Britain is just recovering from a recent cold snap that, like many before it, played havoc with various transport networks and caused economic damage on a national scale.

It is estimated by Green Flag Breakdown, that in total, businesses lost about £318 million as a direct result of the snow and ice, which in many cases made it impossible for staff to actually get to work, thus rendering them out of action for days at a time.

Over the past seven days over 51 million hours during which work would normally be taking place have been wasted, with about a fifth of the nation's workforce choosing to avoid travelling as a result of the safety risks that they would face when doing so in slippery conditions.

More than a tenth of the population were either unable to get into work whatsoever or were delayed by the weather conditions, thus meaning that they could not complete their contractually mandated hours in the office last week.

This is of course partly a problem of preparedness, since individuals who purchase winter tyres or chains for their cars are better able to battle the elements.

But for many businesses, it is not reasonable or practical to make every employee get out on snow-strewn roads or sit in overnight tailbacks, just to get them into the office. Instead, they are looking for better ways to ensure that operational continuity is preserved and everyone can be effective and productive during working hours, even if they cannot complete the commute.

There are of course a string of IT solutions that can help British companies to overcome the cold weather issues and allow staff to get on with their jobs, wherever they happen to be.

Home and remote working can be made possible through the adoption of cloud hosting, VoIP services and flagship business mobile phones.

If a company makes critical apps and data available in a cloud environment, employees can use a home PC or other device with a web browser, to collaborate with colleagues and harness systems which might otherwise be limited to in-house access.

In addition, the cost of making calls to other members of staff can be minimised with VoIP services, which will also make it easier to hold conferences between remote workers and lead to enhancements in productivity for those who are out of the office.

Should a member of staff find themselves stuck on a delayed train or forced to take shelter at a motorway service station, being able to use a smartphone or a tablet to contact the office, send emails and make mobile VoIP calls, will be a real boon.

Of course, there are those who argue that estimations regarding the cost burden which is placed on the UK economy by bad weather and other disasters is misleading, since many companies try to make up for lost revenue once things have got back to normal.

While this may be valid in certain scenarios, it also makes sense for companies to think about how to best preserve continuity and prepare for situations which make it difficult for staff to get into the office, so that the recovery period is as brief as possible.

When temperatures rise, the snow vanishes quickly and it is easy to become complacent about its potential to return. But the businesses that hope for the best and plan for the worst will be better equipped to survive inclement conditions in the future and provide staff with a way to work comprehensively from home or while one the move.

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