CIOopinion
CIO OPINION
“
THOSE WHO
ARE EQUIPPED TO FLEX
QUICKLY AND ADAPT TO
DEAL WITH THE CHANGING
ENVIRONMENT WILL
ULTIMATELY BE THOSE
THAT CAN GET THROUGH
THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD.
Prasad Ramakrishnan, CIO, Freshworks
Addressing common
issues CIOs face when
managing entirely
remote workforces
COVID-19 has posed an
abundance of challenges for
business leaders which they
must face head-on as the
pandemic takes hold. Prasad
Ramakrishnan, CIO, Freshworks,
explains how CIOs are adapting
in order to offer flexible working
and to maintain smooth
business operations during the
current circumstances.
As global economies continue
in the fight against COVID-19,
millions of people around the
world are working from home indefinitely
to slow the spread of the disease. No
business leaders would have been able
to predict these trying circumstances
and they are having to adjust at a rapid
pace. Many CIOs are now managing
entirely remote workforces and this highly
unusual scenario has presented some
unprecedented challenges.
The global nature of the pandemic is
unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetime,
affecting companies across multiple
locations and regions. Organisations
usually create Business Continuity plans
for regional disasters, but to have entire
workforces sent home is incredibly unusual
and will quickly show CIOs where there are
weaknesses in their technology strategy.
From a surge in employee expense
claims for noise-cancelling headphones
and green screens, to a shift in IT
helpdesk support hours and a growing
security threat to corporate assets, CIOs
are having to adapt quickly to maintain
their business operations. So, what are
the key considerations for CIOs during
this period and how can they overcome
these challenges?
1. Onboarding and
offboarding employees
COVID-19 is not going away any time
soon. Many businesses will continue
to operate remotely – even when
46 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com