The modern workplace is slowly shifting from the remote cocoon of pandemic times to a more bustling in-and-out-of-office hybrid model. According to a Gallup survey, the number of employees exclusively working remotely surged from 8% in 2019 to 29% in 2023, but perhaps the most notable trend is the rise of hybrid work, with 40% of previously remote employees becoming hybrid.  

This evolution underscores a fundamental reshaping of workplace dynamics, with hybrid arrangements emerging as the new norm for employees. But it hasn’t come without challenges. Fortunately, many hybrid workforces have found a way to overcome these connectivity challenges with 22Miles omnichannel platform and the new Employee Office Suite with complimentary features for a more efficient and engaged workforce.

The Challenges of Hybrid Employee Collaboration

With team members spread across different locations, communication can become fragmented. In-person interactions may decrease, leading to potential misunderstandings, delays in information sharing, and reduced collaboration.  

Remote employees might feel isolated and disconnected from their in-office counterparts, making it crucial to establish effective communication channels that bridge the physical divide. In fact, according to a Standford study, fully remote work shows about 10% lower productivity than fully in-person work, reiterating the push for hybrid models that balance remote work with in-person collaboration. 

Overcoming Hybrid Workforce Connectivity Challenges with an Omnichannel Platform and Employee Office Suite

Unifying employee communications across working locations requires an omnichannel platform and Employee Office Suite that connects all of a company’s modes of communication. By integrating with safety alert systems, room booking software, and other essential tools, your omnichannel platform becomes a central hub for workplace communication and efficiency. 

An omnichannel platform simplifies the management and distribution of content, allowing administrators to schedule and send messages across multiple channels and mediums from a single interface. Whether an employee is working at the office, from home, or in an airport thousands of miles away, they will all have streamlined access to crucial company information via digital signage, their mobile phone, or desktop.

This centralized approach streamlines workflows, enhances efficiency, and ensures consistent messaging across all communication channels. With this newfound flexibility, companies also benefit from inclusivity and accessibility, enabling all team members to stay connected and engaged, regardless of their working environment.

The Benefits of an Omnichannel Platform for Hybrid Connectivity

An omnichannel platform provides a flexible, holistic approach to content management, offering an array of benefits to hybrid teams.

Digital Signage for In-Office Connectivity

Whether displaying company news, event schedules, employee achievements, or safety protocols, digital signage captures the attention of employees and ensures that critical information is effectively communicated across all areas of the workplace. 

An omnichannel platform also offers a wide range of preset templates and customizable content options to streamline content creation and management. From eye-catching graphics to interactive displays, organizations can easily create engaging content tailored to their specific needs and objectives.

22Miles Employee Office Suite: Microsoft Teams and Outlook Plugins

Experience the perfect synergy of collaboration and organization with new 22Miles’ Employee Office Suite, integrating our omnichannel platform with Microsoft Teams and Outlook. Our suite seamlessly merges the collaborative power of Teams with the organizational efficiency of Outlook with new and improved complimentary features, while also providing enhanced visibility of digital signage content for remote workers.

Certified by Microsoft 365 (M365), our app plugins seamlessly integrate into existing Teams and Outlook workflows on employee desktops, mobile devices, or digital signage ensuring a smooth transition regardless of their location. Through the intuitive back end of the 22Miles omnichannel platform, administrators can easily schedule and send content to Teams app channels. With robust hierarchy controls, employers can ensure better content control, allowing for tailored messaging that aligns with organizational goals and priorities. 

This unified workflow streamlines the process of content creation and distribution, eliminating unnecessary complexity and ensuring a seamless experience for both administrators and end-users:

• Streamlined Collaboration: Team members can effortlessly forward messages, reply to threads, link to channels, and comment on posts directly within Microsoft Teams. This fosters easy collaboration and communication, ensuring important discussions and decisions are made without delay.
• Enhanced Communication: Stay informed and connected with notifications that keep employees updated on the latest developments. Whether it’s important announcements or urgent messages, our plugins ensure no information falls through the cracks, enhancing overall communication and teamwork.
• Single Sign-On Integration: Our suite seamlessly integrates with LDAP to Microsoft Azure, Exchange, Sharepoint, Office 365, and other Microsoft apps. This single sign-on functionality streamlines access to essential tools and resources, eliminating the need for multiple logins and enhancing user experience.
• Digital Signage Integration: Transform any idle screen into a dynamic digital signage display with our integration. Whether it’s a Microsoft Team Room (MTR) or any other screen, our plugins enable you to showcase important announcements, news updates, and other relevant content to create a welcoming and informative environment.

Employees can conveniently download the plugin from the Microsoft App Store directly within Teams and Outlook. This easy accessibility ensures that all team members have the necessary tools at their fingertips to stay connected, informed, and engaged.

Learn more: Microsoft Teams + 22Miles

Streamlined Hot Desking and Room-Booking 

In a hybrid work environment, hot desking offers flexibility and convenience for employees moving between offices and remote locations. The 22Miles Outlook plugin facilitates hot desking by providing real-time availability updates and intuitive navigation through office spaces. Employees can easily find and reserve desks based on their preferences and location, enhancing productivity and comfort in the workplace.

Say goodbye to cumbersome scheduling processes. The 22Miles Outlook plugin brings together room bookings, 3D maps, floorplans, and calendar reservations within your Outlook interface. This visual representation simplifies the booking experience, allowing users to navigate spaces and select resources with ease.

With the plugin, scheduling meetings and reserving rooms becomes effortless. Users can quickly identify available spaces, view detailed floorplans, and make reservations directly from their Outlook calendar. This streamlined approach eliminates the need for manual coordination and reduces the risk of double bookings or scheduling conflicts.

Native PowerBI Integrations for Enhanced KPI Visibility

Elevate your data-driven decision-making with live-update dashboards seamlessly displayed across digital signage, mobile devices, the employee app, and Microsoft Teams through PowerBI integration. By natively integrating with PowerBI, our platform combines robust business analytics and dynamic data visualization to empower organizations with actionable insights. 

Third-party integrations of data and API systems enable real-time monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs), providing invaluable insights into organizational performance. This comprehensive approach transforms your omnichannel platform into a centralized hub for workplace communication and efficiency, enhancing collaboration and productivity across the board.

Mobile Accessibility On-the-Go with the Employee App

Staying connected and informed while on the move is essential for hybrid workforces. That’s why we’ve developed our Employee App to provide seamless mobile accessibility, empowering employees to stay engaged and productive no matter where they are.

With the Employee App, employees have access to real-time updates, announcements, and important information right at their fingertips. From sending messages group chat messages on Teams to scheduling meetings with Outlook, the app enables seamless communication under one mobile-friendly interface, regardless of location. Plus, accessing important resources and documents is effortless with the Employee App. Whether it’s company policies, training materials, or project documents, employees can quickly find and access the information they need, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

Discover the Employee App in Action: Custom Enterprise Mobile App Goes Live at SkyCenter One.

Virtual Receptionist for Streamlined Check-Ins

The virtual receptionist automates the visitor registration process, allowing guests to check in quickly and efficiently using self-service kiosks or mobile apps. By streamlining visitor management, organizations can improve efficiency, reduce wait times, and enhance the overall visitor experience.

Integrating seamlessly with existing workplace technologies, the virtual receptionist becomes a central component of the organization’s digital ecosystem. Whether it’s integrating with calendar systems to schedule visitor appointments or syncing with employee directories to notify hosts of guest arrivals, the virtual receptionist enhances communication and collaboration across the organization.

Unlock Seamless Communication with 22Miles

Experience the power of streamlined communication and enhanced collaboration with the seamless integration of the 22Miles omnichannel platform and Employee Office Suite. With our innovative Microsoft and Outlook app plugins, scheduling and sending content to different channels becomes a breeze. This unified workflow not only simplifies the process but also ensures better content control, aligning messaging with organizational objectives effortlessly. 

Ready to unlock the full potential of seamless communication and collaboration? Book a demo to see how 22Miles can benefit your hybrid workforce.

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