Skip to content
  • Homepage
  • Our Solutions
    • Document Storage and Records Management
      • Deed Storage
      • Long Term Storage
      • Media Storage Solutions
      • On Demand Storage
      • Onsite Management
      • Secure Vault Storage
    • AP Invoice Automation Solution
      • Start Your AP Journey
      • E-Invoicing
      • Features
      • ERP Integrations
      • Insights by Industry
      • Why Kefron AP?
      • Pricing
    • IT Asset Disposition Services
      • IT Asset Disposal
      • Hard Drive Shredding Services
      • Secure Data Destruction
      • WEEE Recycling and Electrical Waste Disposal
      • Refurbished IT Equipment
      • IT Equipment Resale and Revenue Return
    • Scanning and Data Capture
      • Scan to Digitise
      • Scan to Process
      • Digital Mailroom
      • Microfiche Scanning
    • Online Document Solutions
      • Online Document
        Management Software
      • Online Document Storage
    • Business Process Services
      • Data Management
      • Data Subject Access Requests
      • Securities and Deeds Management
  • Who We Are
    • About Kefron
    • Who We Are
    • Partners
    • Contact Us
    • Working with Kefron
  • News & Events
    • News & Events
    • Articles & Updates
    • Customer Stories
    • Upcoming Events
    • On-demand Events
    • Select Location
    • Ireland
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • Rest of the world
  • Let’s Talk
  • Republic of Ireland website
  • UK website
  • US website
  • Rest of the world website

Smarter Office Survey

  • 79% planning only a partial return to the physical office in the recovery phase
  • 38% of Irish businesses saw no change to productivity following a year of remote working with 36% reporting an increase
  • Current focus on mitigating short-term challenges posed by the pandemic greatest obstacle in reframing the role of the future office

The purpose of the Smart Office Survey, which we carried out in May of this year, was to understand the impact of the pandemic on the office and how businesses are navigating the challenges of adapting their offices to the realities of the post-COVID environment.

The survey revealed that 79% of businesses were planning for only a partial return to the physical office in the recovery phase of the pandemic, with only 2 in 10 businesses currently seeking to fully return to the office in the coming months. When reflecting on the experience of a year of remote working, 38% of business reported seeing no change in productivity, 36% seeing an increase and 26% seeing a decrease.

In light the continuing demand for flexible working arrangements post-COVID, almost three-quarters of respondents agreed that accelerating the move to a smart office, which enables employees to work from home or in-person, will be crucial to their organisation’s future success.

According to the smart office survey, the main obstacles facing businesses in reframing the role of the office this year include a continued leadership focus on mitigating the short-term challenges posed by the pandemic (35%), outdated work practices (23%), an absence of a digital strategy (12%) and a lack of in-house skills and expertise” (8%).

In embracing the potential of the smart office, business leaders expressed a range of priorities for the remainder of 2021. 28% of respondents agreed that maintaining a connected workforce will be their top priority, while 26% said that simplifying processes and work practices within the office will be the number one concern. This was followed by driving business efficiencies (13%) and improving productivity (12%).

Paul Kearns, Managing Director of Kefron said: “Our survey findings indicate that the Irish business landscape is going through a major transitional moment, especially with regard to how organisations think about the physical office. With the vast majority of businesses preparing for a partial, rather than full, return to the office, it’s now clear that the office will no longer confined to just four walls. It is becoming a hybrid space where employees can access information from any location securely so they can do their best work. At Kefron, we believe we are seeing the emergence of a smart office fit for the future.

“Business leaders voiced a number of concerns about the future of a smart office, especially as it relates to employee collaboration and the threat of cyber-attacks. Going forward, the challenge for organisations of all sizes will be to develop robust systems that increase efficiency, reduce environmental damage, meet the needs of employees and customers alike, and protect their data from various existing and future risks. These concerns should be at the heart of each business’s plan as they embrace the smart office in 2021 and beyond.”

Other key findings of the survey include the following:

  • 78% of respondents said they were “more concerned” about the risk of fraud and cyber-crime since embracing remote work arrangements. 12% said they were directly affected by fraud incidents in the last 12 months.
  • 4 in 10 respondents said that their digital documentation and record systems were inadequate at the beginning of the pandemic.
  • 1 in 4 respondents agreed that “access to documents and information” proved to be a challenge during the pandemic.

A smart office starts with access to all documents from anywhere. Learn how Kefron can digitise your documents f

News

Read time: 5 Minutes

Related articles

Raising the Bar: Kefron Achieves Outstanding Customer Satisfaction

Read time: 3 minutes

News

Kefron celebrates an impressive NPS of 85, reflecting our commitment to outstanding customer satisfaction, 5-star service and trusted client partnerships.

Read more

Certas Energy Selects Kefron as Automation Partner to Drive Procure-to-Pay Transformation

News

Certas Energy has partnered with Kefron to transform their Procure-to-Pay function through automation. Leveraging AI-powered solutions, the partnership aims to streamline invoice processing, enhance efficiency, and deliver measurable results.

Read more

Kefron is Proud to Be Listed on the Sky Blue Education Portal

News

We are delighted to announce that Kefron is now a featured supplier on the Sky Blue Education portal, the leading school procurement platform connecting private and academy schools with trusted businesses for over 20 years. We are proud to showcase o...

Read more

Kefron Awarded Silver Accreditation in Investors in Diversity

News

Kefron has proudly achieved Silver Investors in Diversity accreditation from the Irish Centre for Diversity, highlighting our commitment to fostering a fair, inclusive, and equitable workplace through the FREDIE™ principles.

Read more

Kefron Partners with Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities to Promote Inclusive Education

News

Kefron is excited to announce a new partnership with the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID), aimed at promoting inclusive education and offering career development opportunities for students with intellectual disabilitie...

Read more

Kefron Sponsors Free Access to Studyclix for Ballyfermot Students

Read time: 4 minutes

News

“As a family business, making a positive community impact is key for us. We are thrilled to support St. Seton’s students in their academic journey,” says Sarah Arthurs, Head of People & Performance at Kefron Group.

Read more

Kefron Partners with FISCAL Technologies to Create a Best Practice Blueprint for Accounts Payable

Read time: 3 Minutes

News

Kefron is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with FISCAL Technologies, a renowned leader in Procure-to-Pay (P2P) risk management. The partnership between Kefron and FISCAL Technologies exists to create a best practice blueprint for P2P an...

Read more

Excellence in Client Relations: Kefron’s Journey to Top Customer Satisfaction

Read time: 9 minutes

News

Delve into Kefron’s commitment to customer satisfaction and client relations, exemplified by its high NPS score and 5-star service. Discover how effective account management and a customer-centric culture drive Kefron’s success and set a ...

Read more

Kefron earns top Cyber Essentials Plus Certification for data security

Read time: 3 Minutes

News

Keeping data safe is a top priority for us at Kefron, as well as for our clients. We make sure to use the best systems and follow strict rules to ensure top-level security. We also earn certifications to show we are serious about keeping data safe. W...

Read more

Kefron Achieves Investors in Diversity Bronze Award

Read time: 5 minutes

News

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with all our esteemed customers and partners. We’ve been awarded the prestigious Investors in Diversity Bronze accreditation by the Irish Centre for Diversity! This remarkable achievement serves as a ...

Read more

Get in touch

Ireland
53 Park West Road
Dublin 12, D12 F8RK
T: +353 (0)1 438 0200

Connect with us

TwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInFacebookVimeo

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Sitemap

© Copyright 2025 Kefron. All Rights Reserved

Please confirm your country

  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Rest of the World

Confirm

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

Cookie Settings Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
Save & Accept