Some intriguing insights surfaced recently from Datapac, based on a Census wide survey of 200 IT decision-makers and the people who purchase tech solutions.
The standout statistic? A striking 96% of respondents said their organisations now operate a hybrid working model. That’s a pretty remarkable legacy, considering we’re five years on from the first Covid-19 lockdowns. While some companies are pushing employees to return to the office, the sentiment across Ireland and much of Europe appears open to flexibility. In fact, The Register recently highlighted a Randstad survey showing that 40% of tech professionals had already resigned over rigid return-to-office policies, and 56% said they’d consider leaving if denied the work flexibility they now expect. That’s a clear signal: hybrid working isn’t just a trend — it’s an expectation.
The Current Hybrid Challenges
While hybrid working is clearly here to stay, challenges remain. Companies continue to struggle with:
• Work-life balance (39% of respondents)
• Cybersecurity concerns (34%)
• Communication and collaboration issues (31%)
These aren’t surprising, especially when staff are split between home and office locations. But what is surprising is that nearly half of those surveyed said their infrastructure is only “somewhat” or “not very” capable of supporting hybrid work. After five years of living this reality, shouldn’t systems be more robust by now?
So, What Can Be Done?
This raises an important question: how can IT suppliers and their channel partners better support customers still navigating hybrid work?
If half of decision-makers feel their tech isn't delivering as expected, that’s a clear opportunity, and perhaps a responsibility, for the channel to step up. Vendors and partners need to not only provide the right tools but also help organisations better define and align their infrastructure with evolving hybrid demands.
Of course, it’s possible that some companies haven’t clearly outlined what they actually need from hybrid work infrastructure. As many begin encouraging more in-office presence, their technology needs may shift accordingly, potentially catching them off guard.
A Shared Responsibility
It seems obvious that the channel has a crucial role to play. Organisations can only buy what’s on offer. If what’s being sold isn’t meeting expectations, there’s room for improvement.
Still, with such a massive workplace transformation unfolding over a short period, some growing pains are to be expected. The push by some to revert to old norms is also not surprising — but that doesn’t make it realistic.
A Win for Technology
The widespread adoption of hybrid working is a testament to how far IT has come. It’s enabled a seismic shift in how and where we work and that’s no small feat. But it also exposes the limitations of current systems and the cultural inertia still present in parts of the business world.
Hybrid working isn’t just a phase, it’s a new standard. And while the tools and systems supporting it aren’t perfect yet, the fact that so many businesses are committed to making it work is, in itself, a victory for technology, for IT partners, and for employees who now have more choice than ever before.
This article is adapted from the following article byBilly MacInnes on techcentral.ie "The channel needs to cash in on the opportunity of remote work"
Read the original article here
