Customizable Solutions Can be the Key to Effective and Secure Work Collaboration

Hybrid work is permanently in place as a majority of employees in the US prefer working from home at least part of the time. 

A recent survey from Pew Research shows that in 2023, 41% of those with jobs that can be done remotely are working a hybrid schedule, up from 35% in January 2022. In addition, more than one-third of those who are currently working from home most of the time say, if they had the choice, they’d like to work from home all the time.

To meet the expectations of remote workers and the needs of companies to make hybrid environments successful, remote work experiences must be immersive, engaging, productive and secure. Legacy boardroom-style video conferencing solutions kept organizations going during the early days of the pandemic.  But general-purpose video apps are simply not immersive or secure enough to implement a permanent and effective remote work environment that keeps employees engaged and organizations moving forward. 

A key challenge for today’s organizations is providing a hybrid work environment equipped with tools and solutions that meet these criteria. However, collaboration solutions are evolving, and organizations need to provide foundational technical tools for supporting secure and effective hybrid work environments.

Top concerns with remote work and tools 

Remote and hybrid work offers numerous benefits for both employees and employers. Studies continue to show that remote work saves time for employees, giving them a better life-work balance while also increasing their productivity. Additionally, hybrid work results in cost savings for businesses by lowering expenses such as rent, utilities and other related expenses. 

There are some key challenges with hybrid work, however. Employers are increasingly concerned about the cybersecurity aspect of remote work. A recent study revealed that a full 73% of executives believe that remote workers pose a greater security risk than in-office employees. The rapid expansion of personal devices and networks, along with shadow IT and apps, and the potential to share confidential information have all made remote work environments more vulnerable to hackers and other breaches where data can be compromised. 

Furthermore, even though many employees have fully embraced remote work opportunities, employees are not always satisfied with the tools available to them, especially when remote collaboration and work experiences are not engaging. The right technology tools are imperative to make remote workplaces successful and interactive. 

Employers need to turn to solutions that offer immersive tools that provide more productive experiences and effective communication among teams. For example, for productive hybrid meetings, teams must have access to advanced and easy-to-implement solutions that allow every participant to fully communicate and participate in sessions.

Remote workers also experience frustration and even burnout with time wasted when they’re forced to constantly switch between numerous business tools. One recent report noted that 43% of workers report spending too much time switching between different online tools and applications, and 48% report making mistakes because they can't keep track of information stored across online tools and apps.

Organizations can address many of these challenges by choosing comprehensive remote collaboration solutions that are not only streamlined and convenient, but immersive, engaging and secure. Advanced integrated platforms often provide a solution that maximizes remote and hybrid collaboration for both employees and firms. 

How customizable and integrated platforms can create an optimal solution 

When API-driven platform solutions can be integrated and customized, they can be tailored to meet specific industry or business requirements. Providing the right tools for collaboration is vital for an effective hybrid environment, but one-size-fits-all video conferencing apps cannot provide the type of optimal solution that organizations need. 

Live video collaborative solutions that are easily integrated with existing workflows and workplace tools are critical to an effective hybrid work environment. With interactive and immersive tools, teams can more easily capture the same interactions and qualities of working in the office. 

Organizations that routinely handle sensitive or confidential information should consider collaboration platforms with customizable security features that align with their in-house or industry security model. Advanced security options include true end-to-end security, complete control over privacy, data storage and routing, and private cloud implementation. 

Integrated collaboration solutions for more effective hybrid work 

API-driven platforms offer streamlined integrations that create a single solution to access live collaboration tools, including video conferencing, along with various business process tools. A single platform makes it easier to integrate tools for incorporating AI, sales, HR, learning management, virtual or augmented reality, productivity and other business processes. 

But to support effective hybrid work, live collaboration solutions should be integrated with not only the business process but also the overall workflow for the organization and its goals. Optimal hybrid work experiences vary depending on the needs and goals of each organization. Advanced collaboration platforms that offer the ability to customize specific features and control experiences to align with business objectives are most effective.