Maxis Digital Workspace, the solution to today’s shifting work norms

• Business bundled package includes ThinkPad laptop, productivity apps
• SMEs can claim funding of up to RM5k as part of their digitalisation efforts

“We all know that work will never be the same, even if we don’t yet know all the ways in which it will be different,” said Stewart Butterfield, the chief executive officer and cofounder of business communication platform Slack, when asked about the future of work at the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

What we do know is that work is no longer bound to offices. Slack’s own Future Forum Research of 4,700 knowledge workers found that only 12% want to return to full-time office work, with 72% wanting a hybrid remote-office work model.

This sentiment is largely shared in Malaysia. During the movement control order (MCO) period, a study by KPMG found 69% of Malaysian employees want work from home (WFH) or flexible work to continue post MCO.

This means an evolution on how businesses approach work. With remote working becoming the norm, businesses will have to move beyond chunky, inflexible desktop computers to laptops and tablets.

Yet these come with a set of challenges, as the aforementioned KPMG study noted – 64% of the workforce reported facing difficulties that must be addressed, especially challenges surrounding network, communication barriers and the lack of technology readiness.

Addressing connectivity issues for employees is one thing. Businesses will also need to invest in collaboration tools if they want to keep productivity up, such as software for conference calls and cloud storage to facilitate remote work.

Small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) face other issues, like not knowing when to scale or de-scale in the uncertainties of the pandemic. What more, insufficient in-house IT staff or skillset gaps can result in inadequate technical support, which can prove more challenging in a remote work environment.

Revolutionising work

It sounds overwhelming, yet also an opportunity for innovation. “What we can say with certainty is that the sudden shift to distributed work has provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine everything about how we do our jobs and how we run our companies,” Stewart continued.

Essentially, SMEs need a solution that ensures business continuity while enhancing productivity, all without breaking the bank. Businesses which budgets are already stretched thin during the pandemic would need to spend wisely – sure, replacing office desktops with work laptops for your employees may work, but it’s still added cost on top of investing in collaboration tools, productivity software and technical support.

In short, businesses need something all-encompassing.

Enter the Maxis Digital Workspace. This bundled package from the telco provides businesses with business-grade laptops that fulfil every day work requirements. But these plans offer more than just devices – they also come with cloud apps and collaboration tools to increase productivity, on top of internet connectivity, cybersecurity and professional support.

These packages currently offer Lenovo ThinkPad devices as part of the plan, with monthly fees starting from RM154 per month (for a 36-month contract term). These laptops come with 20GB of monthly mobile internet access, allowing employees to work remotely even in places with no Wi-Fi connectivity. Customers also get to enjoy shareable data with Maxis Business Postpaid.

The laptops also come with a set of productivity apps and software, including Microsoft 365 Business Basic with Office apps. For device management, the laptops have VMware Workspace ONE for device policies and compliance; you also get Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security Services for cybersecurity.

Beyond that, the Digital Workspace comes with a slew of neat services. These include on-site professional onboarding and guidance, as well as providing companies with emails with free “.com” domain name.

Customers also get annual corrective or preventive maintenance, hardware warranty with onsite service, comprehensive accidental damage protection to cover damage due to drops, spills & surges and claim on device theft, sealed battery replacement when degraded below minimum performance, and also access to Maxis Business Hub for self-serve mobile internet management.

Investing in peace of mind

The Maxis Digital Workspace’s monthly payment model helps SMEs conserve cash flow to invest in other business priorities. As this is an all-inclusive package, businesses also end up saving on spending in productivity tools and technical support.

The real investment here is peace of mind, as the plan provides deployment and files migration services, as well as 24/7 helpdesk, device warranty, and onsite service and maintenance. There is also a once in 3-years device refresh that ensures business continues to perform as effectively as it needs to be. Since the package already comes with its own cybersecurity suite and collaboration tools, businesses can rest easy knowing their employees will be able to work without disruptions.

It’s important to note that the Maxis Digital Workspace is also covered under the SME Digitalisation Grant that was introduced by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). With the grant, SMEs get to claim funding of up to RM5,000 as part of their digitalisation efforts.

The Maxis Digital Workspace features three Lenovo ThinkPad packages starting from RM154 per month. As part of a launch promotion, early bird subscribers get a free Lenovo ThinkSmart View smart office device worth RM1,500. This is a premium Microsoft Teams-powered device that handles videoconferencing, content viewing, and more, serving as a personal productivity assistant.

For more information of Maxis Digital Workspace and to sign up, visit here.