Distributed technology is critical for our distributed workforce
The story of a hybrid workforce with huge ambitions
Would you rather fight one hundred duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck? This is the all-important question OnBuy.com employees are asked when they first join the team – remotely from the laptop they’ve just received as a new starter.
Connected & collaborative
These types of energising conversations have allowed OnBuy.com’s widespread workforce to feel connected, collaborative and nurtured. In this way, they can support the extraordinary growth of their company – a UK e-commerce platform that now boasts 37 million products and is shaking up the industry.
OnBuy.com success is founded not just on its ethical principles to its retailers and customers, but also in nurturing its workforce. According to a recent Reuters editorial, technical decision makers are expecting a permanent remote work force to double in 20211, and as such a greater reliance on PC equipment will be required to enable this trend.
Hybrid power
In order to stay competitive, OnBuy.com is scouring the land for the very best talent – irrespective of where they might live. A burgeoning team of 80, it’s now rolling out 100 new roles imminently (all of whom will need a laptop to support them). With a mix of remote work and the option to come into its new HQ in Bournemouth, its PC-powered hybrid workforce brings a need for great agility and flexibility.
“Flexible working means we have opened up our talent pool and our roles are more accessible,” says OnBuy.com’s Head of HR and Operations, Helen Manley. “9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday seems so old-fashioned now. What’s more, most candidates wouldn’t go for it. Scaling up as quickly as we are, we need to be agile. It’s also having a positive impact on diversity. Not commuting and being less rigid about work hours opens up opportunities to people with caring responsibilities or disabilities, for example. And the right devices are essential to enable this transformation.”
Flexibility to scale
It’s also enabling global ambitions. While it’s already trading in Europe, OnBuy.com is now eyeing up new markets like the US, New Zealand and the Nordic countries.
“When we are operating in many more global marketplaces, we can’t be set to concrete time zones. Connectivity will give us flexibility to evolve and expand,” according to Aron Cody-Boutcher, OnBuy.com’s CMO. “As a tech platform, we have a huge advantage; we don’t need huge warehouses in new markets – they already exist. But PC technology is critical to our business. Distributed working doesn’t work without distributed technology. That’s how integral it is.”
A valued workforce
OnBuy.com is not alone on its distributed journey. By 2025, an estimated 70% of the workforce will be working remotely at least five days a month1. Against this backdrop, IT decision-makers recognise that device choice is crucial to recruiting and retaining talent. Businesses like Intel have recognised this and have integrated connectivity and responsiveness into laptops on Intel vPro® with Evo™ designs. In fact, research carried out on behalf of Intel has revealed that the majority (64%) of workers say that the technology they’re provisioned impacted their productivity (64%) and satisfaction levels (62%)2. For OnBuy.com’s management, it’s about empowering teams and making every individual feel valued.
“If you have IT issues, it can affect productivity, of course. And if you give them something that costs time to use, it’s a false economy,” clarifies Helen, OnBuy.com’s Head of HR. “But more than that, it can also lead to disengagement and demotivation. So, we view the quality of the equipment as paramount. It says to teams: we value you, and so we are going to give you a really great laptop and kit to work with.” As OnBuy.com works on growing its team and international capabilities, its management is looking at the expanding PC requirements needed to support the sheer speed and scale of its success. One of the most significant IT shifts during the pandemic was the migration from desktop computers to laptops. And while remote working provided crucial interactivity between teams during this time, the company now wants to encourage some face-to-face, cross-departmental interactions too. Hot-desks and laptop spaces will be available for everyone to plug in to easily – and dip in and out of office life.
Digital open door
“We will always have an open door policy for all our teams – whether that’s digital or in person,” says Aron Cody-Boutcher. “As we expand, security is also key – making sure the right data is in the right place with the appropriate access controls. Security is a condition of doing business today. And as we set our sights further afield, we will need faster interconnectivity for our remote users, as well as greater distributed support.”
OnBuy.com’s journey to hybrid working highlights a key trend; the right technology is increasingly essential. Laptops on Intel vPro® with Evo™ designs are engineered to maximise productivity. Advanced technologies and sleek, ultra-mobile form factors allow professionals to be productive in more places, based on how they actually work. And because even minor interruptions can derail productivity while on-the-go, hardware-based security features keep you protected while remote support capabilities ensure that IT has got your back, no matter where you’re working.
In the meantime, there’s an equally important topic for Aron’s team to mull over: what’s the next type of inflatable unicorn that it should add to its already 120-strong inflatable unicorn range?
1 Source: “Permanently remote workers seen doubling in 2021 due to pandemic productivity: survey,” Reuters, October 2020. Read the full article.