A recent survey by the video conferencing platform Zoom found that 83% of employees prefer hybrid working models because these flexible arrangements lead to higher productivity.

The results, part of the survey “Navigating the Future of Work: Global Perspectives on Hybrid Models and Technology,” were released at Zoom’s EX Summit 2024 in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

The survey gathered insights from over 600 IT and C-suite executives and nearly 1,900 knowledge workers globally, including 604 respondents from Asia Pacific, and was conducted in partnership with Reworked INSIGHTS.

The preference for hybrid work environments is clear, with the majority of employees saying they are more productive in hybrid or remote environments than in traditional office environments. This trend has been echoed by organizations across Asia Pacific, where 84% have adopted either hybrid (58%) or remote work models (26%).

Productivity remains a key consideration for business leaders in Asia Pacific, with 87% of respondents saying it is the most important factor in determining the optimal work model for their company. This focus on productivity is slightly higher in Asia Pacific than in other regions. In North America, 86% and in Western Europe, 81% of respondents prioritize productivity in their work model decisions.

Ricky Kapur, Head of Zoom Asia Pacific, said: “Workplace flexibility is not only becoming more commonplace in APAC, but it is also becoming more diverse – ranging from flextime to location and role models to rotation-based models.

“Leaders today face a new challenge: finding the most appropriate hybrid model while keeping pace with the evolving expectations of a multigenerational workforce and the impact of rapidly evolving technologies like AI.”

Despite the clear preference for hybrid work, many companies in Asia Pacific continue to experiment with various hybrid models. The most common are hybrid work schedules (27%) and hybrid flextime (19%). A further 13% of companies are exploring hybrid structures based on roles, locations and outcomes.

Over the past two years, 97% of executives in Asia Pacific have made their workplaces more flexible to accommodate these preferences.

However, the transition to hybrid working also brings challenges. The survey found that 60% of leaders in Asia Pacific reported a decline in employee engagement related to hybrid working models.

In addition, 77% of executives in the region believe their organizations are likely to change their workplace models within the next two years to address these challenges.

Generative AI has become an important tool to support productivity in hybrid work. The survey showed that organizations in Asia Pacific are leading the way in adopting meeting minutes, with 53% using them, compared to 40% in the US and 38% in Western Europe.

Additionally, 59% of APAC companies use chatbots, a slightly higher adoption rate than the US (52%) and comparable to Western Europe (58%). A remarkable 85% of APAC executives believe that generative AI has made their workforce more productive, while 69% of employees in the region agree that AI has made their jobs easier. However, 81% of employees in APAC companies believe there is still room for improvement in the tools and technologies available for remote working.

Sign up for our regular news overview!

Give your business a head start with our leading Tech Monitor