Remote working statistics show a rise for some time as digital communication technology advances. With web conferencing and more powerful personal devices, many careers can be completed remotely. This offers an improved work-life balance for staff, as the distractions of the office and time spent commuting are reduced.
In 2020, the rate at which remote working was rising took a sharp increase thanks to the pandemic. Even as the vaccine is being rolled out, the impact on old styles of working and cultural expectations regarding presenteeism is phenomenal.
As many governments and science bodies report, the virus will be with us for some time. The option for remote working has become a factor many staff prioritise when selecting their employers which could be the future for many businesses.
While some corporations are hoping for a return to the old way of working, and some sectors will always involve some in-person working, it seems remote working is here to stay in a big way in many industries.
Business owners have more to worry about with remote working. While there are huge benefits such as reduced business costs on office space, heating etc. there are some struggles. However, there is a host of technology that can make remote working easy for businesses and their staff and result in cost savings.
Zero-touch deployment and configuration from Microsoft
Microsoft Autopilot is a collection of technologies that allow businesses to set up and pre-configure devices, so that they are out of the box ready to go.
The system streamlines the purchase and deployment of Microsoft hardware, enabling complete set up remotely. This makes it much easier and safer to bulk order and send devices to employees. There is less work for businesses’ IT departments, and they need not handle the devices during configuration, thereby reducing contamination.
Technologies like Microsoft Autopilot will make the future of remote and hybrid working much more tenable. In addition to keeping staff safe and making working from home easier, it also maximises efficiency.
The system allows managers to reset, repurpose and recover devices.
With no need to build, maintain and apply custom settings and apps (as it is all done remotely) staff can get set up and work directly as soon as their device is delivered to their home.
There is no requirement to maintain custom images and drivers for every model. With no need to re-image the device, the existing Windows 10 installation can make each device business ready for every unique staff member and their role. It is not necessary for staff to set up accounts, add apps, or sit through boring setups.
With Microsoft Autopilot, the entire device lifecycle is simplified, so that far less time is wasted on deploying, managing, and also returning devices. It also reduces postage costs by cutting out the IT infrastructure required for setting up hardware. The result is that employees can work better, and CEOs can save money while keeping all staff safe from the virus.