April 2021

That’s the million dollar question at the moment. Whether it be the boss of ASOS on Radio 5 Live recently, Rishi Sunak giving his opinion, colleagues in the office or social media posts. Everywhere one looks there’s another poll, or opinion. And everyone has questions, how will it work? Is flexible working achievable? Will it affect productivity? Can employees be trusted? The list goes on. At Cirrus Technology Solutions we believe flexible working is here to stay and should be welcomed. The last 12 months have shown that business can operate, grow and succeed even in challenging times. Mobilising your workforce to incorporate flexible working can in fact make your organisation a more attractive proposition to future employees and clients alike. Of course some industries and/or roles are more suited to flexible working than others, such as sales. And the IT Industry has had a work from anywhere capability for a while. But there are other ways to incorporate a flexible approach to work too. Most people think of flexible working as the opportunity to work from home, but it goes much further than that. It can be a shortened working week or the ability to work ‘anywhere’. Or the practical benefits. A reduction in commuting, a better work-life balance, improved mental health of the workforce, even less sick days. However flexible working is not for everyone, employees can struggle with the isolation and a potential lack of ‘routine’ and this highlights that ‘flexible’ working needs to deliver what it says on the tin. Cirrus Technology Solutions are an IT Managed Service provider that puts people first, vital when considering the implementation of a flexible working strategy.  There is such a multitude of questions and opinion, that Cirrus have collated 5 things that we would advise any organisation to include in their thought process when considering flexible working. Has flexible working during the pandemic lead to an increase in productivity? How do your staff feel about implementing a flexible working strategy? Cost v Benefit Analysis Will NOT offering a flexible working environment make recruiting more difficult? Technology – laptops, softphones, Teams, CyberSecurity. Is it fit for purpose? Of course these are not the only questions you should be asking, but they will at least give you a solid foundation. And after all, flexible working was always on the agenda, the pandemic has just accelerated the shift.

Hospitality perhaps more than any other industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. Whether that’s local pubs, independent restaurants, well-known chains, music venues or theatres, everyone has felt the pinch. Finally, a little relief arrived last week with the re-opening of outside spaces, drive-in events and even outdoor music. Hooray. From the personal experiences of the Cirrus Technology Solutions team, feedback from our clients and media coverage, it looks like a majority of guests were mindful and respectful of the difficulties that the pandemic have bought about. And more importantly, keen to support an industry that has faced much in the last 12 months. Whatever your choice of ‘hospitality’ it was a joy to be able to experience some sort of normality. Whether it was meeting friends to enjoy a glass of wine or a pint (Cirrus Technology Solutions MD, may have had a pint of Guinness or two), an outdoor meal, or perhaps like our Client Relationship Manager, enjoying some live music in a pub garden. There was most certainly a vibe and buzz, that was tempered in general, with understanding. So what happens when the ‘novelty’ of normality wears thin (if it ever does)? Or when the whole of the industry returns to opening in May (fingers crossed)? How can hospitality ensure that the recovery is long term and not just a boom? Top of the list may be enhancing the guest experience. From updating the look and feel of your venue to special offers, from an inspired menu to technology, many things contribute to the experience of your guests. Technology may not be the ‘go to’ idea when thinking about guest experience but these days it is an important factor. Fast, reliable wi-fi, audio/visual systems, ePos/tills, kitchen printers, CCTV, the list is ever growing. Providing these services can be a headache. Multiple suppliers, invoices, expense, staff training, apps for ordering, websites and more are all a factors to be considered.  They key is to make it as straightforward as possible for guests and employees alike. Finding a specialist technology partner who can provide you with everything you need for your venue, from email to CCTV, audio/visual systems to tills, can make the technology journey smoother. But beware, whilst technology is the outcome, selecting your partner should focus on people. Does the partner understand your business and your guest experience? Or what your staff need to operate at full capacity?  Without that understanding, the technology is ineffective.

Hospitality perhaps more than any other industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. Whether that’s local pubs, independent restaurants, well-known chains, music venues or theatres, everyone has felt the pinch. Finally, a little relief arrived last week with the re-opening of outside spaces, drive-in events and even outdoor music. Hooray. From the personal experiences of the Cirrus Technology Solutions team, feedback from our clients and media coverage, it looks like a majority of guests were mindful and respectful of the difficulties that the pandemic have bought about. And more importantly, keen to support an industry that has faced much in the last 12 months. Whatever your choice of ‘hospitality’ it was a joy to be able to experience some sort of normality. Whether it was meeting friends to enjoy a glass of wine or a pint (Cirrus Technology Solutions MD, may have had a pint of Guinness or two), an outdoor meal, or perhaps like our Client Relationship Manager, enjoying some live music in a pub garden. There was most certainly a vibe and buzz, that was tempered in general, with understanding. So what happens when the ‘novelty’ of normality wears thin (if it ever does)? Or when the whole of the industry returns to opening in May (fingers crossed)? How can hospitality ensure that the recovery is long term and not just a boom? Top of the list may be enhancing the guest experience. From updating the look and feel of your venue to special offers, from an inspired menu to technology, many things contribute to the experience of your guests. Technology may not be the ‘go to’ idea when thinking about guest experience but these days it is an important factor. Fast, reliable wi-fi, audio/visual systems, ePos/tills, kitchen printers, CCTV, the list is ever growing. Providing these services can be a headache. Multiple suppliers, invoices, expense, staff training, apps for ordering, websites and more are all a factors to be considered.  They key is to make it as straightforward as possible for guests and employees alike. Finding a specialist technology partner who can provide you with everything you need for your venue, from email to CCTV, audio/visual systems to tills, can make the technology journey smoother. But beware, whilst technology is the outcome, selecting your partner should focus on people. Does the partner understand your business and your guest experience? Or what your staff need to operate at full capacity?  Without that understanding, the technology is ineffective.

It’s safe to say there has been a huge reaction to yesterday’s announcement that the ‘Big 6’ English football clubs have signed letters of intent to create a ‘Super League’ along with Spanish and Italian clubs. The fallout has been pretty conclusive. Words such as greed, betrayal and even ‘criminal’ have been used by many. Despite a few murmurs of support the negative reaction is far greater. Perhaps the idea of a ‘Super League’ is not so bad in essence, perhaps the governing bodies will finally do something to crack down on the super rich clubs trying to monopolise a sport with millions of fans and participants across the world. Who knows only time will tell. What is already clear is that a swift decision needs to be taken. But there are lessons to be learned that go well beyond the world of football. Whatever the motivations of the clubs involved (money is presumably at the root) they like many other businesses have forgotten or perhaps chosen to ignore something essential. People. At Cirrus Technology Solutions we put people first. Your people. The biggest asset your business has.  Many organisations concentrate on the ‘product’, revenue, technology, the processes, just like the ‘Big 6’. The ‘fans’, the club’s people have been forgotten. Don’t make the same mistake when implementing new technology. Consider the impact and needs of your people, employees and clients. Make sure they are central to any major changes and more importantly included in the decision making process. It is clear from the reaction from fans, employees (managers and players alike) that if you don’t look after them, eventually you will lose them. After all without clients, customers or ‘fans’ much of the value of what your business delivers disappears For more information on Cirrus Technology Solutions please do get in touch. Hello@thinkcirrus.co.uk