Why Hybrid Working is the winner in the APAC region? Experts explain.

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Spurred by the pandemic, businesses across APAC (Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation) accelerated their journeys of transformation.

Referring to the latest report by telecommunications and technology company Telstra, it shows that nearly 85% of APAC organizations are promoting hybrid work arrangements, and seven in 10 organizations are now recruiting talent from all locations and allowing hybrid work arrangements.

Also, 74% of employees in APAC believe that they and their teams are more productive with flexible work arrangements. So why hybrid working has become the winner in the APAC region?

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Hybrid work is preferred across ASEAN markets

The Cisco study highlighted that hybrid work is now preferred by many employees across ASEAN markets:

Malaysia – 74%
Singapore – 71%
Indonesia – 84%
Vietnam – 76%
Thailand – 69%
The Philippines – 60%

The support for hybrid work extends beyond employees as well — with 90% of employees saying their employers have been supportive of hybrid working. In particular, 46% said their employers have been supportive, while 44% said their employers have been very supportive.

(Cisco)

Key factors that convert hybrid work to major trend in APAC

Recently, HRD (Human Resources Director) surveyed businesses around APAC about the processes and policies, and the business leaders explained that why they are implementing hybrid work and its benefits.

Providing more flexibility to work

Implementing hybrid working provides flexibility for employees, which allows employees to choose where they work, “the office, home, or somewhere in between.”

In a hybrid office, there has meeting rooms and hot desking with smart office system support, which allows the companies to reduce unnecessary space and rent, allowing employees to work at the place they wanted.

Liz Moran, the director and HR business partner APJ, at software company New Relic, said they had implemented a “Flex First” work philosophy which is a hybrid working arrangement. Also, they understand flexibility is very important for their employees.

Helping with staff retention and acquisition

Hybrid work provides flexibility to employees, which can satisfy employees’ needs for working flexibly. The reason why is this important is that flexible work has already become the core factor that can retain talents.

Based on a recent Swinburne University of Technology Report, 43% of Australian knowledge workers said they would consider leaving an employer that does not offer flexible working for one that does, rising to 46% in Sydney and Melbourne. Also, based on Cisco Global Hybrid Work Study 2022, hybrid work is now preferred by many employees across markets in ASEAN.

“The Great Resignation has shown us that, overwhelmingly, employees are demanding flexible work arrangements – and they will change jobs to get them. We are also hearing from candidates that flexibility is a top priority,” said Moran.

Combining Technology for Better Quality of Work

Software company New Relic has invested in collaboration work tools to support the move to hybrid work. Their ‘Connections and Belonging’ hub also document when, where and how teams will work together.

“The majority of our ‘Relics’ are choosing to work to a remote or hybrid schedule and the feedback has been positive,” said Moran.

Therefore, working with technology has a positive impact, and the result of New Relic told us that implementing hybrid work is a smart choice.

Establishing a positive office culture

Working in the office help to build a positive company culture, therefore a hybrid office provides flexibility and a friendly environment, such as co-meeting areas, so the staff can have enough conversations and gathering when they return to the office.

“We always had an in-office culture prior to 2020 but our employees enjoyed working flexibly and so we decided to continue to provide that flexibility long after lockdowns,” Sidekicker co-founder Jacqui Bull mentioned.

Many reports show that positive company culture can help a company to foster a sense of belonging among employees make employees more engaged in their work, and therefore increase their productivity.

Successful examples across APAC

Hybrid working in Singapore

Citi Singapore: Hybrid work allows Singapore Citi’s staff to spend more time with their families and ensures the customers can have excellent service as the workers have high productivity.

Redhill: Implementing a hybrid work arrangement helps Redhill to attract many new talents to join them, and their workers are increasing to over 150 people now.

Hybrid working in Japan

NTT: Hybrid work helps reduce the costs of brain drain and high rents, increases opportunities for employees to spend time with their families, and make it easier for employees who need childcare and nursing care, to join the workforce.

Hybrid working in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Technology Quest Limited: Hybrid work would provide a better working environment for its employees and reduce workers’ work stress.

Klook: Hybrid work allows workers to explore different overseas destinations and experience local cultures in their spare time.

As implementing hybrid work has brought success to companies in Asia, they focus on developing hybrid work and decided to implement it as a long-term development target. Reports also reflect that hybrid work is the future of work.

With the support of companies’ decision makers in Asia, implementing a hybrid work method has become popular in Asia and a trend. Thus, it becomes the winner in Asia among all the new working styles.

How to implement hybrid work?

A hybrid office should use a comprehensive office management system, which helps Singapore employees use office resources efficiently, such as rooms, desks, and office equipment, and support them have remote work and virtual meetings with their colleagues in the office.

ONES is one of the famous all-in-one smart office systems that can help you to easily implement hybrid working at ease. You can easily perform virtual meetings, desk hoteling, and digital office management with our Room Booking, Desk Booking, and Visitor Management features.

ONES Software now has a dedicated page to introduce a series of hybrid working measures to help you solve problems. You may wish to go to https://ones.software/hybrid-workspace/ for further reference.

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