While the general economic climate is trending positive, companies are still showing a persistent reluctance to hire. Many are squeezing the existing workforce for additional productivity gains or are relying on temporary help.

Regardless of how the next 12 months play out economically, companies of all sizes and industries are planning for all possibilities, be it the status quo, a “double-dip” recession, or rapid expansion.

In each of these scenarios, companies must consider the impact of the mobile workforce. The typical company workforce telecommutes more than ever, and an clear view into mobile workers’ schedule and needs when in the home office – made available through agent scheduling software – is critical in order to manage business volatility.

For example, should the economic climate improve, more workers will be hired. Some of these – particularly sales staff – will be mobile. Can the company effectively scale to provide adequate office space, equipment, and resources for when they’re in the office? Does the company have a holistic view into what remote workers will be in the office, and when?

Failure to convincingly answer these questions inevitably leads to misplaced workers, insufficient or unnecessary hardware purchased, and – most critically – lost productivity during a time when the business should be growing.