The shift to remote work has led many employees to want a model where they aren’t always in the office. But rather than full remote working, many would prefer a hybrid model.

Though beneficial for both employees and managers, hybrid working can also present challenges in communication and workflows.

This article will explain what hybrid working is, the pros and cons of this model, and the software you can use to improve your efficiency as a hybrid team.

What Is Hybrid Working?

Hybrid working involves a mixture of employees working remotely and in the office. In a 2020 survey by Slack, 72% of participants said they wanted working arrangements of this kind going forward.

The only difference between hybrid and remote working is that with the hybrid model, you still need to be on-site occasionally.

The Pros of Hybrid & Remote Working Models

Work-Life Balance

Hybrid and remote working models allow employees to schedule work around their life, rather than the other way around.

balancing work with life by doing outdoor adventures

Rather than sitting for a set number of hours, companies emphasize the output. If that means you finish in four hours instead of eight, so be it.

Hybrid and working models also give employees more time in their day. For many people, commuting takes a considerable chunk out of their day. Being home for at least part of the day helps ease the burden.

Flexibility

Besides enjoying more leisure time, hybrid and remote working models allow employees to take more control of their time while working.

With these kinds of working arrangements, employees can choose to work at times that suit them best—regardless of whether they’re an early riser or a night owl.

Lower Operating Costs

According to Capgemini, many companies experienced a reduction in operating costs after the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to operate remotely.

With fewer employees in the office at any given time, companies can downsize their workspaces, buy less furniture, spend less on food, and so on.

The Cons of Hybrid & Remote Working Models

Isolation

The benefits of choosing where you work can come at a social price. For many remote workers, isolation is a huge challenge.

While hybrid working can help to combat these difficulties, some people thrive in busy environments. If you find your days out of the office lonesome, consider visiting a cafe or coworking space.

Potential Communication Breakdowns

If you need to talk to someone in an office setting, the solution is simple—go up and talk to them. But when some or all team members are working from different locations, this gets harder.

workplace communications

A lack of communication can lead to project delays, a breakdown in trust, and a loss of transparency.

Keeping Up With Routines

When you spend every workday in the same place, your brain knows what to expect, and it’s easier to follow routines. But if you’re constantly changing, you can slip out of good habits if you aren’t careful.

Related: Tips for Working From Your Home Office

To keep up with good habits no matter where you work from, it’s a good idea to start working at the same time each day. Changing into clothes you usually wear for work can also help.

The Essentials for Successful Hybrid Models

Clear Communication

Communication is the bedrock of all relationships, and for work, that is no different. To keep your team communicating well, investing in software is essential.

Beyond technology, it’s essential for all team members to share their needs. Sharing their availability is also necessary, and so is respecting boundaries.

Transparency

Losing track of important projects can be easy if you aren’t in the office with the rest of your team every day. To get a full overview of your team’s current projects, you can use a workflow management software solution.

Along with projects, you also need to be transparent with your agreements and the processes you’ll use for different tasks.

Analytics & CRM Platforms

Tracking the success of your campaigns becomes more challenging when out of the office. To combat this, investing in platforms that provide in-depth marketing and sales analytics is a good idea.

The platform you choose should also include single-interface integration, allowing your team members to get a full overview of everything. Software that helps with tracking your leads is also essential.

Tools That Help Hybrid Teams Stay Efficient

Communications

Slack: It is one of the most popular communications platforms. Slack allows teams to divide topics within different channels and enables easy searching to communicate with other employees.

Related: What is Slack and How Does It Work?

Slack is available on desktop, iOS, and Android.

slack communications features

Slack has three different pricing models: Standard, Plus, and Enterprise Grid. Standard costs $6.67 per person, per month, with Plus priced at $12.50. The cost of Enterprise Grid is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Skype: Skype allows users to add other people both in and outside of their organization. Users can communicate by text or set up video and audio calls. Group meetings are also possible.

features available on skype

You can use Skype on your desktop, mobile, and tablet devices.

Skype is free, including for calls to other Skype accounts. If you’re making international calls to non-Skype users, you’ll need to pay a small fee.

Zoom: Zoom enables users to conduct videoconferences within their organization as well as with outside companies. You can set up both meetings and breakout rooms, making the app useful for socializing from a distance too.

zoom solutions

Zoom is free for personal meetings. Beyond that, there are three main plans: Pro, Business, and Zoom United Business. Pro costs $149.90 per person, per year, with Business priced at $199.50. Zoom United Business costs $350 per person per year.

Users can also add various add-ons for extra fees.

Project & Workflow Management

monday.com: monday.com is a comprehensive work OS solution that allows teams to carry out various functions. Teams can create full project overviews, download useful templates and integrate a variety of third-party apps.

Related: How monday.com Can Supercharge Your Team Collaboration

Alongside its web app, users can also download monday.com onto their mobile devices.

features of monday.com software

Beyond the free Individual plan, monday.com has four other pricing plans. Basic costs $8 per person, per month. That price rises to $10 for Standard and $16 for Pro. An Enterprise plan is also available, with the price determined on each case.

Trello: Trello helps teams to create processes to move projects forward and have complete transparency in the process.

Projects are divided into cards, which you can move down to other team members after each stage is completed.

different templates for use with trello

Trello is downloadable on both the App Store and Google Play. It also has computer apps. Users can access the platform through the company’s website.

Trello’s basic plan is free; users can create unlimited cards with this plan. Business plan costs $10, and prices for Enterprise are negotiable.

Asana: Asana helps companies manage individual projects and calendars as well as allocate them to different categories. Teams can also assign tasks to each other through the app.

Asana has a mobile and desktop app available on all supported operating systems.

features of asana for marketing teams

Asana is free for teams of up to 15 people. Premium costs $13.49 per person, per month; if you pay annually, this drops to $10.99. Business costs $30.49 (annual: $24.99), and the Enterprise plan’s pricing varies.

Marketing, Sales & CRM

HubSpot: HubSpot is a comprehensive software solution that helps teams manage their marketing analytics, sales leads, and customer relationships.

The solution is primarily designed for inbound marketing and involves a wide range of analytics and automation features.

hubspot marketing solutions

HubSpot has a mobile app for iOS and Android devices. It's also available on desktop platforms.

HubSpot has a range of free tools, including email marketing, ad management, and landing pages. Beyond the free plan, Starter costs $45 per month. Professional is priced at $800 per month, and Enterprise starts at $3,200 monthly.

Salesforce: Salesforce allows users to look after their leads, gain in-depth analytics, and forecast future revenue results. Though designed primarily for sales, the platform also includes marketing capabilities.

Salesforce is available on Android, iOS, and desktop platforms.

salesforce sales features

For sales, the Salesforce platform starts at $25 per user per month with its Essentials plan. Professional costs $75, with Enterprise rising to $150 and Unlimited costing $300 per user, per month.

SharpSpring: SharpSpring is a marketing tool that prides itself on offering affordable solutions. The solution provides social media management capabilities and landing page designers, campaign tracking, and more.

sharpspring analytics system

SharpSpring is available in seven languages, including English, German, and Portuguese. The solution is available on both desktop and mobile.

The SharpSpring platform is priced differently for small businesses, agencies, and enterprises. These are all decided depending on each individual case.

Build An Effective Hybrid Working Model

Hybrid working models are becoming more popular and offer a variety of benefits to both companies and employees. But to reap the benefits, understanding the drawbacks and putting the right systems in place is essential.

Think about how you will tackle issues like isolation and invest in software that helps your team to keep growing. When you do these and are transparent with everything, you’ll maximize your team’s efficiency and productivity.