In France, until the current Covid-19 crisis, telecommuting was not widely practiced. Yet it seems to have a positive impact on business performance and employee well-being. In the digital sector, several players, including Capgemini, Sopra-Steria and Atos, see it as a lever for profitability.
An improved activity rate
The way in which IT engineers work will definitely not be the same since the outbreak of the virus. Indeed, digital service companies (DSCs) believe that telecommuting could boost their operating margins, and are planning to use it more regularly.
At Capgemini, for example, the organization will be based on 40% to 50% remote working after the crisis, compared with 90% today due to health constraints, according to its management. This new way of working will enable the French IT giant not only to save on office real-estate costs, but also to become more agile. In some of the cities hardest hit by the crisis, the company is able to redirect its engineers "with training to telework for other customers and in other areas", stresses its Managing Director, Aiman Ezzat.
Telecommuting thus contributes to improving the activity rate of consultants, which is a major margin variable. In a recent study, analysts at Invest Securities estimated a potential long-term gain of 1 to 1.5 points on the margin rate. A consultant can now be placed on assignment with a customer in France or abroad without having to travel.
Teleworking: what are the limits for IT departments?
Despite its advantages, telecommuting has its limits. Writing in Les Echos, Vincent Paris, CEO of Sopra-Steria, points out that, while it undeniably brings fluidity to organizations by enabling them to mobilize experts internationally, it "won't suit a new recruit in the same way as an executive who has been familiar with the company's culture for twenty years". Similarly, Atos sees potentially significant margin gains, but is wary of the language barrier as a major obstacle on an international scale.
Generally speaking, ESN managers feel that telecommuting lends itself to some companies, but not to all. In fact, some local SMEs specialize in professions for which this remote organization model is not applicable. This is the case, for example, with data center operators. This explains why it was so difficult for the sector to switch to 100% telecommuting during the health crisis.
At a press conference on February 4, Élisabeth Borne, the French Minister of Labor, and Jean Castex, the French Prime Minister, reiterated that teleworking should be the rule for all activities that allow it, and called on all companies to mobilize as a matter of urgency.