New study reveals increased reliance on telecommunications with the rise of remote and hybrid working

More than half of UK businesses have adopted a remote or ‘hybrid’ working model post-pandemic and have an increased reliance on telecommunications, according to new research.

The study, carried out by leading business telecommunications supplier, Fusion Communications, questioned more than 100 UK business leaders across a variety of sectors on their experience with telecommunications during the pandemic.

It found that 52% of UK businesses have switched to remote or hybrid [a combination of remote and office-based] working following the pandemic, and 54% have increased their reliance on telecommunications as a result.

More than a third [40%] of businesses have changed their communications strategies to support remote working, and just under half [45%] said the pandemic has changed their opinions on the need for communications solutions.

When questioned about their biggest communication challenges during the pandemic, 51% of business owners stated the largest issue they faced was network reliability and speed, with employees not using communications solutions correctly coming in second.

Other key findings from the research include:

• 36% of respondents said data security had become a concern during the pandemic
• 32% of respondents found implementing new technology remotely a challenge
• 36% of respondents were using outdated, traditional fixed line telephone systems pre-pandemic

Oliver Rowe, founder and CEO of Fusion Communications, said: “From working with businesses during the pandemic, we knew firms relied heavily on telecommunications to ensure business continuity throughout lockdowns, and our research solidifies the trends we have witnessed.

“It’s unsurprising that opinions around telecommunications have changed. Business owners have been forced to acknowledge that a well-integrated, reliable telecommunications strategy is essential to keep their businesses connected with employees and customers whilst working remotely.

“With more businesses now adopting a remote or hybrid working model long term following the pandemic, outdated fixed line communications have become redundant, and many firms have needed to switch to hosted telephony to remain agile.

“Problems with network reliability and speed was another common challenge reported during the pandemic. Network operators will need to address this to ensure networks, especially in rural locations, have the capacity to support remote working and can accommodate the alternative workplace.”

Established in 2013, Fusion Communications manages the communications for 250 small to medium businesses. The business offers a variety of communications solutions, including business mobiles, hosted and unified communications, fixed line and secure device management.