The new three-tier system of Covid-19 restrictions have begun in England.
While most of the country is in the lowest tier there are still millions of people in the north and midlands facing tougher rules to try and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Pubs and bars in these areas have taken a big hit – closing if they don’t serve food. However, many workplaces in offices or commuting could be told to start working from home, for a second time this year. All of these sectors need IT services to keep their businesses afloat, and it’s important to understand and utilise the tools that can ensure smooth sailing throughout this time.
Cloud computing can offer a wide range of services and benefits to future-proof your business. It goes hand in hand with supporting remote working for many reasons:
Access your Files Anywhere at Anytime
The cloud stores your data over the internet. Making it possible for data to be retrieved anywhere and on any device. Cloud storage allows you to be at home on your own laptop, computer or even phone and still have access to the files you were working on in the office. Hosted desktops provide the ability to perform and function as a regular desktop PC, but your applications and data run in secure data centres, not on your local equipment. This makes the move from office to remote working to be an easy experience for the employer and employee.
Collaboration with Co-Workers
Recommendations to work from home may create concern about the efficiency of group projects or even communication between co-workers. For a group project or team to function, co-workers need to work cohesively. However, without a cloud-based workflow, it may be hard to keep up with changes from co-workers on documents or presentations. Having access to file-sharing apps, such as SharePoint or One Drive, ensures coordination to all aspects of a project. Sharing over the cloud makes it possible for colleagues to be at home and receive current versions of documents in real-time. It can also show you who edited what and when – eliminating the issue of multiple versions of the same project and general confusion of who’s done what.
Communication through Teams
Microsoft Teams enhances communication and collaboration in the workplace. It gives users the ability to live chat, call, video chat, screen-share and integrate apps for improved workflow. With the rise of online learning in education, Teams has been used as a platform for lessons, chatrooms and groups. You can engage in collaborative and inclusive meetings from anywhere with Teams meetings and Teams-enabled devices.
Reduced IT Costs and Scalability
IT is an important business requirement, however, costs may be expensive in order to get what you require. Cloud computing runs off a pay-as-you-go model making it more ideal for businesses as you actually purchase what you need. This reduced cost can leave your business with extra cash that can be beneficial during this time.
The future of remote working, now and after Covid-19
Remote working is an opportunity for companies to change their way of working sustainably and reap the benefits over the medium to long term such as; less office space, less commuting, fewer business trips, shorter breaks and greater focus for employees. Research indicates that remote workers are also less likely to take short absences due to illness. On a larger scale, it also offers companies the flexibility to deal with unexpected events in the future, like the COVID-19 crisis.
With remote working here to stay it is time now to prepare for ‘the new normal’.
What we can do for you during and after Covid-19
Specializing in high performance, reliable, and secure cloud computing and IT services, we’ve worked closely with all of our partners to deliver a highly personalized, user-driven approach to address each of their business challenges.
To learn more about our work, check out The Manifest’s lists top firms based in the UK. You can also contact one of our offices to discuss how our team can have an impact on your business.