As access to COVID-19 vaccines increases and covid variants become increasingly concerning, companies around the world are actively discussing how to build a hybrid work culture, somewhere along the continuum of fully returning and fully remote, with many options in between.
After a year of working from home, the employee mindset has shifted with many people discovering that they enjoy the additional flexibility to balance their family lives while others are “Zoom fatigued” and eager to get back to the office for face-to-face interaction and personal growth. The answer probably lies in a range of options and the phasing of return to office (RTO), creating the “new normal”.
At SMC Squared we’re actively discussing and preparing for RTO for our own teams and guiding many clients. The goal is to continue to maintain a safe environment for an engaged and highly productive workforce. I’ve challenged our management team to rethink how we listen, remain flexible, and importantly retain our employees. We are working to ensure they feel safe returning to the office while also maximizing their opportunities for career growth, collaboration, and mentorship.
It’s not going to be easy as the workplace mindset has rapidly shifted over the last year. Companies must define what a hybrid working model means for them while putting in place different options to balance the needs of the organization and of their people. In addition to the internal challenges, organizations face external factors such as vaccination availability, COVID-19 caseloads, work-life balance, and the highly active and competitive job market.
Patricia Connolly, CEO and Co-Founder, SMC Squared
Whether your company’s focus is to build smart applications or update mobile apps for end-users, to increase intelligence using advanced algorithms, or to look at opportunities to automate internal operations to drive high-value outcomes, there’s no denying that digital plays an increasing role in everyday operations of companies across all verticals and sizes.
As companies worldwide push to drive digital transformation, procurement leaders are being challenged to strategically influence spending, amidst a global climate full of talent scarcity and the need for immediate cost optimization.
Through a strategic partnership with Fossil, we helped the executive leadership team to increase quality, productivity and utilization as they moved from working with a 300-person offshore team to a 180 person Global Insourcing Center “GIC” team through our unique offshore model.
THE CUSTOMER
A US-based, vertically integrated global retail and manufacturing company that specializes in a diverse portfolio of lifestyle accessories. This industry powerhouse operates an extensive brand portfolio and a wholesale distribution network across 150 countries and 500 retail locations.
THE PROBLEM
The company had an extensive outsourcing presence in India for years but recently had been adversely affected by cost overruns, under-performing contractors, and poor resource management processes. All were creating a significant drag on productivity and profitability and distracting from the core focus of being a fashion trendsetter and market innovator.
The objectives established for the outsourcing operation were not in dispute. The culprit was the deteriorating execution. The company wanted to regain control in its approach to outsourcing.
THE SOLUTION
After extensive evaluation, the company partnered with SMC Squared to strategically “right-source” the execution.
Patricia Connolly, CEO and Co-Founder, SMC Squared
 (1).png "Case Study: How Fossil Realized a 44% Cost-Savings Strategy")
How to Build A Productive Hybrid Work Culture in 2021 and Beyond
As access to COVID-19 vaccines increases and covid variants become increasingly concerning, companies around the world are actively discussing how to build a hybrid work culture, somewhere along the continuum of fully returning and fully remote, with many options in between.
After a year of working from home, the employee mindset has shifted with many people discovering that they enjoy the additional flexibility to balance their family lives while others are “Zoom fatigued” and eager to get back to the office for face-to-face interaction and personal growth. The answer probably lies in a range of options and the phasing of return to office (RTO), creating the “new normal”.
At SMC Squared we’re actively discussing and preparing for RTO for our own teams and guiding many clients. The goal is to continue to maintain a safe environment for an engaged and highly productive workforce. I’ve challenged our management team to rethink how we listen, remain flexible, and importantly retain our employees. We are working to ensure they feel safe returning to the office while also maximizing their opportunities for career growth, collaboration, and mentorship.
It’s not going to be easy as the workplace mindset has rapidly shifted over the last year. Companies must define what a hybrid working model means for them while putting in place different options to balance the needs of the organization and of their people. In addition to the internal challenges, organizations face external factors such as vaccination availability, COVID-19 caseloads, work-life balance, and the highly active and competitive job market.