A natural concern during the pandemic was that greater independence may lead to a fall in productivity among employees. But many SMBs and larger organisations discovered that the standard metrics of productivity remained high and demonstrated the resilience of workers, as companies pivoted to a hybrid model. For instance, one year into the pandemic, Microsoft’s Work Trend Index survey showed that self-assessed productivity of more than 30,000 global workers remained the same or higher.

The ability to collaborate when employees don’t share the same physical space can, undoubtedly, become a challenge. Collaboration can also feel less spontaneous and more of a scheduled event. Fortunately, modern technology can enhance hybrid collaboration by providing an environment that unites colleagues in the office space with those working remotely, supporting diverse working styles and fostering creativity and innovation.