2020 was a year of extremes: everyone's lives changed drastically, and our concept of "normal" has been modified indefinitely. The exponential rise of COVID-19 cases has forced countries to unexpectedly brave hell and high waters, leading to face-to-face learning impossible, sudden shifts in work arrangements, and small businesses, unfortunately, shutting down.

Its incapacitating effects on our personal and professional lives are sure to fester us in the years to come. Even with the miracle of the highly esteemed COVID-19 vaccines insight, we are still uncertain whether things would go back to regular programming pre-pandemic, particularly with regard to on-site work is in full force. With that, here are a few reasons why 2021 is told as the year of remote work.

Hybrid Work Is Already Upon Us

According to Edward Rodriguez of Citrix Canada, we were already aiming for a more remote-friendly workforce way before 2020 started. But due to the pandemic, there was no choice but to accelerate things. One way that this effort was put into high gear is through hybrid work arrangements, a combination of on-site and remote work.

This is an ideal way of securing the quality of work while ensuring that people can stay in the safety of their own homes. By guaranteeing a proper work-from-home and office model to employees, companies find a sweet compromise between quality and comfort and health security.

Talents Are More Flexible

Due to the threat of the COVID-19, there is no other choice but to adapt and hopefully thrive with the current situation; that is why, nowadays, it has become ideal for companies to source remote employees without factoring in one’s location. It is seen that, with the ongoing pandemic, more people are actually dispersed through different locations. Additionally, a survey revealed that 88% of workers can work effectively regardless of location. Similarly, even with higher loads and whatnot, employees are more flexible with handling time-bound work.

IT, Smart Technology, and Business Leaders Are Working Together

Information Technology is the field deemed most helpful in remote working situations, so ideally, business leaders are more inclined to seek help from this department. That being said, from the start of the pandemic, there was no choice but to further utilize all readily available technology, including the procurement of state-of-the-art essential technology.

Now more than ever, artificial technology and machine learning are optimized in digital workspaces to manage time more effectively. IT is also spearheading the augmentation of more secure internet access and interagency linking that ensures reliable communication against posing threats on sensitive data.

Lastly, business leaders and/or employers are heightening their responsibility to provide the most effective collaborative tools and workspace to employees. This duty, with the help of IT, is realized through radicalized data security, dispersal of essential office software, and so much more.

Technology Is Highly Reliable But Simple

Over the past decade, technology has really become reliable and easy to use. Software and digital apps that are essential to remote work, such as word processing apps, video conferencing tools, and search engines are abundantly available. These days, every task can be done virtually and at an instant because of technology.

Collaboration Is Becoming A Valuable Skill

Engagement is important in making sure that employees are dedicated to their work, even when they are away from the office. That is no easy feat for managers and leaders, but through the aid of technological tools, supervision of work in teams has become easier and has promoted collaboration and communication more than ever. This is ideal in the sense that the more collaboration between workers, the easier the work gets done.

Perhaps, 2021 will still be riddled with the pandemic, but this time, we’re likely more in-depth with the maximization of recent technology and effective communication. For the moment, this is our new normal; but as listed above, our new normal doesn’t seem to be difficult to navigate – after all, 2020 has really taught us how to adapt.