Companies have found that there are several clear benefits to the practice; from saving a small fortune on rental expenses to maintenance and branding. The solution offers much needed budgetary relief for businesses of all sizes and in nearly every industry. The radical rate of adoption of this trend has, however, presented companies with some tough challenges.

Adapting to the new ‘Normal'

An educated guess based on current data and the emergence of trends and technology to accommodate WFH practices, makes it clear that there is a genuine chance that this may become the standard way in which businesses operate. We suspect that the actual impact will see a hybridisation of traditional offices and WFH models.

The new norm does raise particular concerns for business owners and while a few of these concerns include adapting to a remote environment that is not just functional, but a productive one. Other challenges suggest that the initial change will require business owners to consider using warehouse storage to secure essential business items. In the long-run, the storage space would ideally only store things such as documents rather than unused office desks and abandoned printers.

Bottlenecks in networking functionality are a real problem now

Relevant sources highlight how something as simple as your staff's internet bandwidth can now be a primary challenge to the successful adoption of WFH. According to Nicholas Bloom, professor of economics at Stanford University, 42% of the American labour force works from home, with a further 33% now unemployed. At this scale, the seemingly small problems, like that of bandwidth, begin to rival the complexity of maintaining the operational structure and coherent workflow of an organisation.

It's going to be a challenge to find balance

The need for balance begs further enquiry as to the future of business and what we may expect will become standard practice in the years to come. While there is a possibility of this becoming the new status quo; the tension between optimism and caution, amidst maintaining realistic consideration for the limitations of remote work is another significant impact businesses must overcome. As a result, organisations' success will depend on continuity post-pandemic the unity of employees from an entirely new environment.

A new logistics paradigm in international trade and business

The current situation regarding lockdown and a return to traditional work practices in the UK is a perfect microcosm for events playing out on the global stage. We see some degree of easement taking place in England and Wales, whilst Scotland is still undergoing stricter lockdown measures. This illustrates the unpredictable nature of this pandemic and its tumultuous impact on future economic stability.

A new need for patience and fortitude

Conflicting media reports are no great help in ascertaining the safety of moving forwards, either way, however, the World Health Organisation has warned against lifting restrictions prematurely. This reckless, fast and loose policy stands to force the need for additional full-scale lockdown. WFH strategies help mitigate unwarranted effort should this be the outcome.