While it makes perfect sense for IT employees to work from remote locations via video conferencing and collaboration tools seamlessly - especially in the case of tech giants like Google or Microsoft -- workers from the non-IT companies and small and medium enterprises (SMBs) are the worst-hit in India as most of them have little or no clue about how these messaging and collaboration tools work amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Small companies -- from corporate to education verticals -- are scrambling to get their act together as new coronavirus threat has reached their premises, prompting them to send employees home who have age-old laptops, poor network and connectivity with no UPS backups and little knowledge about how to handle group chat and collaboration software like Zoom, Google Hangouts Meet, Microsoft Teams and Flock etc.
Instead of halting operations, however, businesses can choose to shift towards remote working methods with teaching non-IT staff on how to use the latest digital software to connect and work, say industry experts.
The training will take some time and may hamper productivity in the short run but is a win-win situation for the non-tech companies in the long run, in case any such global emergency arises in the future.
According to a latest report by Gartner, 54 per cent of HR leaders have cited that poor technology and/or infrastructure for remote working is the biggest barrier to effective remote working.
Sandy Shen, Senior Director Analyst, Gartner, says that with COVID-19 disrupting the business landscape, CIOs should relook at the digital fulfillment of market demand.
"The value of digital channels, products and operations is immediately obvious to companies everywhere right now. This is a wake-up call for organisations that have placed too much focus on daily operational needs at the expense of investing in digital business and long-term resilience," warned Shen.
Businesses that can shift technology capacity and investments to digital platforms will mitigate the impact of the outbreak and keep their companies running smoothly now, and over the long term.
"Videoconferencing, messaging, collaboration tools and document sharing are just a few examples of technologies that facilitate remote work. Additional bandwidth and network capacity may also be needed, given the increasing number of users and volume of communications," informed Shen.
The IT industry's apex body Nasscom has asked the government to relax norms for a month to allow work-from-home for technology and back-office employees as a measure to deal with the spread of Covid-19 in India.
Networking giant Cisco said that it has seen "significant growth" in the usage of its web conferencing and video-conferencing service Webex in India.
According to Muneer Ahmad, Business Head, ViewSonic India, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the corporate and educational sector is severely getting affected in the country.
"ViewSonic IFP has a cloud-based software which help teachers and corporates to connect through video conferencing to multiple people at the same time and can split the screen into six screens. It can also connect with various tools like Skype, Cisco WebEx, Zoom, Google Hangouts and GoToMeeting," Ahmad told IANS.
Co-working sector has also taken a hit and the industry is looking at several measures to tackle it -- from ensuring supply of juices rich in Vitamin C to supply of disinfectants and giving work from home facilities.
"The scheduled visits of the clients at our co-working offices have been postponed. Few of our clients have cancelled their outstation meetings and have now started audio/video conferencing for virtual meetings," said Nakul Mathur, MD, Avanta India.
According to reports, India has approximately 1,000 co-working locations (as of September 2019) and is the second-largest market for the co-working industry after China.
As India's first licensed B2B Virtual Network Operator, CloudConnect Communications offers a collaborative platform that allows companies to overcome the COVID-19 threat while maintaining seamless business continuity and optimum employee productivity.
"We offer a secure, robust, reliable, scalable and trackable mobile-first unified communication infrastructure that aids remote teleworking so that businesses can continue operating even under any unforeseen circumstances," said Gokul Tandon, Executive Chairman, CloudConnect Communications.
Comments
You can do nothing. Because your countdown has already started.
Any harsh step towards Hindus living in UAE may impose long-term hazard on Indian muslims... therefore think twice before taking any foolish action. Don't think RSS is just a group of robe wearing sadhus. Their reach is beyond your imagination. Jai Hind.
Terror attacks of RSS:-
1- 1999 killing of Graham Staines
2- 2002 Gujarat riots
3- 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings
4- 2007 Ajmer Dargah attack
5- 2008 Malegaon blasts
6- 2007 Mecca Masjid bombing
Saffron terror is a neologism used to describe acts of violence motivated by Hindu nationalism. The acts are allegedly perpetrated by members, or alleged members, of Hindu nationalist organizations close to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Abhinav Bharat.
RSS is an anti national, saffaron terrorist organisation. Many are convicted for bombings and killings in various part of India. They even do hate speech in public. As the majority of north indians are illiterate, they will fall for rss ideology. They will make believe these illiterate people. As the south indian people are literate, rss lacks ground support in southern states of india, where the economy is far better than rest of india.
RSS never do fund collections from any comapnies or sympathizers. Do you anything about RSS?
RSS has strong base in UAE. I know many people who are working for RSS. Govt. is aware of this fact but a little bit tolerant because RSS respects local laws, rules & traditions. No harm to UAE integrity, law & order.
RSS Businessmen already in key position in gulf countries and hindus forms a substantial poulationin gulf countries will soon take over gulf countries and arab sheiks will ride camels..Jai hind
Mr. Kamath, remember one thing that each drop of water will make big ocean....we as muslims, small percentage in India, will do our level best to see these RSS supporters to perish....
UAE Indian expatriates take initiate and teach lesson for this companies. They hire only RSS trained persons and funding who against Muslims. So, every person should take initiate and there is many alternatives. \hani hani goodidare halla\".
Spread even around Emirati who understand."
People have power if they wish by not supporting RSS and boycotting those who fund them.
NO WORRY, Truth will prevail ,and evil will perish soon.
always do good to all
Sorry NMC me going to GMC or thumbay hospital in sha Allah if needed and UAE exchange me n my relatives are opting al ansari or al razouki exchange.They also give best draft rates. Sorry by funding or approaching rss thugs u r putting axe on ur own knees in shaAllah. May Allah perish you.
my dear rss friends dont come here you will have to eat beef with other your friends because all of your friends eat beef in cafeteriai in uae
Now y do u need rich gulf countries Muslims Money!!! No objection now?
There is no POWER nor MIGHT except with ALLAH....
Whatever ways ISLAM haters try to plan... Muslims know very well they will never succeed playing with the followers of Divine religion (ISLAM).
They did lot of deceptions & FOOLED many. But their Evil deeds were caught & exposed, but Most of the people are still sleeping to their deception.
Dear RSS Cadres...
LEARN ISLAM independently not from cheddis.. Dont fall trap to RSS defined islam which is deception to make you follow your leaders to HELL if U dont recognize the REAL TRUE GOD who created U, ME and all those existed.
Good luck for you new plans, which U will be able to deceive many of your Unthinking followers. and WE Muslims know, ALLAH is most merciful... and he can spare U & allow YOU to play this GAME. But YOU will never succeed to overcome or wipe ISLAM. Its a Challenge many ISLAM haters tried and LOST. RSS your fate will be the SAME. Dont play with the Divine religion ISLAM.
Dream only, RSS cannot do anything Dubai. Dubai is Islamic country.
RSS men and Sadwi's were involved in many bomb blast in India.
RSS was the main organization behind demolition of Babri Masjid
RSS was the main organization behind every riots in India
RSS was the main organization who organized Gujrat carnage and killed around 2000 innocent Indians.
RSS was the main organization which is organized riots in Muzafferabad and killed many muslims.
RSS was the main organization is funding it's goonda outfits like Bhajrang Dal , ABVP etc.
there are many many incidents we can make here about RSS which is dead against of Minorities in India.
So UAE Indians should ban it's funding hand from this gulf countries by banning their business places.
I swear I never ever go to RSS backed banks any more. I promise.
Can you all Promise??????
RSS and ISIS are same, they both got same idea of dividing people...dangerous for human kind....both are being taken care of by Zionists.....tooooooo dangerous.....
Earned name,fame and richness from Muslim countries and funding for the anti Muslim organisations. What a ungratefulness.
All knew about these tycoons.
ZEE aflan tv channel was the first step to enter Middle east to sympathize RSS through bollywood movies, Bhajan and RSS imposed hindu culture. Now they openly enter by strong hold business and money. They will ruin some if UAE not act immediately.
Mr.Nishan,RSS member cannot do the mosad work becouse RSS member's are waring chaddi.
but one thing they are using money from gulf country to killing innocent musslims also a bank giving all commison to RSS i came to know from one of hindu friend working here in kuwait.
So it means they need Funds from Muslims countries, how pathetic, How can you take money from Tycoon's who are beneficiaries of Muslims in Gulf countries and earned their money from this community, Please try some other source!!
All middle East countries should ban those companies which funding terror organisation RSS have link with it. In Saudi Arabia, also some companies funding RSS
Islamic state may take help from RSS since IS is creation of Israel.
Alarm for UAE authority and other Middle eastern countries.
Hope Indian expatriate and Human rights will take this issue up to UAE authority before too late.
R.S.S Outfit engaged several Terrorist activities against Muslims, hence Indian Muslims considered R.S.S is Terrorist Organization. The Muslim organizations around Gulf regions should come forward and chal out plant to finish /pull out R.S.S functionaries from Gulf region. Also Organizations must take necessary steps to educate Rulers, Government authorities and Gulf countries citizens about the hidden agenda of R.S.S and its ally with ISRAEL.
Israel using RSS cadres to spy Gulf countries since Mossad cannot enter GCC. It's decision by Israel and RSS acting accordingly.
RSS go at any level to disturb Middle East peace and killing Muslims.
Middle east authorities must act before too late.
Most of RSS cadres trained by Mossad and frequently visiting Israel through other passport.
BR Shetty is a great patriot and philanthropist.
CD is unleashing a series of articles to create :awareness\ against RSS. but no publicity is bad publicity. U cnnot do any harm to mighty RSS"
Would like to see if they can do a \path sanchalan\" in cheddies and swords on Dubai streets."
Whatever you do, you cannot move an inch without the almighty's permission. HE is the best planner.
In Dubai, everything is possible.
Preaching man made religion - what does benefit.
Compare how many people accepted Hinduism V/s how many Hindus accepted Islam and Christianity.
Analyze the truth.
Exert whatever your efforts, truth will not fail, God's religion has to reign.
I heard that the commissions paid to UAE exchange goes directly RSS account. please use Alrajhi bank to send your money...
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