As Lenovo CIO I am responsible for the overall delivery of information services, digital technology, and business transformation.
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When companies eventually bring workers back to the office, they'll return to an environment that looks different from the one they left. The pandemic has altered the way employers and employees view remote work, digital tools and physical space. Those who successfully rethink how work gets done have an opportunity to capture the best of remote and in-person work.
At Lenovo, our efforts to bring employees back revolve first and foremost around their well-being. This starts from the moment someone enters a building: After using their phone to authenticate their ID, they'll walk through automatic, touchless doors. Throughout the day, we'll safeguard the space with regular (touchless) temperature checks, room-capacity monitoring, space-flow management and more.
Other companies that also are pursuing safety measures should consider leveraging two fast-growing areas of technology: digital tools and intelligent technology. Together, they offer numerous ways for employers to promote a healthy post-pandemic workplace, with little to no disruption of the workday.
The Digital Revolution
Digital tools were already on the rise when Covid-19 hit with companies starting to use mobile apps for employee IDs, travel arrangements and other day-to-day tasks. At Lenovo, we were well into an effort to digitize all of our operations when we quickly had to shift to warp speed. The IT team introduced a range of tools that empower employees to work and collaborate from anywhere — even on the go. Our proprietary mobile app, which started as a simple messaging tool, expanded to include so many capabilities that it has become a virtual entry point into "everything Lenovo."
This won't change when our workers return in person. Employees will use digital tools to reserve a workstation, find a meeting room, navigate the campus and check on entry protocols. But beyond reducing high-contact activities, digital tools are a powerful way to elevate the overall employee experience by saving them time and giving them flexibility.
One of the most revelatory advancements of digitalization has been the expansion of real-time, remote collaboration. With a quick tap, someone can connect to a colleague halfway around the world. Even being stationary is no longer required: A commuter, for example, can participate in a team meeting — and even draw on the virtual whiteboard — while on the train to work.
In short, the digital capabilities that were critical during the pandemic have opened the door to a whole new way of working.
Intelligent Technology
Similarly, intelligent technology had been a relatively untapped resource pre-pandemic. Now, though, its potential is starting to be recognized, particularly as workplaces look to replace high-touch interactions with high-tech. Facial recognition confirms someone's ID from a monitor without any one-on-one interaction. Intelligent sensors can monitor hallway flow and redirect traffic when needed. And invisible heat maps can help site managers maintain healthy distancing and capacity limits.
Hybrid Is The New Normal
While the pandemic demonstrated how effective remote workers can be, it also highlighted some distinct advantages of a shared physical space. As a result, the hybrid workplace has emerged as the model that reaps the benefits of both situations.
It's already becoming a reality. American Express Co. recently announced that it will allow staff to work remotely two days a week, permanently. Salesforce is taking a "Success from Anywhere" approach, where employees can work from wherever they think they'll be most impactful whether that's in the office, at a customer site or in a coffee shop.
As a global company, Lenovo is taking an agile and flexible approach. Rather than a one-size-fits-all plan, we're letting sites around the world find what works within a set of broad guidelines on a country-by-country basis. As we collect data about what is and isn't working, we'll adjust our approach based on employee and manager feedback as well as local conditions.
Organizations that are working to figure out their "new normal" should consider a number of factors, such as company culture, employees' preferences and the demands of various roles across the enterprise. From there, they can look at how the capabilities of digital and intelligent technology can deliver a model uniquely suited to their organization. While models will vary from company to company, given the continuous state of flux in our environment, it's fair to assume that flexibility and agility will be critical to the success of any and all.
Major Cultural Changes
No matter what the final model looks like, technology is only part of the story. A cultural sea change occurred when working remotely was suddenly the norm. Now everyone could see the skills it takes to be successful in a virtual environment — skills that previously flew under the radar.
Working remotely accentuated certain competencies for managers, like active listening, team engagement and the ability to foster (and test for) a shared understanding. The importance of these skills will continue to grow in the hybrid model, where we can expect common places that support asynchronous communication, exponential increases in virtual discussions and new processes to ensure dispersed teams are operating from the same page.
Those who can successfully orchestrate the technology and cultural change together will have the best chance at creating a new normal that is empowering for employees and fruitful for their employers.
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