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2006

• SMBs say biggest motivation for remote working is increased flexibility
  
• More IT support and technology needed to encourage remote working
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A new industry survey* commissioned by network operator THUS reveals that more than 80 per cent of SMBs now have remote working policies in place, however only 45 per cent of employees are taking advantage of the opportunity to work out of the office. Despite the low adoption rate, there has been a 45 per cent increase in demand for remote working, with SMBs stating that those who do work remotely enjoy greater flexibility, the opportunity to work in a quieter environment and less commuting, leading to an improved work-life balance.

The THUS survey reveals that technology issues are one of the main obstacles to the adoption of flexible working with out-of-hours support unavailable for 73 per cent of employees who are able to work from home. The survey also showed that 57 per cent of SMBs expect their employees to pay for some, if not all, of the technology required to work remotely.

Dan Cole, Head of Product Management at THUS, commented: "Our research confirms what we're seeing in the marketplace. People want to work more flexibly. For example, with the right technology in place, working parents now have the choice to leave work earlier to spend time with their children and then continue working later in the evening from home. Similarly, business travellers can utilise communications solutions to access the company network regardless of location, providing them with a mobile office. It's a case of SMBs recognising and accommodating this change."

The poll also revealed that human factors have a big role to play, with a lack of team spirit and contact with colleagues commonly quoted as barriers to out of office work. Business psychologist, Kate Keenan commented: "For remote working to be effective, managers need to put a greater emphasis on employee communication and group activities to ensure there is a strong sense of team spirit. Businesses will also need to change their management style, to focus less on management by supervision and more on setting clearly defined objectives agreed between the employer and employee."

Earlier this year, THUS launched its Demon Remote Worker Solution, a one-stop communications solution for the SMB sector to allow remote workers to connect to the office. The service provides telephony, voice conferencing and high-speed broadband services. By increasing the technology available, businesses can achieve office-level productivity for remote workers. In addition, the Demon Remote Worker Solution can enable connection to a business's Local Area Network (LAN) via Demon broadband as well as providing a dedicated voice conferencing line.

Having one service provider ensures cost savings are achieved by providing savings to businesses on phone calls, fixed cost broadband and volume discounts. The solution also enables work and home calls to be divided into separate bills, which leads to a reduction in the time spent processing expense claims.

To compliment the Remote Worker Solution, Demon has recently launched its mobile services offering with the introduction of the new BlackBerry® 7130v™ developed and manufactured by Research In Motion UK Limited (RIM). The BlackBerry will be available as a stand-alone product or alongside the Demon Remote Worker Solution. The addition of this mobile service provides a seamless link for people to communicate with colleagues between offices, on the move and while working at home.

Cole continued: "Our Demon Remote Worker Solution and BlackBerry service are two cost effective options for businesses that want to empower their staff to work how they want, where they want. Customers can enjoy a business class broadband service and have just one support number for voice and broadband, making it much easier to manage."

The Remote Worker Solution includes:

• Demon Indirect Access or Carrier Pre Select Voice
• Demon Voice Conferencing
• HomeOffice 2000 Broadband
• Demon Voice over Broadband
• Mobile services with the BlackBerry 7130v

Pricing and availability
THUS' Demon Remote Worker Solution is available now. For further information please call 0800 027 3737 or visit www.demon.net/

The BlackBerry 7130v is available to SMBs at £19.99 a month (excluding VAT) from THUS, inclusive of the device and with no setup charges. Customers should call 0808 202 1067 or email mobileadvicedesk@thus.net for details on a bespoke package. http://www.demon.com/demon/products/mobileservices/

* A total of 100 SMBs were questioned as part of THUS' industry survey