What We Are Doing
Here at Cubic Interactive, we have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic as it develops. Since the government suggested companies start to allow staff to work from home if they can, we decided to comply and request that all of our 3 offices implement home working. This has been extremely revealing, for it has demonstrated how, without knowing, our slow move over the past 3 years to have all our internal software and file structure cloud-based has made the transition to homeworking relatively easy to implement. Using technology such as Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams, along with our own cloud-based project management software ‘Rapport3’, we have been able to continue providing our usual service uninterrupted.

There have been some changes to the implementation process of Rapport3, with our usual onsite Process Mapping meetings with clients instead undertaken remotely and in smaller chunks using Zoom Meetings, and the essential and comprehensive training we offer our clients being rolled out using Zoom Webinar. However, this has in no way altered the service we are providing for our clients, and we still are committed to helping to revolutionise the way that they work. Thanks to Rapport3 being cloud-based, we have continued to attract business as companies grapple with the new norm of remote and home working.

What Our Clients Are Doing
Our Rapport3 clients have had similar experiences in regard to a simple homeworking transition, for those with our cloud based project management system already in place have found that they are already utilising a number of remote working solutions which enable all staff to stay connected and updated. Due to many of our clients having staff working on site rather than all in one office, for example, our system has already been configured to function for a spread-out workforce. Our web interface means all features are available from any location with just the normal login, on mobile or tablet. Many of our clients already have internal processes put in place and aided by Rapport3 at setup to enable remote working. Therefore, they can continue to operate and ensure visibility for their workforce through the system, without requiring any face-to-face communication about project status. Consequently, as internal project meetings and face-to-face contact ceases, the efficiency and connectivity of their workforce needn’t, for our software provides complete transparency.

The instability and uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation means it is very hard to know when normal working practices may resume. Therefore, we must stress the importance of implementing a system which keeps you and your staff connected as soon as possible, or better utilising the project management system you already have. Companies already using a project management system in the Cloud like Rapport3, will have a smoother transition to homeworking, as we have noted, but for those who are not this is a great opportunity to fix these processes and start using a system to its maximum ability. It can not only produce great efficiency savings for you, which will be important for everyone right now, but it will also be beneficial for the long-term. This is an opportunity to look at your business and see how you can become faster, more streamlined, and stronger.

What We Have Already Done: How We Created Products Designed for Home Working
We have already spent considerable time working with our clients to hone our software, enabling them to work as fully and effectively as possible from home. Elements such as mobile optimisation and intuitive reporting and dashboards allow all staff to stay informed and in-touch with project work, as well as timesheets and HR functions to allow managers to keep track of staff activity.

Our Customer Success and Support teams have been checking how our 180+ UK & Ireland Rapport3 customers have been making the transition to home working, and wanted to share the feedback we received from Stuart Gateson at Redgate IT who works closely with a number of our clients:

Stuart explained:

“The great thing about Rapport3 being accessible in the cloud is that most users just logged in from home. We had the same experience for other cloud applications like MS Office365, but a bit more thought needed to go into supporting team members working on large design and visualisation models.

So we asked our clients to undertake a survey with all staff members to find out any personal hardware they had at home that could be used to remote connect to their high spec workstation in the office where the "heavy-lifting" takes place. We then conducted tests of various remote connection applications, where we experienced lag and delayed input - which is not ideal for dealing with detailed heavy CAD or BIM files. Following this, we took the approach to focus on the heavy CAD/BIM/3D file users. After a very short trial, we decided on implementing Inevidesk, a newly formed service providing fast virtual desktops aimed for the AEC industry https://www.inevidesk.uk. Now, our clients have been able to work just as though they were in the office from lightweight laptops. It provides them with the flexibility to provide high-spec desktops to remote users with very little lead time. This is also not just for now, but for future planning. Clients can decide to provide users with cheaper lightweight hardware, which they can use to connect to faster virtual desktops and set up remote working at the drop of a hat - whether at home or a temporary site office. Flexibility, efficiency, effectiveness!”

Ultimately, we want everyone we work with to know that we care, and have always cared, about allowing you to work flexibly. Remote working is both necessary and preferable for many of our clients and our own staff, so we have created software which is designed to not only enable this, but make it an incredibly successful option. It is important that everyone stays safe at this trying time, but also that businesses still manage to work as effectively and productively as possible. We are here to help.

Feel free to contact us.