Supply chain professionals and their organizations have undergone a significant—perhaps even tectonic—shift when it comes to working from home. It’s quite common now, while on a web call with someone in a supply chain role that can work from home (not in production or warehousing) to see a cat, dog, or personal items in the background. Do supply chain professionals actually enjoy working from home? Do they want to continue to do so in the future?

In May 2020, APQC and Supply Chain Management Review (SCMR) conducted the Working from Home in Supply Chain quick poll to get some answers to these and related questions. The poll surveyed 294 supply chain professionals about work from home practices before the pandemic, the current state of working from home, and what supply chain employees prefer to see happen once the pandemic subsides (whenever that will be!).

Along with highlighting some of the most significant findings in these areas, we also want to share what supply chain professionals see as the biggest benefits and challenges of this work arrangement. While our research captures some insights that are specific to this pandemic moment, many of the trends uncovered are likely to outlast COVID-19.

A Significant Shift Toward Working from Home 

One of the most visible results from the research was a significant shift in the percentage of supply chain professionals who are now able to work from home. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and crisis, only 60 percent of organizations allowed supply chain employees to work from home to any degree. Once the pandemic was in full-swing (as it still is in many places inside and outside of the US), nearly all organizations (99 percent) allowed this option for supply chain employees.

Working from home is a change that supply chain professionals hope is here to stay. When asked to look toward the future, a large majority (81 percent) say they want to be able to continue working from home. Even if some might see this as a temporary necessity, quite a few hope that it will become an indelible feature of the ‘new normal.’ (See Figure 1.)

 

 

 

 

When it comes to the future, APQC finds that supply chain professionals also favor a hybrid work option. Although 20 percent want to continue working from home full time after the pandemic subsides, a majority (62 percent) prefer a work arrangement that allows them to combine a mix of days at home and in the office. Interestingly, as Figure 2 shows, only 12 percent said they wanted to work in the office every day. For some traditional organizations, this is a major change.

 

 

Top Benefits and Challenges of Working from Home 

We asked these supply chain professionals to identify the top benefits and challenges of working from home. Only one of the benefits—the ability to maintain or protect health—is directly tied to the COVID-19 crisis. The other benefits were already true of remote work before the pandemic, and will remain benefits of working from home long after the pandemic has subsided (Figure 3).

 

 

A large majority—more than 9 out of 10 respondents—identified not having to commute to the office as the top benefit of working from home. We’ve talked with a number of people in supply chain who say they are saving 2 to 3 hours a day (or more in some cases) by not commuting to the office. Relatedly, respondents see decreased personal costs as another significant benefit (78 percent), since they are now buying less gas, paying fewer tolls, and visiting the dry cleaner less often. Many respondents also feel they work with fewer distractions (62 percent) and more productivity (55 percent).

Interestingly, there was less agreement about the top challenges than there was about the top benefits. For example, while more than 90 percent of respondents agree on the top benefit of working from home, fewer than half (49 percent) agree on the top challenge: Feelings of social isolation or loneliness. (See Figure 4.)

 

 

 

Feelings of social isolation and loneliness are a legitimate challenge, whether in supply chain or across the organization more broadly. At the same time, the smaller percentage of respondents identifying this challenge may speak to the efforts that many organizations have already been making to mitigate it. Digital collaboration platforms and morale-boosting events like virtual happy hours have become a staple of the new normal during the pandemic, not only helping enhance remote collaboration but also creating new ways for employees to stay connected.

A Call to Action for Employers 

As you think about the future of remote work arrangements in your organization, consider the preferences, benefits, and challenges for employees and the employer. A large majority of supply chain employees want this option to continue. They may not want to work from home every day, but it’s clear they want to work from home for at least part of the week. Many of the benefits, like no longer having to commute and improved work/life balance, are not only evergreen benefits, but are also powerful enablers of workplace satisfaction that can help keep morale high both now and in the future.

Many of the challenges, by contrast, are temporary. Children will go back to school at some point (we can only hope!), and organizations are finding creative ways to help employees connect with each other digitally to decrease social isolation. Giving employees some flexibility in how work gets done—and helping them achieve better work/life balance—can also help mitigate some of these challenges. Simply put, if you’re on the fence about allowing your supply chain employees to continue working from home, there are plenty of good reasons why it should continue in some form beyond the COVID-19 crisis.   

Learn More 

To learn more about working from home in supply chain and to see results of other recent quick polls, APQC recommends the following content from our Resource Library:

• Working From Home in Supply Chain: 2020 Quick Poll Results (Infographic)
• Working From Home in Supply Chain: Quick Poll Summary
• Supply Chain Disruptions: Current State Quick Poll Infographic
• Supply Chain Disruptions Quick Poll Summary Report
• Blockchain Adoption in Supply Chain: Current State for 2020 (Infographic)
• Blockchain Adoption in Supply Chain Quick Poll Report: Current State for 2020

 

To continue the conversation, follow Marisa on Twitter at @MB_APQC or connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Follow Nathanael on Twitter @ThanVlachos or connect with him on LinkedIn.