The COVID-19 crisis has completely changed the way businesses operate. Once unusual, the remote work culture is now a new normal for almost every organization.
The majority of the business activity is happening over networks with no in-person interactions and client meetings.
Organizations and employees are undergoing a never-expected phase of remote collaboration without compromising on productivity.
This was evident in many recent surveys that said remote working contributed to improved work productivity across many organizations.
The entire credit now goes to the cloud technology that's making everything possible in this crisis.
COVID-19 Crisis And Rising Cloud Adoption
With the majority workforce working remotely in the crisis, it has become imperative for companies to shift their overall cloud strategy, making it a new normal.
In a recent global survey, 91 percent of IT leaders reported a shift in their cloud strategies. In comparison, 81 percent said cloud usage has increased, and 60 percent are hopeful about extending it further.
76 percent of the IT leaders said about their increased usage of cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and private clouds.
For a seamless remote workflow, there has also been an increased usage of collaboration tools like Slack, Teams or Google Chat, and cloud-based video conferencing platforms like Zoom, WebEx and GoToMeeting.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has turned cloud into an essential service for many organizations, as well as highlighting the complexities of managing cloud cost and usage," says one of the IT leaders into cloud management.
On one side indicating at cost cutdown as a short-term strategy, many companies are mulling a continued investment in technology for long-term growth and market stability.
Whatever, it's time for companies to adopt a strategic approach to manage cloud strategies, while also exploring opportunities to streamline costs.
Cloud Spending and Related Plans
While 56 percent of the surveyed companies are willing to increase cloud spending, one-third of them are negotiating cloud contracts for cost savings.
A few of them are also approaching cloud vendors to extend payment terms. While less percentage of them are unable to pay cloud bills for this month.
Despite understanding cloud significance, some of them are not stepping forward for immediate investments.
By categories, IT millennials are more willing on cloud spending than boomers while midsized companies are suffering from enterprises about bearing cloud bills.
The challenges aside, companies all over are reconsidering their cloud strategies, focusing on core areas such as cloud migration, digital transformation initiatives, and improving overall efficiencies.
What About Remote Working?
There are different opinions among employers, employees, managers, and team members about this option.
Some companies are open to extending it for the rest of the year, while some are willing to go back to the office sooner.
Coming to IT leaders, a set of them are okay with physical work, provided companies assure a safe working environment.
While CIOs were eager to go back to the office, managers have a different opinion and prefer working from home, showing a shift in working culture.
Overall, a few demand the remote working option even after re-opening offices.
But what's common is the usage of cloud applications and services!
Some companies wish to continue the same cloud solutions used during remote working, even in the physical workforce. At the same time, some of them want to discontinue and are counting on new ones.
Industry-Employee Relationship
As the survey reports, employees have developed a positive attitude towards IT over the period.
They see this as a significant shift from the traditional 'adversarial relationship'.
The IT leaders see a sense of satisfaction in employees on how companies cared for them during the crisis, along with improved respect and a strong belief in their organizational managed IT infrastructure.
More than anything else, everyone has realized the power of digital tools in unforeseen situations like this.
Apps of different kinds, including communication, collaboration, video conferencing, entertainment, and social app, have proved to be lifesavers for the working population.
The collaboration tools emerged as the primary source of interaction than entertainment, making everyone rely on them even in the future.
In Conclusion
Financial losses and business discontinuity aside, the COVID-19 crisis has shown a new path to the industry, companies, and employees, too, calling for a shift in strategies for the future.
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