For some, this has unfortunately led to staff furloughs and redundancies in order to cut costs. For others, businesses are working on a limited basis with as many employees as possible being asked to work from home to adhere to social distancing measures implemented worldwide. Lockdowns are slowly being eased, and with the loosening of restrictions on travel and non-essential employees being allowed to return to work, it is still possible that social distancing will be recommended – alongside improved standards of hygiene – before offices fully reopen. Therefore, business owners need to start thinking now about the different ways increased distance and cleanliness can be implemented with as little disruption to workflow as possible. Below, ZDNet has listed a range of solutions and products that enterprise players and SMBs alike should consider before their offices reopen their doors. Disclosure: ZDNet may earn an affiliate commission from some of the products featured on this page. ZDNet and the author were not compensated for this independent review.
Why we chose these items
The COVID-19 pandemic, like the virus itself, is a complex matter with many facets – not only impacting public health, but also causing severe disruption to the economy, our way of work, how we interact with others, and how company owners view their own businesses.
Best wireless noise-canceling headsets for business in 2020Best video conferencing software for business in 2020
Also: Best telepresence robots in 2020 Telepresence robots are an upgrade to the video conferencing solutions we are currently integrating into our daily workflows. Rather than staying chained to a desk, these robots can be used to automatically track an individual’s presentation or meeting, for example, while sending high-quality feeds to remote participants in real-time. The 4'8" Ohmni Supercam is one such robot, which utilizes a 13MP camera with an ultra-wide field of view, a 130-degree tilting neck, over five hours of call time on a single charge, and autodocking technology. The telepresence robot weighs 20 pounds and is portable. There is one glaring omission from the list above – air conditioning and filtration systems. Our understanding of how COVID-19 is transmitted continues to evolve, but at present, it is generally thought that the virus spreads through liquid particles expelled through our breath, coughing, or sneezing. Air purifiers can help those with other conditions, such as asthma. However, HEPA filters are not believed to capture or destroy the novel coronavirus, and while PECO filters are being explored, there are currently no filtration systems suitable for office use that have been scientifically proven to help prevent infection. As such, we have chosen to focus on solutions that we know might make a difference – those that encourage adherence to social distancing measures, improve hygiene standards, and equip employees for a world of remote working.
