The evolution of flexible working in the world using collaboration techniques

In the 1970s, a NASA engineer named Jack Niels laid the foundation for remote work when he coined the term “remote work.” With the advent of the Internet in the 1990s, new types of companies emerged – it was the era of startups born in garages, founded by young people with little budget but willing to do things differently.

In recent years, as jobs become more relevant to information, remote work has developed. And it was the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 that significantly accelerated this development, marking a change in society’s view of the way we work. In some countries, this shift has occurred naturally, while others still resist and maintain a more traditional approach.

Technologically, the pandemic period has also been seen as the height of communication and collaboration solutions, with business meetings often taking place via video conferencing and phone calls. Many programs for this purpose have gained popularity both for personal use in times of isolation from friends and family, as well as for corporate use to keep employees and clients connected and ensure business continuity.

Since then, flexible working has been more easily accepted in countries with higher GDPs, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Western European countries. Today, in the United States, 58% of people have the opportunity to work remotely at least once a week, according to a survey conducted by McKinsey in April 2022. In July of this year, the Netherlands passed legislation establishing telecommuting as legal. True, becoming one of the first states to introduce this flexibility as law.

With the possibility to work from anywhere, the digital nomad number has been created and many people are working not only from home, but outside major cities or even traveling around the world or relocating to other countries. If we stop to think about it, communication and collaboration technologies have played a huge role for these people, to the point of enabling an entire lifestyle change to pursue and fulfill dreams and desires.

Much has also been said about reducing the number of hours worked per week, and the adoption of the four-day working week. Some of the first places that started testing this model are Iceland, Japan and New Zealand. From June to November this year, thousands of employees at more than 70 UK companies began working four days a week without pay cuts as part of one of the world’s largest tests of this business model. So far, data from experience shows that productivity has been maintained or improved in most companies and most intend to adopt this policy even after testing is over.

The trend is for flexibility to be an intrinsic part of the business model, even with its uneven adoption across countries. Even after the pandemic, many companies – including in Brazil – continue to embrace telecommuting and co-working, reducing office expenses and providing employees with a better work-life balance.

Studies have already shown the many benefits of flexible working for organizations and employees. For example, a GoTo-commissioned Frost & Sullivan survey with SMBs showed that hybrid work increased productivity by 75% from 2020 to 2021. Added to this advantage is increased employee satisfaction in companies with flexible policies. Less turnover more competitive and more profitable business; more diversity of talents; further contributions to sustainability; Among others.

Innovative communication and collaboration technologies are the foundation that makes this scenario possible worldwide and will continue to lead more companies and employees into this future. They are particularly important for maintaining productivity and business continuity, and for contributing to employee satisfaction. It’s what allows teams to build and strengthen relationships, regardless of whether people are in the office or working remotely.

If in 2020 many companies scrambled to acquire technology tools to quickly secure remote work during the pandemic, many today need to review these licenses to meet the long-term needs of hybrid work. Ideally, communication and collaboration solutions provide the capabilities you need to work from anywhere, with ease of use and management, plus advanced security. In this way, flexible work will continue to develop in the world and become more accessible to more people.

Vanessa D’Angelo, Head of Marketing LATAM in go to the.