TELEWORKING MARKET REPORT
www.comms-dealer.com
SELLING INTO A NEW W
New legislation introduced last month (April 6th) extended
the right for all parents with children under the age of 16 to
request flexible working. Meanwhile, National Work from
Home day, May 15th, is another clear sign that working
practices are modernising, a trend that presents the channel
with new opportunities in the remote working space.
N
owadays it’s
easy and
cost-effective
for businesses
to adopt technology
that re-routes calls and
emails to home offices,
says Michael Calvert, UK
General Manager for
Aastra. He believes that
the introduction of new existing clients and new A teleworking solution is Jones, Business Development
rules on flexible working prospects. The advent of applicable to all types Director at Alcatel-Lucent.
will present ‘problems’
Alastair Mills
seamless connectivity into of businesses, said Mills. “The current trend to go
for many businesses, and the corporate network from “As more integration, ‘Green’ provides resellers
that these fresh issues can
Flexible
both a data and voice functionality and resilience with an opportunity to
be addressed by comms perspective has added get built into these solutions sell teleworking solutions.
resellers. “Until now, just working the missing ingredient to we expect to see a greater Resellers should highlight
12 per cent of the UK
has become
make teleworking a viable reliance on this type of how it can enable
population has been technology,” said Mills. technology,” he added. companies to decrease
equipped to work remotely, a hot topic of “SpiriTel’s message is clear their carbon footprint while
a figure which will increase
discussion with
He identified the key – get the message out making large cost savings.”
rapidly,” said Calvert. elements that have there to the key decision
“However, most businesses
clients and
prompted this shift towards makers and resellers Jones added that a
are still unable to support
new prospects
a greater uptake of will be inundated with ‘tailored approach’ is
flexible working practices, teleworking. “The reduced enquiries and requests needed when selling
so workers will struggle to cost of VPNs aligned to for further information.” teleworking. Remote
reap the full benefits. effectively. It needs higher connectivity speeds contact centre agents,
boardroom backing, with at home, combined Although the concept of for example, may work
“By developing working stringent policies in place with the overall cost of teleworking is nothing new, well in one company
policies to enable more to govern the security of connecting a teleworker to the advent of IP and a with a particular workflow
home working, companies data and deter abuse. a corporate network, has greater awareness of flexible and work ethic, but may
that embrace a work/life Plus of course it needs become negligible when working, along with the not fit well in others.
balance could potentially the right technology.” compared to the typical Green agenda and new Companies in which
see improved morale, operating costs of an office legislation, have combined security and regulatory
a higher commitment Flexible working is rising to environment,” added Mills. to put a sharper focus on compliance is mandatory
to the company, lower the top of the agenda for “It also affords the possibility remote working. Since will also require a different
office costs and benefit many of SpiriTel’s clients, of a business functioning teleworking was conceived approach. Resellers should
from stronger retention says CEO Alastair Mills, who 24 hours a day, with it has usually been the remember to focus on
of their staff. To ensure stated that an increasing teleworkers able to work cultural and not the the business impact and
flexible working is executed number of companies are flexible shift patterns to technical issues that have implementation process
effectively there needs to recognising the benefits of give 24/7 cover or support. been the potential stumbling – not just the technical
be a relationship built on remote working. “Flexible These users can also be blocks for embracing aspects, he says.
trust to make remote or working has become a located in different time remote teleworking within Resellers should target
flexible working function hot topic of discussion with zones around the world.” companies, says Nigel companies that have
48 COMMS DEALER MAY 2009 www.comms-dealer.com
48-49 PG Teleworking_spread.indd1 1 28/4/09 13:11:01
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