# Finding New Pathways to efficiency in a Hybrid Workplace Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-02-03 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: The Future of Remote Work: Building a Hybrid Workplace Model Meta Description: Discover how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the way we work in Europe, with insights on remote working trends and challenges ahead. URL: https://financedigest.com/finding-new-pathways-to-efficiency-in-a-hybrid-workplacehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/untitled-design-1-1736838595818-compressed.jpg) _By **Mohit Joshi,** President, Infosys_ Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit us, flexible working arrangements existed but were not commonly practiced in Europe. Eurofound 2020 finds that [40% of the current working population in Europe began teleworking](https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eurofound.europa.eu%2Fpublications%2Freport%2F2020%2Fliving-working-and-covid-19&data=04%7C01%7Cdena.tahmasebi%40infosys.com%7C76c530e15cc64077454e08d8a762b15e%7C63ce7d592f3e42cda8ccbe764cff5eb6%7C0%7C0%7C637443389611068244%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=I2YQhO0dt%2F0nd2VP3afmcjLpYb3RnRcTT%2Bzw6uGoBDE%3D&reserved=0) because of the virus compared to [15%](https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fec.europa.eu%2Fjrc%2Fsites%2Fjrcsh%2Ffiles%2Fjrc120945_policy_brief_-_covid_and_telework_final.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cdena.tahmasebi%40infosys.com%7C76c530e15cc64077454e08d8a762b15e%7C63ce7d592f3e42cda8ccbe764cff5eb6%7C0%7C0%7C637443389611078199%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=RM%2FLNn4cbsKPsIYa4rTsQnHIA1hel5JFkJnBCi2Rc9o%3D&reserved=0) before the outbreak. This large and sudden shift caused immense challenges in the workplace. However, 2020 has proved that [remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/helping-employees-recover-from-remote-workings-mental-health-implications.html "Helping employees recover from remote working’s mental health implications") is here to stay. A June 2020 survey by [Global Workplace Analytics](https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalworkplaceanalytics.com%2Fbrags%2Fnews-releases&data=04%7C01%7Cdena.tahmasebi%40infosys.com%7C76c530e15cc64077454e08d8a762b15e%7C63ce7d592f3e42cda8ccbe764cff5eb6%7C0%7C0%7C637443389611078199%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Mw8KPAAg%2FSD8uioS2eWg%2Bz%2FogRBw8WKJ5VeYNanAwzM%3D&reserved=0) predicts that over 75 million employees may be working from home before the crisis is over. Clearly, organisations [need to create the infrastructure and the policies to support](https://www.financedigest.com/hung-out-to-dry-smes-need-further-support-to-stay-afloat.html "Hung Out to Dry: SMEs need further support to stay afloat") the new way of working. Businesses have been gradually [adopting digital](https://www.financedigest.com/why-banks-cant-adopt-digital-identities-fast-enough.html "Why Banks Can’t Adopt Digital Identities Fast Enough") solutions and building the necessary infrastructure to support this transition since March 2020. What began as a response to a [crisis is now emerging](https://www.financedigest.com/break-in-case-of-emergency-plan-early-plan-now-for-effective-crisis-comms.html "Break in case of emergency – plan early, plan now, for effective crisis comms") as a preference. Some of Europe’s large companies are contemplating [changing their work model](https://www.financedigest.com/insurers-must-reimagine-traditional-risk-models-to-adapt-to-climate-change.html "Insurers Must Reimagine Traditional Risk Models to Adapt to Climate Change "). UniCredit SpA, an Italian global banking, and financial services company, plans to have [40% of their work done remotely](https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F2020-10-07%2Feurope-s-banks-get-serious-about-work-from-home-after-pandemic&data=04%7C01%7Cdena.tahmasebi%40infosys.com%7C76c530e15cc64077454e08d8a762b15e%7C63ce7d592f3e42cda8ccbe764cff5eb6%7C0%7C0%7C637443389611088151%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=of8Ycw407AMSn%2F6q%2FDRFasbJlP3c0WHhjJMFrqPnys4%3D&reserved=0) after the pandemic. [Siemens AG](https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fm-magazine.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2Foct%2Fcoronavirus-remote-work-policies-permanent-hybrid.html&data=04%7C01%7Cdena.tahmasebi%40infosys.com%7C76c530e15cc64077454e08d8a762b15e%7C63ce7d592f3e42cda8ccbe764cff5eb6%7C0%7C0%7C637443389611088151%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=K%2F7iekP%2BKhbopgNzi0H3338iT49zkCK2BJnYpZ0owqU%3D&reserved=0), a German multinational, intends to allow its employees to work remotely for two or three days every week. Transport company Uber has extended its [work from home](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-maintain-physical-and-mental-health-while-working-from-home.html "How to maintain physical and mental health while working from home") policy until the end of June 2021. In fact, many European countries are now framing [regulations and legislations around remote working](https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fcoronavirus-remote-work-europe%2F2020%2F09%2F04%2F6e4a19c6-e23e-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html&data=04%7C01%7Cdena.tahmasebi%40infosys.com%7C76c530e15cc64077454e08d8a762b15e%7C63ce7d592f3e42cda8ccbe764cff5eb6%7C0%7C0%7C637443389611098107%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=8TnA2qInoTA8aK9Ie5wt00N0dX7iqZmpKH1FYvOEh1s%3D&reserved=0). At Infosys, we too shifted [nearly 99% of our workforce to a work-from-home](https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyourstory.com%2F2020%2F11%2Fremote-working-model-here-to-stay-infosys-hr-krish-shankar&data=04%7C01%7Cdena.tahmasebi%40infosys.com%7C76c530e15cc64077454e08d8a762b15e%7C63ce7d592f3e42cda8ccbe764cff5eb6%7C0%7C0%7C637443389611098107%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=538Ct%2F65Zo6acc%2FLWCuzIx06JUOxrDN9J%2F9B%2BE0LRNI%3D&reserved=0) model since March 2020 and will continue to find ways to support this hybrid model in the post-COVID years. Having established the reality of this change, the question before organisations is how they will support the needs of the remote employee. What will the modern workplace look like? **The primary needs of a hybrid workplace** We believe the future workplace will be a [hybrid model consisting of people working from both remote](https://www.financedigest.com/remote-and-hybrid-work-are-here-to-stay-as-cyberattacks-escalate.html "Remote and Hybrid Work are Here to Stay as Cyberattacks Escalate") locations and office premises. To ensure its resilience, we envision it to be knowledge- and – a data-driven organisation with agility built into the organisation’s gene to [quickly adapt to the changing](https://www.financedigest.com/seeking-right-tone-new-uk-pm-truss-had-to-quickly-change-gear-for-queen.html "Seeking right tone, new UK PM Truss had to quickly change gear for queen") environment and continuously evolve in response. Processes and collaboration will be integrated and streamlined. Employees will be empowered to self-serve themselves, with intelligent insights and sentient operations, [enabling them to be hyperproductive and work](https://www.financedigest.com/smart-working-versus-presenteeism-enabling-productivity-in-a-post-pandemic-hybrid-work-culture.html "Smart Working Versus Presenteeism: Enabling Productivity in a Post-Pandemic Hybrid Work Culture") seamlessly across channels. This new workplace will demand focus on three primary needs, namely: ![Mohit Joshi](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/mohit-joshi-scaled-e1612349922534-1736838595984-compressed.jpg) Mohit Joshi **Productivity:** Employees will need all the [support they can acquire to get their work done without any hindrances due to a lack of co-locational presence of colleagues or time](https://www.financedigest.com/allowing-yourself-time-to-grow-as-a-leader-consciously-will-enable-you-to-support-your-team-authentically.html "Allowing yourself time to grow as a leader, consciously, will enable you to support your team authentically") differences. Approval, review, analysis, presentation, strategizing, ideating, and brainstorming – most of these activities at the workplace need information, tools, process guidelines, and collaboration. The hybrid and remote workplace must provide the necessary framework to employees so that they can perform their day-to-day activities from anywhere without unnecessary delay. Besides, employees [must be freed from doing routine and repetitive work](https://www.financedigest.com/why-employers-rocked-by-the-great-resignation-must-keep-working-mothers-on-board.html "Why employers rocked by the Great Resignation must keep working mothers on board ") to focus on strategic tasks. **Engagement:** A significant difference most employees feel when [working](https://www.financedigest.com/the-evolving-world-of-work-what-next-for-employers.html "The Evolving World Of Work – What Next For Employers?") from home is the inability to walk up to their colleagues’ desk to clarify a query, to gather information, or seek suggestions. They may find it [hard to put up a sales pitch to a client without visiting them at their office](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-pm-sunaks-office-says-the-hard-work-begins-now35794.html "UK PM Sunak’s office says ‘the hard work begins now’"). Managers may find it hard to delegate tasks without the ability to share their [plans in a meeting room in the team’s presence](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-unicredit-clash-over-capital-plans-russia-presence-ft-says.html "ECB, UniCredit clash over capital plans, Russia presence, FT says"). Development teams may find it challenging to integrate the different parts of their [codes to produce a solution](https://www.financedigest.com/why-no-code-beats-custom-software-and-turnkey-solutions-for-business-automation.html "Why no-code beats custom software and turnkey solutions for business automation"). Employees [need the ability to communicate and collaborate with ease with every](https://www.financedigest.com/insurance-that-every-individual-needs.html "Insurance that every individual needs…") stakeholder. **Processes:** Work-related [processes need to be redefined so that the physical work activities](https://www.financedigest.com/how-process-automation-increases-productivity-in-the-insurance-sector-while-giving-employees-room-for-more-high-value-activity.html "How Process Automation increases productivity in the insurance sector while giving employees room for more high value activity") and operations can be conducted in a digital-first manner while ensuring transparency and accountability. Task management, tracking performance, providing employee engagement, training, and communication – are the different work elements that demand well-defined [processes to ensure everyone follows](https://www.financedigest.com/seven-golden-rules-to-follow-when-implementing-kyc-process.html "Seven golden rules to follow when implementing KYC process") the necessary protocol, has access to knowledge, feels motivated, and is empowered. The availability of resources and intelligence that supports efficient work processes is critical to high productivity. **A sentient, [flexible and hyperproductive workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/business-leaders-flexibility-for-everyone-contributes-to-gender-equality-in-the-workplace-without-affecting-your-bottom-line.html "Business leaders: flexibility for everyone contributes to gender equality in the workplace, without affecting your bottom line") in the future** To [support the above mentioned-needs of a modern workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/a-sensitive-guide-to-supporting-your-female-colleagues-in-the-workplace.html "A sensitive guide to supporting your female colleagues in the workplace"), it needs to be digital-first, always-on, flexible, scalable (cloud-based), hyper-personalized, and sentient. A cloud-based, AI-driven workplace is the best choice in the modern context to ensure that not only does it meet these imperatives but that the workplace is future-ready. It must have the capability to support [continuous improvement through an uninterrupted study of what’s working](https://www.financedigest.com/hybrid-working-and-the-continued-security-challenges-for-financial-organisations.html "Hybrid working and the continued security challenges for financial organisations") and what’s not. How do we [enhance the experience](https://www.financedigest.com/how-omnichannel-identity-servers-help-enterprises-enhance-customer-experience-unlock-cost-savings-and-accelerate-time-to-market.html "How omnichannel identity servers help enterprises enhance customer experience, unlock cost savings and accelerate time to market"), how do we amplify productivity? How do we shift to meet the new demands of our clients or the [changing business](https://www.financedigest.com/unitedhealth-to-sell-change-healthcares-claims-business-for-2-2-billion.html "UnitedHealth to sell Change Healthcare’s claims business for .2 billion") environment? We must refer back to the 2020 survey by [Global Workplace Analytics](https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalworkplaceanalytics.com%2Fbrags%2Fnews-releases&data=04%7C01%7Cdena.tahmasebi%40infosys.com%7C76c530e15cc64077454e08d8a762b15e%7C63ce7d592f3e42cda8ccbe764cff5eb6%7C0%7C0%7C637443389611108067%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=ycmwyeIxt%2Bh7TTORaBXdCchOcGnwD0sjY%2Fe4nulMlqs%3D&reserved=0) and give attention to the finding that employees’ productivity can reach 75% of the time when working from home, compared to 63% at the office. Thus, what we need is a [technology framework that can ensure every employee who is working](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-5g-technology-and-how-it-works.html "What is 5G technology and how it works") remotely has access to the necessary infrastructure, tools, and processes to facilitate them in their daily jobs and meet the organizational goals. More importantly, it should enable employees to pursue and excel at their work with new [digital skills](https://www.financedigest.com/utilising-digital-tools-to-close-the-finance-and-accounting-skills-gap.html "Utilising digital tools to close the finance and accounting skills gap") and learnings. This will [ensure job quality](https://www.financedigest.com/planning-elaborately-to-ensure-quality-trade-executions.html "Planning elaborately to ensure quality trade executions"), work-life balance and motivation at work, elements that are much required in a remote-working model. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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