Anywhere Operations: Doing Business from Everywhere

Organizations should adopt anywhere operations IT model to streamline and integrate business operations during the remote work scenario

The Covid-19 crisis led to rapid adaptation of digitization and automation across the industries worldwide. Anywhere operations model can aid this transformation and smoothen business operations. We saw how the pandemic shaped the working environment and shifted it to the remote working strategy. Organizations and employers have been struggling to streamline their operations, maintaining employee engagement, and enhancing customer experience.

A Gartner survey of 317 CFOs and finance leaders revealed that 74% of respondents will move at least 5% of their previously in-site workforce to permanently remote positions post the pandemic. While companies are planning to continue remote work, they should focus on integrating operations to enhance virtual collaboration. Many tech companies have adopted the 'anywhere operations' strategy to run IT operations remotely.

What is Anywhere Operations?

As the name suggests, anywhere operation is an IT operating model that enables the flexible organization of remote work and accessibility of services from anywhere in the world. Many have predicted this model to be the most transformative tech trend in 2021. Gartner defines anywhere operations as an IT operating model designed to support customers everywhere, enable employees everywhere, and manage the deployment of business services across distributed infrastructures.

With the onset of remote working patterns, there was a high demand for tools for virtual collaboration, virtual meetings, digital content sharing platforms, online upskilling and training of employees, seamless software product deployment, etc. With anywhere operations, it becomes easier to integrate these tools and secure remote access for the users. This IT organization structure and operating model will ensure maximum productivity, 24/7 customer support, and employee welfare.

Another benefit of implementing anywhere operations is automating product and services deployment across distributed infrastructures and allows real-time feedback on these products.

While remote work solely focuses on digitally shifting the workforce, anywhere operations also integrate the customers and clients into the digital business ecosystem. Customers can interact with the organization and buy products without visiting the physical office.

Since the collaboration and integration are through virtual interfaces, this IT operating model is cost-efficient. Organizations do not have to modify or maintain on-premise infrastructure and hardware thus cutting a large number of expenses. The massive shift of business operations and data sharing into the cloud, industry-wide adaptation of disruptive technologies like AI are strong enablers of anywhere operations strategy.

Challenges Resisting the Adoption

Amidst the rapid digital transformation, many businesses are second-guessing and pondering on their adoption and choice of technologies and digital tools. One of the main concerns is cybersecurity and since the internet is known to have an exposing and insecure side, many organizations resist the extensive digitization of their business.

Often employers resist adopting IT operating models like anywhere operations because of the inclination towards conventional legacy tools that hinder the integration of business silos. These legacy tools might seem comfortable but they increase complexities in collaborating with employees and customers in a remote working scenario.

The lag in embracing this IT operating model example also pops up from the fear of rapid digitization and decentralizing of enterprises. Companies do not want to go through complex procedures and shift from their comfort spaces in spite of the increased benefits. Anywhere operation is also anticipated to have high expenditure, which becomes another challenge for the implementation.

Despite all the challenges, there is increased adoption and application of anywhere operations across organizations. The increasing demand for agility and efficiency can be met by introducing such disruptive automation tools and strategies. According to Gartner, 40% of organizations will have applied anywhere operations to deliver optimized and blended virtual and physical customer and employee experiences by the end of 2023.