If 2021 has taught us anything at all, it’s safe to say as a country we’ve learned how to exist during a crisis, for better or worse. And whether you’re a glass-half-full or -empty kind of person, the world around you has become infinitely more digital. In the auto industry, for instance, incredibly connected car buyers are now spending 14+ hours online researching. 

Everyone has their suggestions about how to best construct a budget that fully touches every aspect a business could need for a whole entire year. From the “duh” stuff (printer paper) to the “let’s give it a shot” risk you’ve spent months developing, money is being portioned out in big ways right now.  

The reality of the world post-COVID is that everything is different than it was before, from personal connections to business meetings and well beyond. To cope with this new norm, many businesses are taking a hybrid work approach, pairing in-person and remote work to fit the needs of their workforce. And over half of employees (55%, according to one study) would prefer to be remote at least three days a week once pandemic concerns die down.

Upwork is estimating 36.2 million Americans will still working remotely in 2025, meaning it’s critical your organization understands how your team can best work in a hybrid environment regardless of your industry. And while your business may not work the same as another in the same industry just down the road, our advice here is applicable to anyone looking to up their productivity in any kind of hybrid environment.  

While the debate rages on about when we’ll truly be in the “post” pandemic world, few paradigm shifts have emerged that are more clear and obvious than the push toward remote workforces. Not only does working remotely make sense to keep teams safe in times of uncertainty, but it’s decreasing the number of vehicles on the road, adding new layers of flexibility to the workplace, and increasing employees’ quality of life across the board.