Remote, Return or Hybrid?
What the heck is going on with the future of work?
The future of work is no longer something to plan for – it’s here. That was the key message yesterday at the relatively new Commercial Integrator Expo in Denver, (co-located with the residential CEDIA expo) where I had the privilege of organizing the unified communications track.
CIX Smart Stage Panel 2024I moderated a session titled “Remote, Return, or Hybrid: What the Heck is Going On?” – and the discussion made it clear that businesses need to make decisions now or risk getting left behind. This was a dynamic discussion about the evolving landscape of work and how businesses are grappling with the decision to either return to the office, embrace remote work, or adopt a hybrid model. About five years past the end of the pandemic this cultural tug-of-war is still not settled, and honestly, still not even close.
Only Half Are Moving Forward
My panel of speakers represented collaboration and AV technology organizations that interact daily with user organizations. They were Mitchell Hershkowitz, Market Development for Canon AMLOS, Katie Macfarlane, Senior Collaboration Sales at Cisco, Amelia Vrabel, Alliances GTM Manager at Q-SYS, and Joel Mulpeter, Director of Product Marketing at Crestron. Despite their different organizational backgrounds, they all agreed on one startling fact: only 50% of user firms have accepted that office spaces need to adapt for the future. This statistic reflects a divide in the business world – half are moving forward, while the other half are stuck, trying to hold on to the past.
The discussion revealed that while many companies acknowledge the need to update their offices, they often don’t know where to start. Some are waiting for clearer signals from the market, but the more proactive organizations are already embedding flexibility into their designs, transforming rigid, pre-pandemic office layouts into adaptable, tech-enabled spaces.
This split highlights the uncertainty that still pervades the workplace, even as some companies try to define their future of work strategies.
Don’t Start With Technology
Interestingly, the panelists – representing companies that sell AV and collaboration technology – unanimously emphasized that technology isn’t the starting point. The conversation, they argued, must begin with planning. Organizations need to focus on people, resource allocation, and setting appropriate goals before considering the technology. While this might seem surprising, coming from people whose job is to sell technology, they were adamant that rushing into tech solutions without a clear plan is a recipe for failure.
A key takeaway from the panel was that technology should not be tacked on at the end after architectural and facility plans have been finalized. Instead, successful modernization efforts require embedding technology into the design process from the start. It’s not enough to simply retrofit an old office with new tech – forward-thinking companies are ensuring that their office spaces and technologies evolve together to meet the needs of a hybrid workforce.
Hoteling
One of the most debated topics during the session was the concept of hoteling and hot-desking. These flexible work arrangements, where employees reserve desks on an as-needed basis, are gaining traction as companies explore hybrid work models. However, as the panelists noted, these approaches are still largely in the experimental phase. While hoteling offers flexibility, it doesn’t necessarily result in happier employees, and its success depends heavily on how well it is implemented. Multiple firms in the collaboration industry are developing systems to manage hoteling, but the panelists hinted that the complexity involved might make widespread adoption more challenging than anticipated.
The conversation highlighted that many organizations are eager to jump on the hoteling bandwagon but may be underestimating the difficulties of implementing such systems effectively. Without careful planning and attention to employee needs, hoteling can lead to frustration rather than increased productivity. As firms explore this model, they’ll need to balance flexibility with functionality to ensure that it actually works for their specific environments.
(Look for TalkingPointz to produce a research note on the various hoteling / hot-desking options in the near future.)
The best advice from the session was that the time to act is now. Companies that are still waiting for things to “go back to normal” are wasting valuable time and resources, proverbially sticking their head in the sand. Those that recognize the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and proactive planning are the ones that will thrive in the future of work. Hoping for a return to exactly the way things were is not only futile but dangerous. Businesses that don’t adapt will find themselves struggling to keep up as more forward-thinking competitors take the lead.
The future of work isn’t something that’s going to arrive – it has already landed. It’s time to start planning and building for that future now, or risk getting left behind.
(This and all IMCCA sessions at Commercial Integrator Expo were recorded and will be available to view online soon.)