The Top 5 IT Trends for Hybrid Companies in 2023

In a workplace environment that’s becoming more and more remote, how teams operate is shifting. What worked for a fully in-person team no longer works when part — or all — of that team is now working remotely, even if it’s just a few days a week. This applies to both processes and technology.

Here are some of the rising IT trends you might want to adopt if you’re managing a hybrid team.

1. Zero-Touch Automation

For the team that hasn’t yet adopted automation into its workflow, manual tasks can often eat up valuable time that should be spent on other tasks that move a project forward.

Zero-touch automation refers to creating automatic workflows using SaaS. It can be implemented in a variety of ways, including managing large amounts of data, onboarding and offboarding, reducing help desk tickets, and more. It may take a shift to get into an automation mindset, but once you and your team do, you can save countless hours that were previously spent on manual tasks.

2. Outsourcing Lifecycle Inventory Management

IT managers don’t have time to customize hardware and software for each new hire and then physically mail it, and the bigger the company is, the bigger this responsibility is. 

Having a third party manage the process, from onboarding to maintenance to offboarding, can be cost-effective and can help get new hires ramped up quickly. Another perk? IT managers no longer have to worry about upgrades and maintenance and can focus on their primary responsibilities.

3. Savvier Communication Tools

Hybrid teams need the right tools to communicate, and that may be using something other than email.

It’s important to find the right tools to fit the team’s dynamics. These might include instant messenger, video calls, and chat built into project management software. Pay attention to personal preferences, too. You may have one team member who prefers to catch up on the phone, while others communicate well via chat.

4. BYOD

With a large population of the workforce working remotely, the question arises: is it necessary to supply a computer to all employees? Many have their own laptops or desktops and would prefer to use those. Unfortunately, this method also opens the door to possible security risks and the hacking of sensitive company information.

Implementing a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy can ensure that, if they choose to use their own devices, the devices they’re using for work are secure. Create a policy that includes:

• Acceptable use
• Security controls and requirements
• Who can access what data
• Revocation of data access upon termination

Ensure that any devices that are being used for work purposes are well fortified with the right firewalls and antivirus software to protect against security breaches. You might also limit what information employees can access when out of the office if you have certain sensitive data and have compliance regulations that you must adhere to.

5. Deliberate Company Culture

It can be challenging to maintain cohesive company culture with distributed teams. Make an effort to connect in-person staff with those off-site. Create opportunities for connection through virtual happy hours and online, live games. The more you get away from the daily grind, the better connections you can foster among your employees.

If you hold company-wide meetings or town halls, be sure to include those off-site so they feel the energy that you’re generating. Livestream these events (and make sure the technology works glitch-free!) so they can be a part of the fun.

It’s clear we can no longer run teams the way we did in the past. These trends take the hybrid team into consideration and go a long way to creating the flexibility they need to thrive.

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With allwhere, IT managers get the help they need to streamline onboarding, full lifecycle asset management (deployment, replacement, retrieval, storage, disposal, and redeployment), and more for hybrid teams. To learn more, book a demo with us here.