Hybrid Working
The challenges and benefits to this new way of working
The last eighteen months has given the worldwide business community the biggest and swiftest challenge ever, and a majority of office-based firms have “adapted well or very well”, according to a recent survey by Group365.
While adaptive working may be ‘fine’ within a crisis, the movement to a hybrid working model is more challenging, and we’ve been working with Group365 to understand how Momentum can help our partners adapt.
A significant consideration of moving to a hybrid working model always must be your end-user. During the pandemic, according to the Institute of Customer Service, there has been a culture of ‘blaming’ the crisis for a reduction in customer service or overall poor performance versus CX performance metrics. As we emerge from the darkest days and begin to function ‘with’ the virus, our end-users will simply not accept this level of blame, and therefore a restoration of ‘business as usual’ or ‘business back better’ has to be the aim.
As a sales support and marketing agency, there are many challenges that require a multidiscipline approach outside of our remit, however, core considerations remain:
- Can your current hardware support a hybrid workforce?
- Do your software and system allow for a hybrid working model without sacrifice?
- Is your communications software seamless? This relates to telephony, hand-offs and information flow
- How is your data protected when out of the office or carried on potentially insecure networks?
- How is your company culture continued across a disparate workforce?
- How do you engender close working relationships when your workspaces are far apart?
- How do you prevent important communications from getting lost?
- How do you celebrate success?
How ready are you for hybrid working?
As a sales support and marketing agency, there are many challenges that require a multidiscipline approach outside of our remit, however, core considerations remain:
- Can your current hardware support a hybrid workforce?
- Do your software and system allow for a hybrid working model without sacrifice?
- Is your communications software seamless? This relates to telephony, hand-offs and information flow
- How is your data protected when out of the office or carried on potentially insecure networks?
- How is your company culture continued across a disparate workforce?
- How do you engender close working relationships when your workspaces are far apart?
- How do you prevent important communications from getting lost?
- How do you celebrate success?
What’s possible with hybrid working?
Pretty much anything which we all did whilst at the office is possible remotely, albeit a few tasks may take more planning and consideration.
The key challenge is data. Ensuring that every member of the sales and marketing function within your company is working with/on a single source of truth is vital. The only realistic way to do this is via a real-time CRM platform.
The next most obvious challenge is communication. In an office environment, it’s easy to tap a colleague on the shoulder when a lead or opportunity arises. A hybrid model needs to encompass a virtual ‘desk chat’ so that if a lead emerges in the virtual world, this can be passed to the most appropriate person in real-time and flagged as an urgent action.
Another consideration is defining target markets, individuals and audiences. With many workers at home, they are surrounded by TV’s, radios and other subliminal marketing messages which wouldn’t normally be seen by employees in an office environment. It’s definitely time to consider talking to your contacts in a different way, so let’s think outside of the box!
Finally, this new world of business may require a different skillset and investment in personnel to help deliver your business goals. Before pressing the button on a recruitment campaign, take time to consider if an outsourced solution may be your best choice.
Outsourcing in the hybrid working world.
Momentum’s people and services are future-ready and have a tried and trusted approach to working remotely or face to face.
Face to face
We can meet in person at a West Midlands venue to suit you, at our offices at Fort Dunlop or at your office. We can physically meet as regularly as you wish or can work with you in a hybrid manner.
Remote working
Our action, Discovery and review meetings can be undertaken entirely remotely. Everything we do can be replicated across the internet and all data is housed securely within our proprietary CRM platform.
Insourcing
If you wish for our talent to be embedded within your company, we can work with you to ensure the safety of our team when working within your premises or can work in a hybrid manner or entirely remotely.
Momentum has worked as outsourced partners with companies in many industry sectors for over twenty years, therefore have a wide playbook to help with many sales and marketing requirements.
Let’s get some Momentum in your business.
If your company is finding it difficult to find new business or is struggling to identify opportunities in recovery, now is the time to speak to Momentum.
With over 25 years of experience, there are few scenarios in which we’ve not been involved, so if you’re ready for a new sales support partner, call us straight away: 02476 662 004
We can’t wait to help your business move forward with Momentum. Get in touch soon with one of our team, or schedule a Discovery Meeting with Heather, our Operations Director now: discovery@momentumpartnership.com