The Hybrid Workplace has become the new normal for many businesses. This working model combines remote and office work, giving employees flexibility and companies a wider talent pool. But moving to a hybrid workplace can bring new challenges. Fortunately, there are technological tools that can help make the transition more streamlined and productive.
1. Hybrid Planning
Planning is key to running a successful hybrid workplace. This involves coordinating team meetings, one-on-one meetings, days off, and now even days in the office.
How does Hybrid Planning work?
In a hybrid workplace, scheduling tools can help employees plan days in the office from an app on their phones. They can share their calendar with colleagues and coordinate days at work together. This can help ease concerns about being alone in the office and help employees plan their week better. It also allows managers to schedule team meetings, social events or other in-office activities.
For workplace managers, scheduling tools provide a full calendar view of who will be in the office every day of the week, which is a superpower for hybrid teams.
2. Desk and meeting booking
Once an employee has booked their days in the office, their next consideration is where to actually sit and work.
What is Desk and Meeting Booking?
A desk booking solution such as MyDesk allows employees to quickly view available desks and reserve a workstation for the days they come in.
Meeting room booking tools are also essential. These software allow employees to book a room either in advance or on the go.
3. Digital communication
Communication is a crucial element of a hybrid workplace.
How does digital communication work?
Digital communication tools like Slack, Microsoft Team and Gmail help your office and remote workers communicate easily. Wherever your employees work, they can share quick project updates, ask for help from a manager, or share an exciting project win.
4. Virtual Meeting Tools
Meetings are what connect us. A good virtual meeting tool is essential for gathering as a team, having one-on-one meetings with stakeholders, and driving projects and business forward.
What Are Some Good Virtual Meeting Tools?
Some options to consider are Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or WebEx. Whichever tool you choose, make sure it’s easy for your employees to use and help them communicate effectively wherever they are.
5. Virtual Collaboration
With more people in the workplace, there are more opportunities for collaboration. But with hybrid teams, it can be difficult to include both in-person and remote employees at the same time.
How Does Virtual Collaboration Work?
Virtual collaboration tools, such as LucidChart or WebWhiteboard, can help. Zoom even has a new built-in feature with a whiteboard tool. In addition, SharePoint allows all participants to edit in real-time.
Rolling Out New Technology to Your Employees
Once you’ve decided which hybrid workplace tools to invest in, you need to get your employees to use them.
How to Roll Out New Technology
Here are some steps on how to roll out new technology to your employees:
- Create a rollout plan.
- Invest in training.
- Overcommunicators.
- Verify if the technology works.
Conclusion
With the right technology tools, your hybrid workplace can become more streamlined and productive. But remember, it takes more than just tools to make hybrid work. It takes policies, leaders and careful planning to run a successful hybrid workplace.
