Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 54 | Page 75

/////////////////////////////////////////////////// t cht lk ADAPTING TO THE NEW WORKING MODEL As we continue to navigate through uncharted waters during the global pandemic, organisations across the globe are recognising that the abrupt changes that have been made to the way we work may not be short-term. But what challenges do businesses need to overcome to ensure they have a robust remote working strategy in place? And how can they improve their current models to prioritise security and efficiency? Glyn Yates, Country Manager, IMEA region, Matrix42, tells us more. We can all agree these are unprecedented times – COVID-19 has forced a shift not only in our daily lives, with the safety of our loved ones and the wider community being the priority, but also in the way we do business. It has been a major force behind the re-thinking of organisations’ operational infrastructure, with thoughts focused on today’s near-term pressures and the implications for mid and long-term strategies. How far had the remote working model been widely adopted prior to COVID-19? It is said ‘the only constant is change’, however the rate of change isn’t constant and today’s rate of change is exponential. Pre-COVID, remote working was always a ‘nice to have’ employed by some, but it was said that it would never replace office-based or face-to-face interactions. Even with the most obvious benefits of reducing travel costs, the business community still valued a plane, a taxi, a hotel, another taxi, a boardroom and a coffee over a conference call. There’s no doubt that face-to-face interaction leads and supports the development of business relationships in and around a ‘meeting’, while interaction with our teammates on the next desk helps company operations run smoothly. “ MANY COMPANIES SIMPLY DIDN’T HAVE A REMOTE WORKING INFRASTRUCTURE OR CULTURE, WHILE OTHERS OPERATED REMOTE WORKING AS AN EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE RULE. www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 75