with sellers around 17% of the time. That begs the question, what’s the need for employees to be in the office?
Hybrid working has numerous perks, from improved employee productivity and happiness to cutting costs – but some brands are still reluctant to adopt the new working model. That’s evident from a recent CNBC article that states that although 79% of companies intend on moderate to extensive hybrid working changes, only 40% of those companies have put the plan into action.
Corporate companies drag their heels because it’s the complete opposite of a traditional corporate working environment. They feel a lack of control, insight, and productivity will come from hybrid working.
Does It Harm Productivity?
Some say it harms productivity, and some say hybrid working enhances productivity, so which one is it? The data shows that the hybrid working model does increase productivity if it’s done right. SaaS has enabled companies to work remotely or within the office seamlessly through tools like DropBox and Zoom that allow employees to communicate from anywhere around the globe.
Plus, hybrid working isn’t a fully remote working model – companies still have the chance to bring employees in multiple times a week so they can work in the office. But, there’s no doubt that working from home in a relaxing home environment can improve productivity – despite TikTok videos telling the world that working from home is a chance to sleep between calls.
To mitigate the risk of reduced productivity, brands could sign up for an employee engagement programme that will reward based on productivity, goals met, attending work, and much more. Not only is this a great way to make employees happy – it’s a kill two birds with one stone scenario because the incentive scheme doubles up as a productivity tracker. Employees that never reach rewards obviously need encouragement and support.
Hybrid Working Is Easy To Change
Those companies sceptical about the hybrid working business model will be pleased to know it’s very flexible. Companies set the precedence for how often employees need to be in the office, the targets they need to meet at home, and whether to revert back to a fully office-based working model. It also gives employees the chance to make their decisions about whether to work at home or in the office. Some employees will admit they feel more productive at home, and others in the office.
Post pandemic, many companies began offering hybrid working because they believed it would support employees suffering from isolation and subsequent mental health issues. It’s easy to tailor a hybrid working model to the needs of employees and the company.
Have you gone down the route of a hybrid business model, or are you curious about how it can benefit your business? Multiple online articles support brands and employees with a hybrid working model – and if it doesn’t work, office working can always return. But it’s absolutely worth exploring a hybrid working business model if you haven’t done it already.