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Flexible working has become a topic that companies are starting to find difficult to avoid. Recent legislation will see all employees with a child under 16 entitled to more flexible working hours.
Similarly, the heavy snow earlier this year saw an estimated 20 per cent of the UK working population unable to reach the office, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.
London Underground strikes in June also saw thousands staying home, and with swine flu predicted to hit many this autumn, flexible working looks more likely to become integral to many business operations.
Companies need support to implement the right technology for their needs – and here lies the opportunity for the channel to provide advice and assistance, helping companies adhere to regulation as well as achieve considerable cost savings.
There is no doubt that this is going to be an ongoing opportunity as employees demand a more flexible approach from their employer.
Some believe employees will be less productive working from home than in an office, and this arguably represents the biggest challenge – and opportunity – facing the channel in this area.
Both productivity and security concerns will have to be addressed at an early stage by the channel.
Broadband performance is another issue. Many companies that have experimented with flexible and home working have done so with consumer broadband links and, as a result, often suffered a poor service.
Concerns about speed of access and quality of voice and video applications are obviously also important.
But services sent over an MPLS IP-based VPN, for example, should result in few problems around quality.
Yet there remains a great deal of confusion and suspicion about flexible working. Companies will need expert assistance in identifying solutions, and installing and maintaining them.
The channel can in many cases offer impartial advice. Channel operators that can establish themselves quickly as trusted experts in this field have an advantage.
Neil Watson is director of indirect sales at Viatel
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