A new survey from the business technology consultancy Storm Technology reveals that 41% of IT leaders think their company will become 100% remote in the future.
The survey was conducted by Tech Central and involved more than 100 IT decision-makers from larger enterprises and businesses across the country.
It found that over 67% think their organisation is currently equipped to support such a move.
The survey shows that 81% of respondents think the way their company is currently working is effective and the same proportion think their IT department is adequately supporting remote/hybrid working for their organisation.
But 65% do not think their company is using remote/hybrid working solutions to their full potential, while 58% do not think virtual communications are an adequate replacement for human interaction.
42% of IT leaders see supporting company culture as the biggest challenge by companies involved in remote working.
The other main challenges include providing secure access to company systems and information (39%), training staff to use existing technologies to the fullest (39%), enabling collaboration across locations (35%) and managing remote devices (31%).
The research found that the impact of remote working was mainly positive across the areas of staff wellbeing (80%), employee experience (77%) and business growth (69%).
Meanwhile, 54% felt the impact of remote/hybrid working was positive on attracting and retaining talent, but only 35% believed it has had a positive impact on company culture.
Mike Lillis, Chief Commercial Officer at Storm Technology, said the workplace of today is vastly different to what we had five years ago.
"Our research suggests that it will continue to evolve - perhaps even becoming fully remote for some organisations," he said.
But he also said the core of what makes a successful organisation is the same - enabled, engaged and empowered people.
"If companies are to make remote and hybrid working a success, they need both the technology and the strategy in place. If people lack the means and knowledge to collaborate, they cannot work effectively," he cautioned.
"In turn, this jeopardises not just service delivery and business but also company culture and employee wellbeing as people end up working harder and longer," he said
"Business leaders must therefore implement the technologies and provide the training required to create a productive, proactive, and positive workplace. Only then can they make a real impact for their people and their organisations as a whole," he added.
