The rise of remote working presents a revolutionary change in the traditional workplace, especially with many businesses being forced to adopt remote working principals overnight given the current uncertain circumstance. In response, employers are having to adapt, if they hadn’t already, to ensure seamless communication and business continuity.
Rising office costs, productivity gains, employee retention, and reducing costly commuting times are just some of the reasons why home working is becoming a fundamental part of modern-day working. Despite this, many companies still don’t reap the rewards associated with it.
This is because too many companies still don’t appreciate how remote working can benefit them or they don’t have the strategy in place to make the most out of it. Either they aren’t educated enough or they have trust or change issues. This isn’t a valid excuse anymore.
Utilising today’s technology
Firstly, productivity statistics and employee happiness cannot be ignored any longer. Buffer’s 2020 State of Remote Working report highlights the numerous benefits associated with remote working, including less stress and greater flexibility. Secondly, there are numerous tools that can be put in place, meaning businesses can place their trust in the technology, rather than the employee.
For example, cloud technology enables collaborative, real-time working, whilst features such as screen sharing and video calling help to boost productivity and connectivity. Additionally, remote file sharing and access empowers employees to work from any device and any location. Nowadays, employees can log in on the move, meaning they can work securely from home while waiting for a train or traveling between meetings. When it comes to the remote working tech stack, there are two technologies that help make remote working easy: Cloud-based VoIP telephony and Desktop-as-a-Service (DAAS) solutions.
VoIP telephony is readily available today to help businesses take advantage of working the way they want to, reduce costs, improve time management and disaster recovery, and increase overall productivity. A global report from Steelcase reveals 88% of highly engaged employees are free to choose whether they work remotely or from the office, and switching to a VoIP phone system can save up to 32 minutes per day per employee.
A cloud-based DAAS solution provides information accessibility and visibility to employees so they can work more efficiently, with the same experience as being in the office and access to the usual programs and applications they would need, such as Microsoft 365, CRM applications and email software. You, as the business, can rest assured data is reliably stored and backed up, while they, the employees, work as if they were in the workplace from the comfort of their remote office. Plus, employees get the chance to use their own devices to securely access work and there is less need for IT overhead costs. The benefits make it a no-brainer for successful remote working.
Empowering employees to work remotely
Modern technologies enable employees to work remotely seamlessly. The increasing adoption of cloud technology makes collaboration and communication particularly easy, as well as the rising popularity of virtual workspaces, which empower remote workers to work efficiently and reliably on the go.
Of course, security must form a core part of remote working processes, but, to put it simply, cloud technology helps connect your dispersed workforce and share information.
One of the main benefits of remote working is empowering the workforce to work how they want to work, without the need for excessive office space. With the right tools in place, businesses can see people are carrying out their jobs as, if not more, effectively as physically being in the office.
Teams are easily connected through video communication and chat tools, which can be used for regular catch-ups, instant messaging, video meetings, and virtual events. That ensures good communication across the business to make your employees feel like they are not cut off from the wider team and are still valued. The Buffer report highlights one of the biggest challenges associated with remote working being loneliness, so utilising these tools help ensure team bonding and connectivity.
With the technology readily available to arm employees with, it’s easy to see why so many companies are jumping on the bandwagon. For those who are not, perhaps it is their fear of change. For example, there are still a lot of businesses that are still yet to take steps towards cloud computing and continue to operate clunky legacy technology. For them, change is a big problem. Some businesses just don’t know what they don’t know. These will not be the forward-thinking industry leaders of the future.
For those who want to empower employees to work where they feel most effective and attract the best talent available, remote working is an enabler. The associated benefits will result in better and happier employees. A win-win for both parties.
However, the key is in implementing the right technology to get the maximum value out of remote workers, whilst additionally providing peace of mind for employers.
The unrivaled benefits of working from home
The ability to work from anywhere, from any device shouldn’t be underestimated. Today’s ways of working require it and technology has made that simple. For businesses, not only can remote working save them money, particularly with the reduction in IT overheads required and office space needed, but they will also reap the rewards of a happier and more productive workforce. From the employee’s point of view, remote working unlocks the door to greater flexibility, money savings, and reduced stress.
The message is clear: Remote working looks set to be a fundamental part of the future workforce. If you don’t want to fall behind the competition, embrace it, but make sure you have the right technology set up to maximize its potential.
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