Technology Solutions to Support the New World of Work

In partnership with NETGEAR

By Rieva Lesonsky

A quick glance at Twitter on any given day showcases the debate currently going on in America about a return to “normal” work. Some businesses and employees are anxious to get back to the office. Others would prefer “normal” to be a permanent shift to remote working.

And while the debate rages on, many think the “Goldilocks solution” (the one that’s “just right”) is hybrid work: part-time at home, part-time in the office.

This is not a casual debate; the stakes are real. As a recent study from Kettle, a flexible workspace technology company, reveals—65% of newly employed Gen Z workers say a hybrid workplace is “important” to them when considering a potential employer, and 69% “would select an employer who offered a hybrid model over one who didn’t.”

Is hybrid work the new normal?

A report from McKinsey, cited in this NETGEAR blog, shows that 90% of business executives “envision a hybrid model going forward,” even though 68% of them have “no detailed plan communicated or in place.” In addition, more than half (53%) of Gen Z employees in the Kettle survey say their employees “are not prepared to implement hybrid models.”

Crowded households

Lack of preparation is not the only concern. Another issue is that many households have more than one hybrid worker. As a recently released report from contractor lead site CraftJack shows, not only are many hybrid/remote workers living with another person who is also working from home, but 37% of them actually work in the same room.

Getting equipped

While operating a hybrid business has many advantages for small businesses (moving to a smaller office can significantly lower your overhead costs, for one), having your team work at home, even part-time, can present some challenges. CraftJack says the trend toward hybrid work means “home offices will only [need to] get more seriously equipped.”

Households now supporting at least two (and sometimes more) hybrid workers are likely to need more reliable and secure tools that help and don’t hinder their work.

Alexandra Mehat, NETGEAR’s director of product marketing, SMB, says you need tools that are not only safe and reliable but also that offer “fuss-free deployment and management.”

If you’re worried that it will cost you more than you save by going hybrid, don’t be. There are, she says, “feature-rich products fit for even the most budget-conscious small business.” Here are some of her suggestions:

The Business Essentials range delivers high-performance WiFi you can get up and running in only two steps. Since many hybrid workers are working while their kids are also likely to be online, coverage that works for individuals and families is critical, and that’s precisely what Business Essentials offers.

One of the biggest concerns when working at home is spotty WiFi, which significantly interferes with productivity and often leads to dropped or frozen video calls. Business Essentials options include “WiFi 5 or WiFi 6, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and the ability to create individual WiFi networks within the same system, so different people in the same household can keep their incoming and outgoing information and communication separate” and secure.

The Orbi Pro WiFi 6 range provides whole-home DIY WiFi with coverage that starts at 2,000 sq. ft. and can easily expand to very large areas. It’s ideal for multiple users and also connects smart home systems.

Critical options include multi-gig Ethernet and the ability to create separate sub-networks (SSIDs) from one system. This means different users can have their own private WiFi network, a must-have for households with multiple people working (and studying) from home.

What makes the Orbi Pro WiFi 6 perfect for hybrid workers is the recently introduced Business VPN, so when you and your employees are working from home, you can directly (and effortlessly) connect to your office’sOrbi Pro WiFi 6 WiFi system with one-step connectivity. 

In the office

Operating a hybrid business means you and your team are also working in the office. To help you efficiently manage your company, some options include:

Essentials Line of Wireless Access Points is a high-performance, secure, and low-cost solution ideally suited for small, standalone, single-site locations that don’t require remote management.

Business WiFi mesh systems (the Orbi Pro, Orbi Pro WiFi 6, and Orbi Pro WiFi 6 Mini) offer affordable, seamless, and high-speed WiFi using the latest WiFi 6 technology, ensuring your company, employees, and customers are efficiently connected. The Orbi Pro product line has scalable mesh coverage of up to 18,000 square feet. In addition, the Orbi Pro mesh systems offer enhanced security, network separation, and can be remotely managed with NETGEAR Insight, an award-winning cloud management solution. This enables you to discover and add devices to your network, monitor and control them, and make changes wherever you are from your computer or smartphone.

Insight Managed Access Points. NETGEAR also offers a wide portfolio of WiFi 6 Cloud Managed access points that provide SMBs with next-level coverage and capacity, easy installation and management, and PoE capability for high-performance business-grade WiFi. They can be wired and powered through a switch, feature seamless roaming through the office, and come in different models that fit any need, indoor or even outdoor. Models include WAX610, WAX610Y (outdoor), WAX620 and the Tri-band top of the line, WAX630.

WFH technology solutions to work from anywhere

Operating a successful hybrid business means you need to be able to work from anywhere, and have tools and solutions that offer:

• Flexibility that gives you and your team a seamless experience anywhere you are
• Reliability and dependable connectivity
• Scalability so your system can keep up with your changing needs as your business grows
• Security features that keep your data and employees safe
• Suitability giving you a budget-friendly system expressly designed for your small business

NETGEAR also offers a range of Mobile Hotspots products for when you’re away or traveling.

• The M1 hotspot supports up to 1Gbps access speeds and connects up to 20 devices at once. It is ideal for small teams working in-person, or for temporary workspaces, and can even be used for visitor WiFi access. Simply connect to the cellular network of choice.
• The MR1100 is also compatible with Insight, NETGEAR’s cloud management portal, to set up, control, and change networks remotely.
• The Nighthawk M5 Mobile Router takes the performance of a mobile hotspot even further, with 3Gbps and support for 5G, to provide the best possible Internet connection.

Since 65% of employees who had been working from home surveyed by Zoom and Survey Monkey described a hybrid work environment as their “ideal work model,” offering hybrid work will help you save money and attract and retain employees.

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