Hybrid Working: Perceived Truth? – com! professional

In March of this year, the independent market research institute Norstat conducted a representative survey on the subject of hybrid working and telecommunications equipment in the home office on behalf of Snom Technology, the premium brand for IP telephony. 4822 employees (company employees) from Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Great Britain were asked. Questions were asked about having a desk phone in the office, satisfaction with the extent to which hybrid working is practiced and the communication equipment used for this purpose.

The results are amazing but absolutely clear.

Long live the IP phone!

The predicted replacement of office phones due to changing work modes did not materialize. 62% of those questioned still use an IP telephone in their office. In comparison, the proportion of workplaces equipped with company phones was 66% in November 2021 (in Germany it was even 60%). This minimal change (+/-) contradicts assumptions and underscores once again the importance that companies place on IP phones. Those who have an office telephone at their desk (3003 people) were also asked by Snom how satisfied they were with their wired or wireless IP terminal. 69% of those surveyed from all five regions made positive comments and emphasized, among other things, the associated accessibility anywhere in the company building (36% in Germany), the variety of functions (26% on average, but 34% in Germany) and the audio quality of the end device (8% ) out. But not all IP telephones are the same, which is also a finding from the study: A total of 31% of the participants stated that they were dissatisfied with the office equipment. 15% complained about being tied to the desk when using it, that the functionality was limited (10%) and last but not least, a small percentage also complained about the old-fashioned design (6%) of their device.

Hybrid working? If so, then with company equipment

The introduction of new working models in companies is one of the latest trends in the B2B environment. The study participants were therefore asked about their own experience with hybrid working. However, the gap between the penetration of the phenomenon assumed by the market and actual working practice is proving to be particularly deep. The proportion of employees highlighted by the study who actually use the hybrid working model for themselves is actually significantly lower than assumed.

Of the 3003 respondents with an office phone in the five regions, just four out of ten study participants use more flexible work models such as home working or hybrid working. Leading the way here is the UK (with a staggering 56% “hybrid workers”) and Spain (50%). In Germany, the proportion of mobile workers at 39% is well behind that of Italy (45%). It’s completely different in France: here only 3 out of 10 work remotely.

The Snom survey also recorded similar fluctuations in telephony equipment for the home office. In contrast to the office telephone, on average around 81% of the study participants with a flexible working model (1295) are satisfied with their equipment for business calls from home. In Germany this proportion falls to 73%, in Spain it rises to 91%. With the exception of Spain, where 42% of the participants use smartphones for all or half of their communication, mobile devices are used sporadically, but on average by more than three quarters of the respondents for business calls. Germany has the lowest proportion of smartphone users with 66% of those surveyed, in Spain there are significantly more with 87%, followed by Italy (83%), UK (80%) and France (71%).

With headsets, however, the situation is similar in all regions. On average, 68% of respondents make business calls with headphones and also use them for most of half of the work week.

Although the survey does not allow any numerical conclusions to be drawn as to whether employees or companies are more reluctant to switch to hybrid working modes, the statements regarding telecom equipment and use in the home office indicate that companies may be more ready for this change than their employees : When it comes to amenities, there is one thing that all regions have in common. Whether smartphones or headsets, both are service devices for almost two thirds of hybrid workers, i.e. equipment provided by the company. The study also confirms Germany’s pioneering role in awarding business equipment for the home office. With smartphones, 67% are company property, with headsets even 79%. Great Britain comes closest to the German top value of all regions with 63% for smartphones and 72% for headsets.

“These tips from actual office or home office everyday life are of great value to us,” comments Fabio Albanini, Head of International Sales at Snom. “This data can be used to unambiguously determine whether a given product strategy is consistent with practice and end-user expectations, and to pinpoint whether a trend has the potential to be disruptive in the near term.”