Planning for hybrid working

We have put together a list of solutions to help hybrid working be simpler and smarter for your business. Read on to discover which tools can create efficient and effective processes.

As businesses start to head back into the office, it’s important to assess if everything is in place for a productive working environment. 49%¹ of UK workers expect to return to the office full time, and 45% expect to regularly work from home, compared to only 18% pre COVID-19. With a shift from a full at home set-up to a mixture of home and office, it’s important to ensure businesses have the tools in place for a hybrid working environment.

At Unifiedpost Group, we have put together a list of solutions to help hybrid working be simpler and smarter for your business. Read on to discover which tools can create efficient and effective processes.

What is a hybrid workplace model?

A hybrid workplace is a split between working in the office (or on-site) mixed with remote working. Remote working has typically meant working from home. However, the rise of the third office is becoming more and more popular.

A third office is a working space that isn’t the company office or an employee’s home. Areas such as coffee shops, bookable desk spaces and leisure centres can all be seen as third offices.

Creating a productive workspace in the office and at home is no longer enough. Businesses need to have the tools and solutions in place, so that employees can work anywhere at any time. All employees should need is a device and an internet connection.

What hybrid working tools should businesses consider?

There are a range of tools and applications that can make hybrid working successful. The adoption of these tools have already taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tools such as team collaboration applications and video conferencing programmes. Video conferencing programmes have increased by over 300%² during the pandemic. Collaboration tools such as Microsoft teams have risen from 32 million daily active users to 145 million³.

Such statistics reveal how the adoption of technology has increased during the pandemic. But are these technologies enough now that workers are starting to go back into the office?

Take a look at the following solutions and discover what other simple and smart solutions should be in place.

Document management

Document management means managing internal and external documents from anywhere, anytime.

The adoption of internal document management has increased over the past few years. Businesses have replaced file accessibility via VPN connections, to cloud based storage solutions. But these solutions don’t always take external document access into account. Businesses need to address how customers and clients can access their documents as well.

Transitioning from physical to digital documents is the solution. A solution that businesses can achieve via a multichannel communication portal.

A multichannel portal exists to make document management that much easier. A business simply uploads their data and document template to the portal. The portal audits and validates the data. Then distributes the document to the customer’s channel of choice – SMS, email, portal or post.

Customers and clients receive their documents in seconds and have one central document storage facility. Businesses benefit from a full document audit trail and know that their documents can be accessed from anywhere, anytime.

Take a look at Unifiedpost Group’s multichannel communication portal.

Multichannel communication portal

Hybrid Mail

A multichannel communication portal can solve a lot of document management and distribution challenges. However, your business still may need a print and post solution in place.

Providing employees with home printers isn’t enough. Printing documents, arranging the postage and maintaining print equipment takes time and resources. Time and resources that are no longer needed when using a hybrid mail system.

With a hybrid mail system, the solution is simple. Hybrid mail is simple and smart document distribution, via digital or physical means. You create your document as normal, head to print, then select your hybrid mail provider’s printer. Choose how your document is printed and posted, or send your document via email.

Hybrid mail allows any employee to distribute ad-hoc communications without having to leave their desk. No matter where their desk might be.

Learn more about a hybrid mail solution for your business.

Hybrid mail

Customer service tools

Delivering positive customer service experiences was difficult for many businesses during the pandemic. Customer service demands increased by 31%⁴. Creating an average 41 minute⁵ call waiting time. Customer Service Teams need the right tools to create better customer experiences. These tools need to be accessible within hybrid working environments.

One solution is to provide customers with access to their communications and documents in one place. The more visibility customers have of their documents, the fewer customer calls and demands. This can be achieved via Unifiedpost Group’s multichannel communication portal.

Via your own branded multichannel portal, customers have access to their documents in one place. They can login, view and even comment on their documents to communicate with your business.

Plus, with tools such as chatbots and payment integration, customers can serve themselves and save one less customer service phone call.

A multichannel communication portal gives Customer Service Teams back control. Teams will have full visibility, that they can access from anywhere at any time. Visibility that allows Customer Services Teams to track when a customer has received, opened and even paid documents.

As your Customer Services Team may not be in one central place, a multichannel portal makes hybrid working that much easier. You have the confidence knowing your team and customers have one centralised view, and the tools in place to self-serve and self-solve.

Multichannel communication portal

HR management

Self-serving customers is one thing, but what about self-serving employees as well?
According to 28%⁶ of HR professionals, hybrid working has reduced or limited access to payroll and HR systems. Providing self-serving access for employees to payroll and HR systems can be achieved via multichannel technologies.

At Unifiedpost Group, we work with large UK companies to distribute employee payslips and documents. Via branded multichannel portals, employees can access communications and payslips in one place.

And the process is simple. A business uploads their data and payslip template. We audit and validate the data, then distribute it to the business’ employees.

HR teams can distribute business documents and payslips in seconds. HR teams can also track when employees have received, opened and viewed any communications. Allowing for greater visibility, accessed anywhere, anytime.

Multichannel communication portal

What to consider when looking for hybrid work solutions?

There are many more tools available that create productive hybrid working environments. Knowing what to consider when looking at these tools is key for success.

Are the tools secure?
Will the tools be cost effective in the long run?
How will I know if the tools can integrate into my current systems?

It is important to consider these questions when picking a hybrid working solutions provider.

Hybrid working solutions from Unifiedpost Group

At Unifiedpost Group, we create simple and smart solutions that make hybrid working effective and efficient. We partner with you from our initial conversation to create a solution that works for your business and customers. From hybrid mail tools to multichannel communication portal solutions. Our solutions exist to work across your whole business.

Plus, with ISO accreditations and a dedicated project management team, you know you are in safe hands. Explore our solutions and get in touch to discuss how we can create a productive hybrid working environment for you.

Our solutions