Tolls to spur teleworking

The start of congestion charging in London today, coupled with forthcoming European legislation requiring flexible working options for parents of young children, will prompt firms to rethink their policies on teleworking.

This could force IT directors to invest in secure remote access capabilities for corporate servers and clients.

Under mayor Ken Livingstone's controversial scheme, drivers entering central London will be charged £5 per day. And under new EU Flexible Working Regulations from 6 April, many firms will need to offer provision for home working to parents with children under six.

If the congestion scheme is a success it is likely to be copied in other cities and towns. According to Capita, the public-sector IT solutions firm that has helped develop the technology to process the congestion charge, about 35 other UK conurbations have floated similar plans.

"It will certainly stimulate firms in the [congestion] catchment area to look at other ways of doing business, such as teleconferencing," said Michael Dean, marketing manager at the National Computing Centre (NCC), an IT research organisation. "This is an opportunity for IT managers to demonstrate how technology can cut costs."

Dean's concerns were echoed by IT managers. Alan Coats, customer care manager at communications software firm Wordcraft International, said that although his firm was based in the Midlands, the capital's charges would have a knock-on effect. "It is likely to deter visits and meetings in the centre of London," he added.

Some firms are already in a strong position to offer remote working facilities. Telecoms giant Nortel Networks has 12,000 teleworkers out of a total 35,000 UK staff, of whom 3,000 are full-time teleworkers.

Nortel expects other organisations will follow its lead. "There will be a whole wave of companies who [ask what they can] do about this [congestion charge]'," said Peter Finter, head of enterprise solutions at Nortel. "The second wave will be when they are required to [offer flexibility to parents]."

Teleworking may prove popular with staff. Nortel found that 71 percent of its home users felt more empowered with teleworking, and 41 percent said they felt more motivated.

Spitfire Network Services is another firm currently reviewing its options. "We're looking at [more support staff] working from home," said Tom Fellowes, group sales director. "Up until recently we had to go to sites to service equipment. Now three-quarters [of diagnostics] is done remotely."

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