The pandemic revealed a lot of information about the current workplace. We’ve seen first-hand that businesses can’t just have cloud back-ups in place to ensure continuity. For companies to truly thrive, they need to be able to operate from anywhere.
It’s not just pandemics that keep employees out of the office. Natural disasters, transportation problems, and even political events can all cause similar problems. After many businesses were unable to continue their operations as normal when social distancing measures began, leaders are rethinking their continuity strategies.
Legacy hardware and solutions that require workers to be on-premises for productivity aren’t enough in today’s digital environment. Cloud-based software is a natural solution to making sure that any business is prepared for anything.
The rising need for mobility
A true mobility strategy means employees aren’t restricted to using a specific computer or business phone to get tasks done. When you include mobility components in your business continuity plan, you ensure your staff can pick up a laptop and continue working from anywhere. This includes being able to collaborate with team members and take consumer calls.
Even without pandemics and potential disasters to think about, many companies will need to reconsider the way they run their companies in the future. Many employees are hoping to stay remote after the pandemic is finally over. For years, the demand for more flexible working environments continued to grow. The COVID-19 event just accelerated a journey that was already taking place.
Embedding mobility into your business continuity plan means thinking about how your teams can access the services that they need from any environment. This may include:
- Tools in the cloud: Providing access to essential business software in the cloud ensures that employees don’t need to use a specific computer or phone to complete tasks. Software solutions are becoming an increasingly popular part of the UCaaS and CCaaS environment.
- Secure working policies: As the demand for mobile work continues, businesses will need to ensure they have the right security strategies in place. This could include training for home and mobile workers, and access to VPN technology for secure connections.
- Improved training: Employees may need extra training and support to help them shift to a mobile environment when disaster strikes. Policies must be in place to support all team members in making the switch to mobile.
Staying competitive in challenging circumstances
A well-managed strategy for mobile devices and business connectivity will keep everyone in your company connected. Whether you’re facing a flood or a global pandemic, your mobile business continuity plan means that work can continue to happen, no matter where your employees are. This could even include allowing users to dial into business phone numbers to manage contact centre calls.
The key to success for many businesses in this new mobile landscape will be the right strategy. While any employee may be able to pick up a laptop and start working from a new location, the right plans need to be in place. Businesses need to ensure that the right cloud software is in place to allow teams to be just as efficient outside of the office. At the same time, the correct privacy and security solutions will be essential to keeping workplaces safe.
The good news is that with the right business continuity plan, and a mobile strategy, businesses can stay strong even in the most challenging environments.
Originally published Oct 23, 2020, updated Jan 17, 2023
