Remote working before and after COVID-19: opportunities for business, IT and property
![](/report_cover/4228/remote-working-before-n-after-covid-19-opportunities-4-business-it-n-property_en.gif)
Remote working before and after COVID-19: opportunities for business, IT and property
SUMMARY
In the UK, there has been a notable trend towards remote working for over a decade, and particularly in the last two years. The lockdown imposed on March 23rd to contain the impact of COVID-19 has hit fast-forward on this trend in many industries where jobs can be continued at home.
Focusing on three key impacts of that fastforwarding, this case study will show what the main drivers of the remote working trend were pre-pandemic, and what they will look like in a post-pandemic world. The report shows that, following the radical catalytic event of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for remote working will come from both workers and business leaders.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
SUMMARY
In the UK, there has been a notable trend towards remote working for over a decade, and particularly in the last two years. The lockdown imposed on March 23rd to contain the impact of COVID-19 has hit fast-forward on this trend in many industries where jobs can be continued at home.
Focusing on three key impacts of that fastforwarding, this case study will show what the main drivers of the remote working trend were pre-pandemic, and what they will look like in a post-pandemic world. The report shows that, following the radical catalytic event of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for remote working will come from both workers and business leaders.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- ONS labor market data shows that there has been an upward trend in remote working during the last two years, and projections based on that data suggest a substantial increase in Q1 2020. Once COVID-19 lockdowns are lifted, the driving factors behind sustained higher levels of remote working will look quite different. Pressure to take up flexible working at home will come partly from employees returning from lockdown, but will mainly be due to the opportunities entailed for businesses.
- Operational efficiency through remote working is one of the most salient, if least tangible, opportunities for businesses. Provided it is deployed at scale, both large and small businesses alike will also benefit from reduced real estate costs. In addition, multiple factors will serve to increase pressure on businesses to meet carbon budgets though these practices.
- There will also be opportunities for apps and services, particularly in the Unified Communication and Collaboration (UC&C) market. Like the opportunities for their clients in the wider business world, these will accelerate the transition, mainly by driving competitive innovation from the leading players. Home working has always been the most popular form of remote working among those who choose it. This will change when the benefits of remote working to employers becomes a major driver and the practice becomes elective to a lesser extent. When it does, co-working spaces will find demand for their services growing, and this will be another major opportunity of the trend going forwards.
- Learn how companies have been adapting to increased home working
- See what technologies companies can deploy to help them
- Examine potential opportunities that remote working can provide
- Understand whether companies will adopt these changes in future
- Can remote working be beneficial?
- Are companies struggling to adopt it?
- How can businesses deploy new technologies?
- Could efficiencies and budget savings be possible?
1. OVERVIEW
1.1. Catalyst
1.2. Summary
2. COVID-19 WILL ACCELERATE AN UNDERLYING TREND
2.1. Remote working in context
2.1.1. The workforce is increasingly hindered by commutes
2.1.2. Families under pressure need flexible schedules
2.1.3. Environmental considerations are more pressing than ever
2.1.4. Cost-efficiency for companies is becoming a greater consideration
2.1.5. IT infrastructure is improving but still a concern
2.1.6. Some business cultures are more suited that others
2.1.7. Wellbeing could be a long-term obstacle
2.2. Forecast for the coming decade is promising
3. OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS
3.1. Operational efficiency for global businesses
3.2. Cost-efficiency from reduced office space
3.3. Cost-efficiency from reduced carbon reliance
3.3.1. 2008 Climate Act
3.3.2. 2017 Clean Growth Strategy (CGS)
3.3.3. Other schemes
3.3.4. EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)
4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR APPS AND SERVICES
4.1. UC&C is anothera pre-existing trend that will accelerate
4.2. The market will continue to diversify
5. OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
5.1. Home working will not be sufficient
5.2. Co-working players will survive COVID-19, even if WeWork fails
5.3. Smaller businesses and traditional suppliers will foster these opportunities
6. APPENDIX
6.1. Abbreviations and acronyms
6.2. Sources
6.3. Further reading
7. ASK THE ANALYST
8. ABOUT MARKETLINE
1.1. Catalyst
1.2. Summary
2. COVID-19 WILL ACCELERATE AN UNDERLYING TREND
2.1. Remote working in context
2.1.1. The workforce is increasingly hindered by commutes
2.1.2. Families under pressure need flexible schedules
2.1.3. Environmental considerations are more pressing than ever
2.1.4. Cost-efficiency for companies is becoming a greater consideration
2.1.5. IT infrastructure is improving but still a concern
2.1.6. Some business cultures are more suited that others
2.1.7. Wellbeing could be a long-term obstacle
2.2. Forecast for the coming decade is promising
3. OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS
3.1. Operational efficiency for global businesses
3.2. Cost-efficiency from reduced office space
3.3. Cost-efficiency from reduced carbon reliance
3.3.1. 2008 Climate Act
3.3.2. 2017 Clean Growth Strategy (CGS)
3.3.3. Other schemes
3.3.4. EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)
4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR APPS AND SERVICES
4.1. UC&C is anothera pre-existing trend that will accelerate
4.2. The market will continue to diversify
5. OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
5.1. Home working will not be sufficient
5.2. Co-working players will survive COVID-19, even if WeWork fails
5.3. Smaller businesses and traditional suppliers will foster these opportunities
6. APPENDIX
6.1. Abbreviations and acronyms
6.2. Sources
6.3. Further reading
7. ASK THE ANALYST
8. ABOUT MARKETLINE
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Upward trend in remote workers (2015–2019) and projected increase in Q1 2020
Figure 2: Weekly nitrous oxide concentration (ug/m3) in four of the UK’s largest cities, 2019–2020
Figure 3: Selection of UC&C offers in summary
Figure 1: Upward trend in remote workers (2015–2019) and projected increase in Q1 2020
Figure 2: Weekly nitrous oxide concentration (ug/m3) in four of the UK’s largest cities, 2019–2020
Figure 3: Selection of UC&C offers in summary