Two-thirds of offices unfit for hybrid work, Kinly survey reveals

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS — Businesses are calling workers back to offices that are ill-equipped for the new era of hybrid work.
Audiovisual (AV) solutions provider Kinly gathered insights from 425 enterprise-level AV professionals across the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordics. It found a disconnect between companies’ expectations and their readiness for the evolving workplace landscape.
Hybrid work challenges: Offices lag behind employee needs
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of enterprises admit their office spaces are no longer optimized for hybrid working. Despite this acknowledgment, a similar proportion (66%) of companies have asked employees to return to the office at least part-time.
The report also highlights several key challenges associated with hybrid working.
Approximately one in three (28%) enterprises identified the complexities of flexible and remote communication as a primary concern. Additionally, more than half of the respondents pointed out that poor hybrid workflows (57%) and outdated AV technologies (58%) are hampering productivity.
“Calling employees back to the office is not a solution to poor hybrid working practices. If anything, it could make things worse,” said Simon Watson, Kinly’s Head of Innovation.
“Effective hybrid working relies on having the right technology in place at home and in the office, and most importantly making sure all these technologies work together seamlessly to give employees the same experience, no matter where they work.”
Investing in hybrid work solutions
Kinly’s research found that enterprises are committed to investing in remote support and management (35%), unified communications and collaboration software (33%), and in-office hybrid meeting rooms (33%).
“If employers are going to adapt to this shift in corporate culture and ensure that workers are happy and effective, both at home and in the office, it all starts with AV technology,” Watson added.
“Ultimately, effective hybrid working makes a real, tangible impact on talent acquisition and employee retention that cannot be discounted.”
The benefits of investing in hybrid work solutions are clear. Companies that have undergone AV transformation projects in the past year reported significant improvements, including a 42% increase in productivity, a 42% increase in efficiency, and a 37% increase in staff retention.