The Future of Work: Trends in Remote Collaboration
It’s no secret that the way we work has changed massively over the last few years. Remote and hybrid working have gone from being the exception to the norm, and businesses have had to keep up with new tech, new ways of working, and fresh challenges.
At Chess, we’ve been on that journey too—making sure our people have the right tools, support, and setup to work effectively, no matter where they are.
What is a "Modern Workplace"?
Five years ago, if you said "modern workplace", you were probably talking about moving to the cloud and ditching clunky old systems. Now, it’s about so much more—security, productivity, wellbeing, and making sure in-office and remote teams can work together seamlessly.
Grace Ingham, Head of People Support at Chess, has been right at the heart of this shift. In our FIT On-Demand session, she shared some brilliant insights into what’s worked, what’s been challenging, and how we’re building a workplace that actually works for everyone.
You can catch the full session here.
The Tech That Keeps Remote Teams Running
If you want remote collaboration to work, you need the right technology. At Chess, we’ve embraced a mix of tools that help our teams stay connected and productive:
- Microsoft Teams – It’s not just for video calls. It’s the go-to place for collaboration, document sharing, and instant communication.
- SharePoint & OneDrive – Secure cloud storage that makes sure everyone can access what they need, when they need it.
- Cybersecurity solutions – More remote access means more risks, so endpoint protection and secure VPNs are an absolute must.
- AI-powered productivity tools – AI is helping teams work smarter, not harder, from automating workflows to transcribing meetings.
People First, Always
Tech is great, but it’s not the whole picture. If you want remote collaboration to actually work, you have to put people first. That means:
- Clear communication – Setting expectations and making sure everyone knows how to stay connected.
- Flexible working policies – Giving people the freedom to work in ways that suit them best.
- Wellbeing support – Remote work shouldn’t feel isolating. Regular check-ins, virtual socials, and mental health resources make a real difference.
What’s Next for Hybrid Work?
The modern workplace is still evolving, and businesses need to stay ahead of the game. AI, automation, and even virtual reality could soon play a bigger role in how we collaborate. The trick is finding the balance—using tech in a way that helps people, not just for the sake of it.
At Chess, we’re always looking at what’s next, making sure our customers and our people are set up for the future of work.
Want to find out how we can help your business get future-ready?
Get in touch today.
About the author
Chess
Chess is one of the UK’s leading independent and trusted technology service providers, employing more than 240 skilled people across the UK, supporting over 18,000 organisations.
We believe IT should work for you, reduce costs, deliver efficiency, keep you secure, enhance your work-life balance, improving performance. At Chess, we’re passionate about our unique culture and our continuous investment in our people to be industry experts.
We’re extremely proud that our people voted us No.1 in ‘The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for’ list 2018, and we continue to celebrate more than 17 years in the top 100.