Agile Working - Work from Anywhere
It’s incredible that with modern technology, we can attend meetings and complete our work tasks from nearly anywhere. The opportunity for a mobile workplace, otherwise known as “agile working”, is a very real possibility for so many people nowadays.
So, why is “agile working” becoming so important for organisations? The word agile means the ability to move quickly and easily. In this context it means the ability to be flexible and productive, from anywhere.
In today’s world and the demands that it brings we need to be more responsive and efficient in our work, at all hours of the day. The ability to adopt a mobile workplace allows this to happen. Long days at the same desk are thankfully on the way to being behind us, now that we can so readily respond to emails and so many of our tasks remotely.
Agile working and hot-desking
Quite simply, an agile or mobile workplace is one in which staff can work from anywhere, at any time. This can mean while travelling, in a home office, in a cafe, coffee in hand, or simply in other parts of the office.
This last one would be the idea of “hot-desking,” a term you may have heard as it’s become a bit of a trend lately. Hot-desking is the practice of not allocating a single desk to an individual staff member, so nobody has their “own” desk. It’s the perfect situation for an organisation that hires a lot of part-timers, temps, contractors or have job share arrangements in place.
It means that a staff member comes in, grabs an available desk, does their work and, at the end of the day, packs up their things and off they go. There are two camps on hot-desking; those who love it and those who loathe it, and it remains to be seen if it will stick around. The idea of working remotely though isn’t going anywhere.
The agile working concept is firmly backed up by technological advances like mobile scanners, printers, laptops, even folding keyboards – all designed to be easily carried around and transported.
Today, work-life balance is more important than ever and so the ability to work wherever, whenever has never been more necessary – or more accessible! With a fantastic range of tech devices and accessories on the market, it’s all too easy to make this way of life a reality.
The agile workplace kit
Bag it Up
The first thing you need is a bag, but not just any bag. You need a work backpack or case designed for agile working with space for your laptop, tablet, and smartphone as well as your supplies, and some extra padding and security features.
Stay Connected
Mobile devices such as phones, laptops and tablets make it so easy to stay connected – but only if they have sufficient charge on their batteries. A portable charger (also known as a power bank) can keep those devices functioning for hours at a time, keeping you at work when you’re away from a powerpoint.
Get Organised
A handy desk organiser that can hold your smart phone or tablet is perfect for hot-desking, and a caddy that can be closed up and taken with you is invaluable.
Keep it Safe
If you’re working on confidential information, you’ll not want that curious person next to you in the airport lounge peeking over your shoulder. A privacy screen filter can block out the screen from side views, so only you can see those secret files.
A security USB drive comes with a protective feature which prevents unauthorised users from accessing your data. It’s a great way to transport important information while on-the-go, being lightweight, secure and convenient.
Scan and Save
A portable scanner with compact dimensions will be your best friend when working on the road. Removing the need to carry cumbersome files around with you, a scanner will allow you to scan and save important documents, business cards, and receipts to the cloud, email, or shared network folder.
