Remote working is transforming the digital economy and UK businesses must adapt to keep up or risk being left behind, says utilities and communications specialist Glide.
The company recently published a guide to remote working which contains new research, predictions and guidance for businesses.
Glide found that between 2008 and 2018, there was a 74 percent increase in the number of people working from their own home, while 68 percent say they’d like to work flexibly “in a way that is not currently available”.
Remote working has been found to boost employee wellbeing, help with recruitment and support business expansion, while 77 percent of workers report that flexibility at work is important to them.
The company explained that it’s, therefore, no surprise that more and more business leaders are racing to incorporate the concept into their workplaces - but there are challenges to being able to facilitate remote working.
Potential obstacles include the risk of workers feeling isolated, with fewer natural opportunities for collaboration, alongside concerns regarding data security. Recent data from software firm Buffer also suggests that 22 percent of current remote workers struggle to unplug after work, 19 percent feel lonely and eight percent can’t stay motivated.
James Warner, managing director of Glide Business, said: “Where people once expected to travel to a place of work, clock in and stay there until eight hours later, employees are demanding more freedom. One of the biggest influencing factors has been the emergence of the digital economy.
“Traditionally, companies needed a physical presence to do business, but this is no longer a prerequisite, and many now exist solely to provide online services, or make their money from intangible assets, like software.”