Heavy snow has causedsevere disruptionsthis week, but UK
businesses are better prepared for conditions that prevent access
to offices since the
2007 floods, says Sungard Availabilty Services.
Businesses appear to be coping relatively well thanks to the
business continuity plans they have in place, according to Keith
Tilley, executive vice-president for UK and Europe at Sungard.
Some businesses have made use of alternative work premises, but
many have continued work normally using various technologies to
enable staff to work from home, he said.
UK suppliers of such technolgies have capitalised on this week's
transport disruptions to promote products and services aimed at
enabling businesses to maintain poductivity levels.
Rob Lovell, CEO of hosing services firm ThinkGrid, said such
losses could be overcome by taking advantage of the internet to
give employees access to work computers, phones and email.
"By giving employees hosted desktops and phones, organisations
can ensure that employees can work normally even though they can't
get to the office,” he said.
Charles Black, CEO of Nasstar, another hosting service provider,
said on-premises IT falls at the first hurdle and greatly hinders
employee productivity in difficult weather conditions.