Now that we live in a semi-post-pandemic world, we are seeing governments, organizations and employees coming to grips with new ways of working. The rules are constantly shifting – but a number of trends will give enterprises the opportunity to flourish in 2022. To prepare, companies will need to understand and embrace the technology to support hybrid work – and appeal to workers who have grown accustomed to new levels of flexibility.
The hybrid workforce will be the elephant in the room.
The hybrid workforce – in which workers choose whether to be remote or in-office – can give organizations serious technological and experiential headaches. Fully remote and hybrid workers who head back to the office only to find pre-pandemic connectivity and technology will struggle – at least initially – to remain connected, both in terms of productivity and on an emotional level. This will likely throw a wrench in the old HR and workforce processes, such as performance management and employee support programs. The goal will be to prevent a substandard employee experience despite quickly evolving workplace norms.
ESG trends will dominate the return to work for many.
One of the fastest ways organizations can make an immediate impact on carbon reduction is to get a grip on the hybrid workforce. By reducing business-related travel, organizations can make a significant reduction in CO2 and other greenhouse gasses. But the possibilities don‘t stop there. A close look at the end-to-end supply chain of service delivery or product creation (from inception to end-user consumption) will show how a move to the cloud can have major economic implications. A digital workplace has positive economic, environmental and human collaboration impacts.
Prepare for the rise of the machines.
As companies figure out how to make due with a reduced physical workforce, we can expect to see a rise in the use of AI and cognitive tooling to support the remote or hybrid worker. No longer will employees need to go somewhere or be with someone to do something, rather they can ask an assistant to do it for them. This will include kicking off a process like booking a meeting, finding information or checking a document. The augmented assistant now has the best opportunity to rise into the spotlight.
About the author
Iain Fisher
lain Fisher is ISG's head of industry research and market trends. With over 20 years in consulting and strategic advisory, he now leads cross-industry research across 20 markets. Iain oversees the ideation, creation and market presentation of ISG Provider Lens® studies and builds cross-industry, strategic insights delivered through executive briefings, events and roundtables. A published author of several studies and thought leadership assets, he is recognized in the market for advising leaders on how to achieve strategic advantage.
Iain is an ISG SME on the Future of Work, CX, Sustainability, Aviation, U.K. Healthcare, Utilities and cross-industry solutioning. He develops custom market insights that reshape business models and drive new solutions and innovation.
Beyond his research portfolio, Iain has led the streamlining of ISG Research operations, earning the Outstanding Achievement award in December 2025. He is currently leading the transformation of IPL to include ethical AI tooling. A regular keynote speaker and online presenter, Iain has authored several eBooks on these topics.
