Before witnessing the pandemic and the prolonged lockdown, the work from home (WFH) culture was not so popular and was considered unsuitable across many businesses. But with a series of changes brought by Covid-19 across all sectors, the pandemic is nothing short of a revolutionary phase that we have witnessed in the recent past. Work from home, which was often thought of as an ad-hoc measure has now become the “new normal”. As many of us continue to work from home, the question that many organizations are now facing is not how to manage a remote workforce, but how to manage a more complex, hybrid workforce.
A phrase that we have been hearing a lot in recent times, is “Business Readiness”. Simply put, it refers to the adaption an organization would need with the changing times. This could be the introduction of new systems, technologies and processes that alter the way the organization functions to meet its goals. Therefore, technology readiness is extremely critical.
As enterprises continue to enable concepts like BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), they face a bigger challenge of data security. As per a recent survey by Trend Micro, 42% of workers in India use personal devices to access corporate data. These personal devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops are less secure as compared to the corporate devices and are also exposed to vulnerable IoT apps and other gadgets connected to the home network.
The big question is how can an organization prepare for the new normal?
Surviving and thriving in that new normal is certainly possible, but preparation is key. Below, we have listed a few ways in which companies can meet these challenges and emerge successfully into the new normal.
Technology Adoption
Technologies such as AI, blockchain, robotics, and Cloud computing are playing a key role in supporting business operations during COVID-19. Let’s have a look at some of the technologies that will play a vital role during and post the pandemic.
Cloud Computing has become the biggest enabler for seamless “Work From Home” (WFH) infrastructure. The new normal has compelled organizations to move their critical workload to the cloud so that it becomes easily accessible by employees working remotely.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Also Read: Make your Digital Transformation Team look great. Here’s how.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Automation
In the COVID-19 environment, where contactless interaction is the top priority, automation technologies have found faster adoption than ever. Some organization’s considered putting automation initiatives on hold earlier but the new normal has highlighted major gaps in existing processes, creating a greater need to optimize resources, accelerate company performance, and improve business resilience. Thus, it has made automation a necessity in the new normal.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI has been making breakthroughs in various fields, simplifying lives, allowing organizations to work more efficiently. An AI-assisted workforce isn’t as far-fetched as one would think. To reduce human contact and the risk of mass infection, companies across various sectors would need to embrace AI earlier than anticipated.
But as the pressure to keep updated with new and emerging technologies rises, businesses must be alert about the risks of security vulnerabilities. Hackers often target emerging technology, so businesses trying to stay ahead of the curve may find themselves at greater risk for cyberattacks. Tuning to measures such as Privileged Access Management and Database Activity Monitoring can help an organization prevent a cyberattack.
Adapting to new technologies plays a major role in keeping things running during a crisis and in the emerging new normal. After all, when there is a storm at sea, the fishermen repair their nets, right? This mantra couldn’t get any more real for organizations in today’s challenging business environment.
