New research uncovers shortcomings in hybrid office readiness.
- Two thirds of enterprises find their office spaces unfit for hybrid work.
- A significant proportion seeks to encourage office returns despite challenges.
- Outdated technology hampers productivity and collaboration efforts.
- Enterprises prioritize investment in improving hybrid work environments.
In a revealing new study, it has been found that a substantial two-thirds, or 65%, of enterprises acknowledge their current office spaces are not suitably optimised to support hybrid working models. Despite these shortcomings, many companies—66%—are keen on having their staff return to the office, at least partially, underscoring a complex landscape of operational challenges.
The report, drawn from Kinly’s Trusted Connections 2024 survey, involved insights from 425 AV professionals operating at global enterprise levels across the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordics. Among the prominent issues highlighted is the intricate nature of flexible and remote communications. A notable 28% of enterprises cite this as a leading challenge prompting the return to office strategies, an indication of the ongoing struggle to balance hybrid work dynamics.
Additionally, over half of the survey respondents pointed to outdated audio-visual technologies and ineffective hybrid workflows as significant obstacles, with percentages standing at 58% and 57%, respectively. These inadequacies are reportedly causing setbacks in team productivity, highlighting the need for immediate technological advancements.
Responding to these issues, enterprises are prioritising investments in hybrid technological solutions, both within office settings and for remote operations. As such, 35% are channeling funds into remote management and support systems, while 33% are focusing on acquiring unified communications and collaboration software. Another 33% are upgrading their in-office hybrid meeting room capabilities.
However, a consistent barrier to seamless hybrid operations is the limited access to analytical data on working practices. About 26% of AV experts deem the lack of analytics a substantial hindrance in achieving goals such as boosting efficiency and productivity, targeted by 61% and 58% of organisations, respectively. Consequently, a proactive approach sees 33% investing in analytics platforms catered to remote work, alongside 29% enhancing in-office analytic tools.
Articulating the nuances of hybrid work challenges, Simon Watson, Kinly’s Head of Innovation, remarked: “Calling employees back to the office is not a solution to poor hybrid working practices. If anything, it could make things worse.” He stressed the pivotal role of audio-visual technology integration in ensuring a consistent work experience, regardless of location, emphasising its impact on talent acquisition and employee retention.
Enterprises that have implemented an audio-visual transformation project have observed a substantial uplift in productivity, efficiency, and personnel retention by margins of 42%, 42%, and 37%, respectively.
The findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive technological upgrades to support hybrid work and bolster organisational productivity.
