Five years on from first lockdown, Datapac research finds Irish organisations continue to face remote work challenges

As Ireland today marks the five-year anniversary of the first Covid-19 lockdown and the widespread shift to remote working, research from Datapac, trusted IT partner for leading Irish organisations, highlights ongoing challenges associated with hybrid work. The research indicates that Irish organisations, having rapidly adopted remote solutions in response to the pandemic, are now increasingly focused on implementing more robust, permanent technologies to support hybrid work long-term.

The independent survey, commissioned by Datapac and conducted by Censuswide among 200 IT decision-makers in Ireland, reveals that 96% of organisations are now operating hybrid working models—a permanent legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic. Five years on from the initial shift, organisations continue to face significant challenges, with work-life balance (39%), training and development (36%),cybersecurity (34%), and communication and collaboration (31%) identified as key ongoing issues.

89% of IT decision-makers say they invested in software-as-a-service (SaaS) communication and collaboration tools in response to theCovid-19 pandemic. However, this trend has endured, with 57% of businesses reporting increased investment in these tools since the pandemic, and 31% maintaining their investment levels. Meanwhile, two-thirds (67%) of Irish businesses say they are using Microsoft365 to support collaboration and productivity.

The survey also emphasises the importance of having the right digital tools and technologies in place to ensure success in the modern workplace. Some 46% of IT decision-makers would rate their IT infrastructure’s ability to support hybrid work as only “somewhat” or “not too” capable.

Kevin Hall, Senior Systems Engineer, Datapac, said: “Five years on from Ireland’s widespread move to remote working, our research shows that many organisations are still facing substantial challenges in fully embedding hybrid working into their long-term strategies. Initially, organisations rapidly invested in digital tools like Microsoft 365 to maintain operations—but now is a critical time to reassess these investments to ensure they deliver lasting value.

“Organisations must evaluate if their current technology genuinely supports their goals, particularly when issues around work-life balance and cybersecurity remain widespread. Rather than simply renewing licenses, businesses need to ensure they’re fully leveraging existing investments for maximum efficiency, security, and employee satisfaction. Given how crucial technology now is in the post-pandemic era, partnering with the right IT provider, who can optimise these investments strategically, is essential to remain competitive.”

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