Workflows driven by artificial intelligence are quietly changing the perception that… performance means in hybrid work.
Real-time collaboration, digital upskilling and intelligent automation are becoming the real markers and drivers of success, not whether people are physically in the office.
CCO and member of the executive board of TeamViewer.
In this environment, being able to seamlessly connect across time zones, devices, and roles is not a good thing; it is the foundation that keeps the work going. Without reliable, secure and adaptable IT infrastructure – and without automation to solve problems before they impact employees, productivity gains can quickly fade away.
Hybrid isn't going anywhere, but the problems have changed
Hybrid working may now be the accepted norm – 77% of UK professionals work in hybrid roles and almost half say they would consider leaving if they were denied flexibility – but the conversation moves on.
The challenge for organizations is no longer whether to offer hybrid work arrangements, but how to equip teams so that they can work without friction and safety compromise wherever they are.
While some companies struggle with “productivity paranoia” (the worry that hybrid teams get less done because they are seen less), the real problem is not transparency.
This is an opportunity. Are teams ready to work seamlessly across time zones, devices, and environments without friction or security concerns?
Making digital work more resilient
Modern businesses require more than just basic access to files and systems. To be effective, digital infrastructure must actively support hybrid work.
This means secure remote connectivity, reliable IT support from a distance and, increasingly, digital platforms that can identify and resolve problems before they impact the workforce.
From reactive to proactive IT
Even small disruptions to IT infrastructure can lead to huge productivity losses when transferred to distributed teams. One failed login or registration delay repeated on a large scale can cost days of productivity.
The traditional help desk model, in which employees must collect tickets and wait for a solution, is no longer sufficient in all scenarios. This illustrates the power of prevention.
By putting the digital employee experience (DEX) into the infrastructure, organizations can automate fixes, resolve recurring issues in the background, and deliver employees continuous time for concentration. No waiting for support.
No trips to the office to solve a problem. Just work without friction.
Automation offers a way forward. By detecting anomalies early, recommending fixes, and in some cases automatically applying fixes, organizations can move from reactive IT firefighting to proactive and ultimately predictive support.
This not only improves productivity, but also reduces the burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on higher-value work.
The potential for sustainable development is equally compelling. A recent study on CO₂ emissions avoidance found that remote access software helped prevent between 15.6 and 44.8 million tons of CO₂ emissions in one year – primarily by reducing the need to travel to perform routine support and maintenance tasks.
This is equivalent to the annual emissions of millions of cars.
Empowering people, not just systems
The role of technology in hybrid work is not only to keep systems running, but also to help people develop and share skills, which is becoming increasingly important as many companies face rising employee turnover and an aging workforce.
This proves that hybrid work is about more than just location. It's about allowing people to focus on learning, mentoring and creating value without being blocked by technology.
Securing the New Digital Perimeter
As businesses embrace digital tools, whether to minimize IT disruption or facilitate training, the security landscape becomes more complex. From bring your own device (BYOD) policies to decentralized endpoints, hybrid operations have greatly expanded the attack surface.
To respond, cybersecurity must be built into remote infrastructure from the start. This means introducing multifactorial authenticationconditional access, device verification, and data encryption are not add-ons, but core features.
Supplier transparency is equally important. Companies should look for suppliers that participate in bug bounty programs, stay ahead of regulatory requirements such as GDPR and ISO 27001, and proactively communicate risks and mitigations.
The Way Forward: A Proactive Digital Strategy
Hybrid work is no longer an experiment—it's a working reality. The next step is to remove friction, empower employees, and ensure that the digital infrastructure evolves in line with employee expectations.
This means investing in platforms that not only bring people together, but also anticipate and solve problems in the background. It also means recognizing that productivity is less about where people sit and more about whether their tools allow them to focus, learn, and innovate seamlessly.
The businesses that thrive in this new era will be those that understand a simple truth: successful hybrid work is not about visibility, but about experience. And this experience depends on a resilient, secure and increasingly automated infrastructure.
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