Hybrid Work: Here’s How Large Enterprises Can Survive

Large companies cannot sustain a hybrid workplace model without quickly automating their processes

Constant change amid a nebulous environment where organizations adopt new ways to ensure workforce agility and business continuity is the new ‘normal.’ The hybrid work culture is one of the most significant manifestations of this approach that will likely remain a long-term fixture rather than a temporary change to tide over the ongoing disruption. 

A significant outcome of the pandemic is the integration of technology to augment operational efficiency and employee satisfaction. Creating a connected employee experience by leveraging technology is no longer a choice but a necessity for organizations to continue with their critical initiatives.
 

As large enterprise companies continue to undertake digital transformation initiatives, their success amid a swift pivot underlines that they can not only survive but succeed now and in the future. International Data Corporation (IDC) findings reveal that companies globally spent a whopping US$ 342 billion on AI-based solutions in 2021 and are doubling down on their commitment to leveraging tech-based platforms. This breathtaking pace of investment in AI will push the numbers beyond the half-a-trillion-dollar mark by 2024!  

There is a reason for this unprecedented enthusiasm. Automation allows enterprises to become more data-driven, which has a unique circular effect. The more data that an organization has access to, and the more quickly it can assemble it, the more information it will have, which can enable faster actions and decision-making. Continuous adaptability and agility in a hybrid ecosystem are paramount to corporate success. 

Automation is Scalable

Automating ostensibly simple tasks has remarkable benefits when done at scale. For instance, let’s consider filling and submitting timesheets. Manual timesheet entries take anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes every day. By extrapolating this number, we know that an employee spends 4-5 billable hours every month to complete them. So, an enterprise with 1,000 employees loses close to 5,000 billable hours every month! 

Notably, early adopters of automation can reap more benefits as their business expands because their platforms can continue to scale too. Automating time tracking at scale has other advantages aside from monitoring the “in” and “out” time. It enables organizations to closely track and monitor tasks, projects, and resources. This sweeping vantage point offers them a comprehensive overview of teams’ existing workflows to identify efficiency gaps if any.

Automation is not the sole purview of organizations with hundreds and thousands of employees. Companies with even fifty resources can use automation tools to save time and optimize resources. Now, automation and tech interventions are not new concepts. That companies were oblivious to automation solutions before the pandemic is a false notion. However, it is not some esoteric wisdom to posit that requirements have changed drastically. Workforces now operate remotely or in hybrid setups and companies, too, are hiring remotely. This change in the operational model means that they now require new workflows and operations-side plans to accommodate new ways of working. And automating these workflows to manage projects, resources, budgets, and historical data mandates modern systems. So companies, irrespective of their size, can choose a solution that efficiently enforces standard processes, formats, data, and workflows. 

Employee Engagement and Beyond

Employee engagement is now more critical than ever before. Companies across the board are exhibiting a renewed interest in boosting their employee engagement activities. And technology has played a vital role in this process. Besides, organizations do not necessarily need to make expansive plans. Even automating mundane tasks like filling in timesheets can elevate the employee experience quotient considerably. An automation-inclusive approach to hybrid workplaces saves employees’ time, gives them a more unified experience, and enhances their engagement levels while navigating a multi-environment workplace. It also lends ease and seamlessness. 

Freeing employees from the mundane allows them to focus on things that matter, channeling their energies toward solving business-critical problems. A market study also indicates that an overwhelming majority of employees believe that AI-based tools and systems improve their overall performance, reduce workload, and help them strike a better work-life balance. All this translates into higher employee engagement, reduced attrition, improved productivity, and longer-term benefits that go beyond revenues and balance sheets.

Aside from augmenting employee experience and engagement, automation rectifies disparate systems and breaks down data silos, giving organizations more freedom to innovate and adapt. 

Cloud Enablement

There is more to the success of the hybrid ecosystem than automation. Whether a firm plans to leverage a cloud-based ERP or time tracking, or a budget solution, cloud enablement is critical in making the transition to sustainable hybrid workspaces. Cloud-based solutions are configurable, scalable, and global. Employees can access them on the go, on various devices, and they provide top-notch data safety.

Most of them now follow stringent data protection guidelines defined by governments worldwide. They are scalable; thus, enterprises do not have to worry about expanding their teams and managing and storing the resultant data and information. They are cost-effective too, as service providers are responsible for their service and maintenance, such as installing software patches and updates. Thus, large firms can survive the hybrid transformation by prioritizing cloud enablement, a data-driven environment, and real-time visibility into data. 

Why Enterprise Companies Must Choose Wisely 

The way of working has undergone an unprecedented metamorphosis in the past two years, and some of the changes are not blips but more permanent transitions. Despite offices opening up to resume the old way of working, employees and organizations will continue to strike a balance between operating full-time from offices and through hybrid setups. That is why choosing the right solution can make a marked difference to enterprises. And they have begun understanding and appreciating the benefits they accrue in enhancing efficiencies. 

No wonder the market is abuzz with professional services automation solutions that claim to manage human capital resources like time, finances, and workforce hours. But companies must exercise prudence and conduct due diligence before zeroing in on their choice, as each organization has unique pain points and problem statements. Therefore, understanding what works best for them is critical -  there is no one-size-fits-all approach. 

The solution organizations choose must allow them to configure and automate workflows that are peculiar to their business needs and organizational management schematics. These are also reasonably cost-intensive, so they are a long-term choice. Often changing them defeats their purpose. Additionally, they must support growth. Therefore, enterprises would do well to choose vendors who scale and grow their platforms as their clients’ business expands. The solution must not outgrow the user and offer out-of-the-box integrations. 

New Challenges Emerge 

Businesses worldwide have undergone difficult times and a steep learning curve in the past two years. But Covid-19’s after-effects have thrown up newer and ongoing challenges like burnout among overworked employees, partly resulting in The Great Resignation. Outmaneuvering those challenges will be an uphill climb. It requires intelligent use of technology to streamline processes, resources, pricing, and the time needed to execute projects. Digitizing time tracking is one of the easiest first steps toward digital transformation. Thus, enterprises that are reluctant to examine every facet of their operating model to adapt to the fast-evolving needs and wants of their employees and customers will likely lag or become obsolete. 

The Road Ahead

Extraordinary circumstances and continued experimentation have led to the proliferation of the hybrid work environment during the pandemic. However, enterprises must not abandon their transformative spirit and squander hard-fought gains. Continued adaptability, the willingness to remain flexible and learn, and course-correct continually are crucial to their long-term sustainability. Though enterprise organizations cannot become agile and adaptive overnight, they can expedite the process and calibrate and optimize other service areas quicker and more efficiently by incorporating automated processes. 

As many enterprise organizations shift to a hybrid and dynamic operating model, their reliance on digital connectivity and collaboration grows. Therefore, focusing on digital automation of workflows, project management, and reporting are the only viable ways to continue with the hybrid format in the future as the economy rebounds and industries register fresh momentum. 

In her position as Co-Chief Executive Officer, Lakshmi Raj is focused on strategic initiatives for Replicon's global operations, including market share expansion, revenue generation, and worldwide sales activities. She has extensive experience in web-based marketing and was instrumental in providing global visibility for Replicon's product. Prior to starting Replicon, she worked as a software engineer for Verity (formerly known as FTP Canada). Lakshmi holds degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Visit www.replicon.com Connect Lakshmi Raj