The pandemic has affected a wide array of industries last year, and it continues to affect them now. Many business owners are finding ways to adapt to the ever-changing world, with some struggling to find the necessary pieces to keep their businesses alive. Many experts believe that computers are a crucial aspect in improving the way we work together.
Computers have been around for quite some time, but their importance has become more crucial than ever. The pandemic has pushed a reliance on this particular technology. This article will look into how computers are shaping today’s office setup and how we are using the same technology to adapt to this year’s current circumstances.
The Current State of Offices
The current state of offices today is quite fragile. No one knows exactly when their office is forced to close down due to infection. In response to this, officials are doing their best to adapt to the pandemic.
One of the ways offices are doing this is through frequent disinfection. Currently, the COVID-19 virus can live on various surfaces. Depending on the surface, it can survive for as long as thirty days. This is problematic, especially for officemates that share various resources and office equipment.
A response from the computer industry is washable keyboards and mouses. Waterproof keyboards are now essential in many offices to reduce infection among employees. Brands like Logitech are selling washable keyboards in light of the pandemic, and many more are following this trend. It’s not a real necessity, but if you want your office to stay safe from infection, it might be wise to invest in these computer accessories.
Work-at-Home
A study has found that about 80% of businesses in the US have implemented work-at-home policies. It’s estimated that 67% of these policies will become permanent in the future. In light of these, many companies scramble to equip their employees with the necessary office equipment to work at home. Some offered their workers to bring home their computers from the office. However, one of the growth strategies to address this growth is Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or Purchase Your Own Device (PYOD) policies.
Bring or Purchase Your Own Device Policies
The main advantage of this policy is that various businesses can lessen their expenses by equipping their employees with the necessary office equipment to work efficiently. This is a good policy for startup businesses so that they can save up money.
However, not every employee can afford their own device. Some might also use outdated equipment, which can highly affect their jobs. If your business is experiencing this problem, you can consider two options.
The first option is to purchase the necessary equipment for your employees and rent it to them. They can use the office equipment as long as they work for your company for a small fee. This is a worthwhile investment because you still technically own these assets and you’re still able to liquidate them in the future.
Another option is to purchase the equipment and let your employees pay for it in installments. You can deduct it from their monthly income, and when it’s fully paid, they own the equipment. This might be less attractive for you, but most employees are willing to choose this option for a work-at-home setup.
Desktop vs. Laptops During the Pandemic
When choosing between desktop and laptops, you can get better cost-efficiency with the former than the latter nowadays. This is especially true if your company requires demanding processing programs.
Laptops can shine if you have employees in the field or salespeople who have to travel worldwide daily. However, because laptops are considered more expensive because of their smaller parts, it might be better for your company to invest in desktops instead.
People who are using desktops at home are pushing them to the limits of their capabilities. Interestingly enough, when it comes to working at home, it might be beneficial to build a gaming PC instead. Gaming computers have been known to be more efficient than any modern computer today. Sure, they might be more expensive, but they can undoubtedly speed up your tasks. Its versatility also means that you can run all sorts of other programs while you work.
Cloud Services
Lastly, it might be beneficial for your company to invest in cloud services. Many companies might have gotten away with traditional data storage, but experts believe cloud services have become essential due to the pandemic. It can make remote work much more bearable and safer, especially if we consider the fact that multiple people can easily upload their work into the cloud in a near instant.
Computers and software have made it bearable for businesses to work with today’s given circumstances. It’s expected that these will improve even more over time, as more jobs become permanently remote and without a real need for human contact.
Meta title: How Computers Are Changing Offices During the Pandemic
meta desc: The pandemic has changed the way people work. Right now, computers are at the forefront of adapting to today’s work environment. Find out more.
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