What Will the New “Normal” Look Like for Businesses after Lockdown Ends?

As the world adjusts to doing business from home and in quarantine, business insiders speculate on how adaptations in operations and practices will change after lockdown ends. Some have used this time to pause and reflect on how the current practices could improve. Keep reading to get insight on how the business world will adjust to lifted restrictions and new insights on how companies can benefit from a business answering service.

Will the Temporary Work-From-Home Practices Become Permanent?

A new survey from the well-known research firm Gartner released results last week that found that 74 percent of 317 CFOs and business finance leaders surveyed expect at least five percent of their workforce to remain working from home who were previously working in company offices. The same survey found that 25 and 17 percent of those surveyed expect 10 percent and 20 percent of employees to keep working remotely, respectively. A small fraction, 4 percent of those surveyed, expected 50 percent of employees to remain remote, and 2 percent of those surveyed expected over half of their employees to work remotely even after the pandemic ends. The main driving force behind the decision to keep employees working remotely is the savings many companies are experiencing by cutting technology and real estate expenditures.

What are the Benefits of a Virtual Workforce?

1. A larger pool of candidates for recruiting: If working from home is an option, it means that new employees might not have to relocate when they accept a new position. Not having to move is a huge bonus for those looking for new positions. As a result, more people will apply to the job posting, including those from all locations across the country. The talent pool becomes much larger and companies can be more confident they are getting the most qualified and best fit for the position as opposed to the most convenient person for the job.
2. Higher employee retention rates and satisfaction: Being able to work from home is something employees look for in a job because of their ability to hold flexible hours and save money on commuting costs like gas and tolls. When employees are happier with their jobs, they’re more likely to stick around. This reduces employee retention costs.
3. Increased flexibility and scalability of your workforce: With a workforce based in an office or central location, increasing the number of staff requires either moving to a larger office space or creating a new workspace in the office that is available to you. With a workforce that is remote, businesses can increase their workforce without worrying about physical changes to an office or changing office locations.
4. Lower overhead costs: With a virtual workforce, a company doesn’t have to worry about multiple overhead costs that can lead to the company saving large amounts of money. For example, businesses don’t have to lease office space. Without a central office location, a company also does not have to furnish the space or pay for heat, AC, power, etc. Even if a company does choose to have a central office location, the space required is much smaller and would also be less expensive to lease and run. Other costs that can be cut include the cost to support employees like some supplies, and in office-insurance.

What is the Effect on Daily Operations without a Physical Location?

There will be increased use of contractors and software to perform basic business functions. Without a physical location for employees to congregate, many functions such as project management, meetings and conferences, and employee oversight will need to be done via software. Other basic business functions will need to be contracted out to companies who specialize in these specific tasks. For example, without an office phone or full-time receptionist needed to greet visitors in person, businesses can use a business answering service, like Anserve, to answer business inquiries and direct calls to the correct department or employee.

How can a Small Business Answering Service Support a Virtual Workforce?

Using a business answering service, businesses can increase efficiency and productivity by eliminating employee downtime. Because the COVID-19 crisis has caused a lot of confusion for customers and clients due to the rapidly changing circumstances, many businesses are getting more inquiries over the phone and through email. However, because the workforce is remote, employees are left to answer these calls on their personal phones. Additionally, employees may spend time trying to connect an inquiry with the appropriate colleague to answer the question, decreasing productivity for the company. A business answering service like Anserve can take messages, forward calls, and make appointments like a receptionist. One bonus to a business answering service is that it can work 24/7 so employees are not harassed by phone calls at all hours and instead will receive messages when they are able to. While employees may be scattered all across the country, a business answering service easily connects them as well as creates a professional and reputable sounding introduction to those who are calling. Most importantly, a business answering service provides customers, clients, and associates a single contact. This is more convenient for them and less confusing. They don’t have to figure out who within the company to contact directly and will be easily directed to the appropriate employee by the business answering service. Contact Anserve today to learn more about a business answering service that is right for your company!