Interpro CEO Mark Abrams.
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 230721-03)
That’s the message from IT experts at Interpro, a tech business that specialises in managed IT support, websites, servers, networking, hosted telephone systems and broadband, which is based at Fareham Heights,
They said that recent challenges have led to a significant shift in the approach of both employers and employees to working practices.
The number of people working from home has increased from just 1.5 per cent 40 years ago, and just 4.7 per cent in 2019, to 26 per cent, according to the latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics.
Mark Abrams, boss of Interpro Technology Solutions, said Covid-19 and then recent fuel supply issues have resulted in a huge increase in home working, enabling greater employment flexibility, better work-life balance and improved wellbeing.
He said: ‘Where working from home may once have been the exception rather than the rule for staff, it certainly looks like now becoming the new normal, be it permanent or a
split hybrid version.
‘Some businesses are even looking to downsize, or ‘rightsize’ their office space requirements on a permanent basis.’
He said that firms that had already invested in cloud technology solutions were able to adapt to home working demands quicker.
He said: ‘The answer is, crucially, good IT and the use of enabling cloud technologies that allow users to work remotely and without any compromise.
‘We have seen huge improvements in cloud technology and faster communications which combine to make a perfect “work anywhere on any device” platform.
‘The huge uptake of collaborative and communication tools such as Microsoft Teams have enabled staff to work closely together despite being physically apart.
‘More and more companies are reducing or, indeed, removing their need for office-based servers which typically hold all of their company data and emails and are moving it into cloud-based services.
‘Not only does this reduce capital costs – particularly on the investment of hardware – but it hugely improves on business continuity and disaster recovery planning because cloud-based services are run in offsite datacentres which are well backed up and benefit from failover to other hardware or sites.
‘When the first lockdown was announced, almost every one of our clients instantly needed a work from home capability.
‘It was clear to see that those clients who were already migrated or part migrated to the cloud had a much easier time of it in getting up and running and hitting maximum productivity.
‘Since then we have seen more companies make the jump to the cloud and further investments in remote working have been made.’
For a free IT audit or consultation, email [email protected] or call 01329 556226.
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For further business support contact Emma Weatherstone, membership advisor Portsmouth & Solent Federation of Small Businesses on [email protected] or 07764432489
