We are several months into 2023 with the height of the pandemic and its lockdowns far behind us, but hybrid working has proved its staying power as more than just a necessity born out of circumstances
A recent survey from Embryo found that 30% of full-time UK employees are working a hybrid working schedule, with the highest populations of hybrid workers found in London (36.2%) and the South West (35.3%). Those working in hybrid or remote arrangements seem to enjoy working this way, with a Culture Shift survey finding that more than one-third (34%) of respondents feel remote working has had a positive effect on their creativity, while 29% confirmed working remotely has positively impacted their job motivation.
From this data, it’s clear that hybrid work is here to stay. This has created a massive opportunity for resellers to capitalise on new trends and equip their customers with the right tools for effective hybrid working.
Understanding how end users work today
As remote and hybrid working started off as a temporary solution to an unavoidable problem, many workers settled for making do with what they had to get by. They set up makeshift workspaces at dining tables and on sofas and conducted video calls with bad lighting and distracting background noise. Now that hybrid is the norm, standards and expectations have shifted. Staff are looking for more permanent and professional setups for home working, and many are using stipends from their employers to equip themselves with the right solutions for their needs. Others will be investing out of their own pocket and will therefore be choosier about which products they bring into their homes. There is a major opportunity for resellers to cater to individuals who may be tasked with purchasing their own workday solutions for the very first time or are looking to upgrade the equipment they bought to get by during the pandemic.
From our conversations with both end users and resellers, ACCO Brands has identified two major areas of opportunity for dealers looking to capitalise on hybrid working.
Focus on both style and function
The space issues that many faced during the pandemic did not disappear when the world reopened. Many workers lack the space to set up a designated office in their home and have no choice but to work from the dining table or sofa. However, this can be rather detrimental to their physical wellbeing.
Bad ergonomics can prove to be a health hazard over the long term. A nationwide study from Versus Arthritis found that since the start of lockdown, four in five (81%) office workers have experienced musculoskeletal pain due to their home working set up, with a quarter (23%) reporting they experience pain often or all of the time. Lower back pain is the most common complaint (50%), followed by neck pain (36%) and shoulder pain (28%).
It’s critical for staff working at dining tables or on sofas to introduce ergonomic equipment to support their posture and alignment to avoid negative impacts on their health. Purchases of this equipment can be quite reactive in nature, but we are seeing a trend towards proactivity as hybrid workers look to upgrade their kit and gravitate towards solutions that have wellbeing benefits built in.
The Leitz Ergo range offers effective ergonomic products that fit seamlessly into the home. These ranges’ laptop risers, seat cushions, footrests, stools, sitting balls, monitor stands, and wrist and keyboard rests are very design-forward, available in stylish colours that range from bright and bold to muted and minimalist to accent the space rather than detract from it. They provide all the wellbeing benefits of traditional ergonomics solutions, but with the needs of the modern worker in mind. Resellers should look to expand their offering beyond the standard, bulky black offering to those with modern design. There’s also a great opportunity to upsell products that don’t require any installation and can work with customers’ existing furniture, and resellers should keep that in mind as well.
Keeping connected
During the pandemic, video conferencing became essential for keeping teams connected. Hybrid working arrangements mean that not everyone will be in the office at the same time, making video conferencing a permanent fixture of professional communication. Many staff are looking to upgrade their video conferencing equipment as a result.
Kensington have leaned into this trend by offering end users a range of advanced audio and visual equipment for better video conferencing. The range was developed with the hybrid worker in mind and to work seamlessly with platforms like Zoom and Teams. It includes high-definition webcams, ring lights for studio-like lighting, and flexible mounting systems. For audio, the range includes noise cancelling headsets and an innovative 3-in-1 audio headset switch to solve the “You’re on mute” issue quickly.
Seizing the sales opportunity
These upgrades to the home working environment presents a major sales opportunity for resellers to target individual end users, but resellers need to adjust their value proposition appropriately. Instead of focusing on features, the dealer needs to focus on how the product will fit into the user’s everyday working life and the efficiencies the products can bring. Use lifestyle imagery, product photos, and optimised product text provided by manufacturers and suppliers such as ACCO Brands to help the customer visualise how they themselves will use the products.
To experience our range of solutions, visit us at Dealer Support Live in Coventry on 27 April.
This is a sponsored article brought to you by ACCOBrands
To find out more about how ACCO could benefit you, come and chat to them at Dealer Support Live 2023. Book your tickets here!
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