For millions of employees, hybrid work is no longer a nicety, but a norm – even a necessity. It gives people more freedom and autonomy over where and how they work. The time and money saved from skipping the daily commute is another key benefit.

Flexibility is now the name of the game – and employers are taking note. New research from the CIPD shows that over three-quarters of UK organisations have now embraced hybrid working through a mix of formal and informal arrangements. This is a huge shift compared to pre-2020 levels, where only 18% of people worked from home on a regular basis.

As we look ahead to a summer of continued rail strikes and other imminent industrial action, going hybrid holds even greater appeal for employees and employers alike. But how can businesses ensure their hybrid working model is built to last?

1. Get the balance right

For the time being at least, flexible working is here to stay. Adverts for four-day week jobs have recently surged by 90%, as thousands of UK workers begin a six-month four-day working week trial with no reduction in pay. Here at Camwood, our freshly launched Flexi3 programme gives full-time employees the option to clock off at 15:00 one day per week. At work, as in life, choice is the key to success.

But when it comes to the future of work, nothing is set in stone. The hybrid working model continues to evolve rapidly – and ‘hybrid’ itself looks different for every business. Understandably, a long-term working strategy may remain an open question for businesses for months to come, with plenty of space for trial-and-error in between.

One thing can be guaranteed, though. To keep pace with the rate of change, organisations much deliver a consistent employee experience across all working environments. As the Great Resignation rages on, this flexibility may well be key to attracting and retaining people who are now used to a better work-life balance.

So, how can organisations strike the right balance between inclusion, productivity, and interaction?

2. Put the user experience first

There are no black-and-white answers, but several factors will stand a business in good stead. Strong culture and leadership are obvious wins, but the user experience is just as important – especially in terms of the tools the business delivers to them to fulfil their roles.

Take the standard hybrid split, where employees spend 2-3 days in the office. This balance between home and office working helps employees both to feel part of a team whilst also keeping the flexibility of WFH.

All this sounds great – but the exact configuration of the hybrid working week is just one piece of the puzzle. Organisations should also assess the user experience so that employees are empowered, productive, and happy wherever they are located.

3. Embrace applications

To achieve this, they need the right tools. Often, applications are treated as an afterthought rather than a business-owned asset. Let’s change this mindset. After all, the success of new working models can hinge on how well applications are delivered and supported.

Modern and legacy applications have many delivery models, depending on which application management platform is used. But regardless of the model, standardisation is critical. A disjointed approach simply won’t cut it when it comes to application management and delivery. Without standardisation, the business risks losing user productivity while increasing service team overheads.

Fortunately, a new solution has arrived. The MSIX version of the new Microsoft Edge is a standardised Windows application package that supports desktop, mobile, and other Windows devices. It preserves the functionality of existing application packages whilst installing new, modern packaging and deployment features.

The stage is now set for organisations to bring a simpler and streamlined user experience into the hybrid world of work. And the right strategic partner is on hand to help. Camwood’s broad portfolio of Application Management Services includes the delivery of end-to-end application packaging and lifecycle management to remove unwanted applications, allowing organisations to realise the benefits of the modern workplace and hybrid working.

Contact us to discover how technology can support and enhance the user experience, now and in the future.