Every organization wants to be all it can be, so in this issue we discuss some of the ways your company can move ahead in terms of flexible work arrangements, real estate planning, business continuity preparedness, virtual events and technology updates – while reducing headaches along the way as we transition to the post-pandemic world.

Contact me today to discuss how TCI’s products and services can help your organization get more out of its technology investments – now and in the future.

(703) 321-3030 | cornbrookst@tcicomm.com.

As more people are vaccinated against COVID-19, businesses are readying plans to reopen their offices and bring back their employees. Already, though, it's clear the new workweek will look different than it did pre-pandemic. Thanks to technology and remote working tools, employees transitioned seamlessly to home offices while managing to increase productivity. As a result, hybrid work - straddling home and office - may very well become the new normal for many people.

Here are eight signs that indicate they'll flourish in this new environment…

1. Focus Time is Productive Time - The home office is generally quiet, comfortable and less stressful. This makes it more conducive for projects that require concentration, but team members can still hold an impromptu web chat with colleagues to share information and insights.

2. Learning Time Happens in the "Culture Space" - The traditional office has been transformed into a space that fosters social connections and builds relationships. It's not only a hub for learning but also for unscripted collaboration. Here’s where having coffee or lunch with colleagues stimulates new ideas.

3. Every Day is a Team Day - Hybrid workers leverage quiet time at home to focus on projects and in-person meetings to brainstorm ideas. Technology makes it possible to continue conversations in collaborative workspaces and via video. Some teams set up regular times to connect socially and to build on ideas. The overall result: collaborative time, at home or in the office, is more productive.

4. Flexible Hours - When employees own their own schedule, they can manage work-life balance more efficiently ― and accomplish more in both worlds.

5. Masters of Multitasking - Hybrid workers know how to make the most of their time without infringing on other tasks. They've learned how to get a few things done around the house while also giving full attention to work.

6. Focus on Goals not the Clock - One thing learned from remote work is that performance isn't measured by time, but by accomplishments. Employers trust employees to get things done and employees feel more empowered. Showing up at the office is not for more face time with the boss, but for learning new skills and engaging with colleagues in working sessions.

7. Solve Client Problems, from Anywhere - Mobile technology and unified communications have made it possible to serve the needs of clients for some time now. But hybrid workers value these capabilities more than ever. They make it easier for them to transition from work to home without missing a beat.

8. The 3-2-2 Work Model - One of the benefits of remote work during the pandemic was the flexibility employees enjoyed. Despite the challenges of managing family and work in the same place, they found remote work made it easier to balance competing demands. For those continuing a flexible work schedule after the pandemic, the 3-2-2 model may be helpful ― three days in the office, two days at home and two off.

TCI can help your business with technologies to support hybrid work arrangements. Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

Dan Shapiro supports TCI’s real estate needs and specializes in providing comprehensive services to every client. We highly recommend him if you need help with your corporate real estate.

Dan covers all the bases. He utilizes a strategic planning method that includes analyzing leases, providing sound market advice and managing negotiations of lease alternatives. By providing strategic real estate planning and comprehensive market coverage for you far in advance of your lease expiration dates, Dan has a track record of facilitating the best possible lease terms so you can get bottom-line savings for every project.

Daniel Shapiro, Senior Vice President, Cresa

301.841.6542 direct

240.485.4800 mobile

Cresa is the world’s largest real estate provider exclusively committed to serving occupiers. Currently, Cresa services over 1,800 clients spanning 60+ industries in over 1,300 cities around the world. Cresa has 55 offices in North America alone and an additional 30 offices globally. Cresa was founded in 1993 by professionals with executive experience in corporate real estate. After years in the industry, their founders recognized that the existing commercial real estate model was broken and inherently unfair to occupiers. They set out to level the playing field, acting as unbiased advisors exclusively for corporate space users.

Again, Dan knows commercial real estate and will look out for you. Once you've settled on your new space, keep TCI's relocation experts in mind. We can help ensure your communications technology and IT infrastructure are ready to connect your business on Day One. Contact us at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

A continuity plan can help your business survive all kinds of calamities. The right plan should feature clear-cut guidelines for what your organization must do to continue operations in case of an unforeseen event. It should leave no doubt about how to organize staff and move forward. It must also clearly demarcate the different types of responses depending on the severity of the emergency at hand.

Outline the Goals and Objectives - Since every business is unique, first identify the objectives and goals that are most critical to the way your company operates. This goal-driven trajectory helps you reflect on the overall planning needs, potential recovery strategies, and risk assessment.

Establish a Team - Select competent cross-functional leaders or managers who can be a valuable addition to the team. Ensure you appoint someone as the lead to keep things going smoothly and make informed decisions when necessary.

Perform Business Impact Analysis and Risk Assessment - Identify the significant risks to your business. Discuss with your team and analyze the consequences of modifying, eliminating, or reducing essential functions or services in emergency conditions. Study all identified issues and their impact on the business.

Identify Predominant Ecommerce Related Business Functions - Determine how your company will effectively maintain its essential functions/services in case of an emergency. Here are some of the necessary functions and services that you will need to plan for:

Prepare a Plan for Necessary Services and Functions - Create unique plans to address the needs of stakeholders and essential functions during an emergency situation:

Make sure you have plans to change your current supplier to ensure that you don't have inventory limitations. Also, know your options in case your supply chain faces disruption.

Ensure you have the following aspects in writing:

Present your continuity strategy/plan to your stakeholders, perform trial runs and be proactive. This allows you to identify any weaknesses or missing features. Once you make the necessary updates, start to train your staff, test, and revise accordingly.

TCI can help you select and implement disaster recovery and business continuity solutions to ensure your business stays connected and operational during any emergency. Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

With the pandemic event planners, sponsors and attendees were forced to pivot quickly from in-person to virtual events. It soon became clear the traditional in-person event couldn't simply be adapted to a virtual environment. It would have to be re-imagined  ̶  and even re-invented. Mitel User Group Liaison, Denise Desjardins, has been organizing events for years and shares some insights…

No one should fall into the trap of thinking virtual is simply a stopgap measure. In fact, virtual events offer several compelling advantages in any environment:

There are pros and cons to each type of event, in-person and virtual. One of the most compelling reasons to consider doing both is the ability to reach more people.

That's because each type of event attracts different people. An in-person event is a big draw for those who enjoy the entire travel experience, from getting on the plane and staying in the hotel to socializing during sessions and at the end of the day. Some people don't have the budget for travel while others are constrained by work projects or family responsibilities. That means there's a strong argument for doing both: it gives you the opportunity to reach a wider audience.

Just like the workplace, expect to see the event industry adopt a hybrid approach. Virtual events are likely to dominate for a while longer. But as the world re-opens, events will become a mix of in-person and virtual.

Ensure your broadband and collaboration tools can support the virtual events in your future. Contact TCI today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

When the communications systems you currently have work just fine, it can be easy to put off updating them until a later date or even indefinitely. But in a world where communications technology is evolving faster than ever, for growing businesses, the timeline for considering what’s next for your tech may be coming more quickly than you think.

Initially, it can be hard to leave the technology you have come to trust. When it came to smartphones, the new users eventually got more comfortable. They started texting and sharing pictures, and now they’re on video calls with family and friends. New communications technology led to new opportunities for our friends and family using their up-to-date smartphones.

In many ways, it’s the same for business owners. The ways people communicate since the pandemic began have changed. They had to, and businesses weren’t exempt from these changes. Suddenly capabilities that were thought of as “nice to have” became significant benefits to productivity and continuity, and in some cases, a lifeline.

However, people are resilient. Decision-makers found ways to keep their businesses running by adding capabilities for video collaboration, messaging, and mobility. While many plan to keep using them, some business owners have noted that these updates may not be compatible with their existing phone systems, and now have a mix of costly technology and software that isn’t integrated. What’s more, the next time a world or life event occurs that has the ability to disrupt business operations, they’ll have to make quick pivots once again.

Or maybe not, if you begin thinking about the future sooner rather than later.

Cloud communications solutions offer built-in features that growing businesses would previously have had to pay for separately, such as mobile applications, video calls, chat, and contact centers. Transitioning to a modern system allows businesses to streamline current technology needs, save time and money, cut down on complexity and create room to grow for whatever comes next.

Before they switched to smartphones, the flip phone holdouts missed out on a lot of shared messages, pictures and memories. When it comes to your business, does your current communications technology ensure that you won’t miss any of the big opportunities?

TCI is ready to assist you in preparing for the next phase of work with innovative communication and collaboration solutions. Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.