Thriving in a Work Anywhere Model
Supporting a distributed workforce has evolved. A successful work anywhere ecosystem today must seamlessly integrate remote and in-person experiences into one cohesive hybrid workplace.
IT Is Redefining a Borderless Workforce
The shift to a work anywhere model is no longer just a response to a temporary disruption — it’s a permanent trend reshaping the way organizations operate.
Many remote systems implemented during the pandemic were designed for immediate needs, not built for long-term scalability or performance. Now, IT leaders are reimagining these infrastructures to meet the demands of a distributed workforce. From strengthening remote access to optimizing cloud resources, the focus has shifted to creating future-proof solutions that deliver flexibility, scalability and security.
Here’s a look at the latest developments reshaping the work anywhere landscape.
Flexible Schedules Reign Supreme
Many organizations have adopted flexible workplace policies that support a hybrid work model, where employees spend one to three days a week in the office. With these setups, in-office attendance is often tied to specific needs, like participating in meetings or handling tasks that require an employee’s physical presence.
of workers with a job that can be done remotely are working a hybrid schedule1
of workers say their employer has put in-person work requirements in place1
of workers say they would leave if their employer eliminated remote and hybrid work options1
Remote-capable Employees Prefer a Hybrid Workstyle
Hybrid work offers a balanced approach, allowing employees to engage, exchange ideas and collaborate in person while also benefiting from extended periods of focused, distraction-free time to tackle their most meaningful tasks.
prefer hybrid2
prefer exclusively remote2
prefer fully in-person2
There’s a Big Business Case for Flexible Work
Allowing employees to work remotely — whether in a fully remote or hybrid capacity — offers significant advantages for businesses. By eliminating commutes, employees gain back valuable work time, which means companies benefit from increased productivity, reduced overhead costs and sustainability wins.
Remote workers in the U.S. save an average of 55 minutes every day by not having to commute to work3
40% of remote workers use the commute time they save on working3
Up to 54% of greenhouse gas emissions are saved by not commuting to an office five days a week3
Companies can save up to $10,600 per employee that works remotely3
However, creating an effective work anywhere environment requires more than simply providing employees with a laptop and login credentials. It takes a strategic and holistic approach to ensure a seamless and productive experience.
Building a Solid Foundation for a Work Anywhere Environment
Creating a cohesive and productive hybrid workplace is critical for business today — 64% of hybrid employees say a hybrid model helps them make more efficient use of their work time.2
Onboarding must be seamless, with devices arriving ready to go out of the box and centralized management for remote updates and patching.
Security must move with the workforce, leveraging zero-trust principles, identity-driven access and AI-powered threat detection to protect users, devices and data beyond the traditional perimeter.
Business and IT leaders must also be deliberate about designing work anywhere environments that integrate a solid IT infrastructure, including networking and cloud architectures that support the demands of a hybrid workforce with room to expand as needs change.
Device Provisioning and Activation
Modern Desktop Management
Mobile and Smart Device Integration
Identity and Access Management
Modern Endpoint Security
Automation and Lifecycle Management
Cloud/Networking Architecture
No matter where you are in your journey of exploring work anywhere environments, CDW is here to help. With a vast array of services and solutions tailored to your exact needs, you can build a future-proof work anywhere ecosystem that empowers your team to succeed.
To learn more, reach out to your CDW account manager or contact one of our experts through the form below.
Sources:
1 Pew Research Center, “Many remote workers say they’d be likely to leave their job if they could no longer work from home,” January 2025
2 gallup.com, “Indicators: Hybrid Work,” July 25, 2024
3 U.S. Career Institute, “50 Eye-Opening Remote Work Statistics for 2024, April 2024
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