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Remote Workers: The Secret Weapon in Your Arsenal

Technology has revolutionised business in a number of ways, right from facilitating seamless communication to bringing down operational costs. However, one of the most noteworthy shifts it has ushered in is the rise of remote work.

In most industries, geography is no longer an obstacle that stands in the way of professionals and their productivity. Approximately 70% of employees around the world work remotely at least once a week, and this number is only set to increase, as the digital native Gen Z enters the workforce. And while physical presence was once considered a prerequisite to work, more and more employers are now realising the wealth of potential that their remote workforce holds.

The overwhelming majority of teleworkers report lower levels of stress and higher job satisfaction, in addition to being at least as engaged in their work as their in-office peers. While this is undoubtedly a favourable situation for workers, businesses have a lot more to gain from telecommuters. A large number of these workers report increased productivity when they work from home, owing in large part to the lack of interruptions and distractions that characterise the modern workplace. Apart from boosting existing employees’ productivity, being open to remote work also widens an organisation’s talent pool, especially in niche industries and job roles. It can give companies access to employees that might otherwise have been deterred from working for them due to constraints of geography, timing or physical ability.

However, just hiring the right talent isn’t enough. For a remote workforce to be truly efficient, it is important for managers to make communication a priority. While phone calls and emails have been around for a while, they lack the personal touch that comes with face-to-face interaction. Thankfully, unified communications platforms like Microsoft Teams have made it easier than ever for managers to foster a sense of engagement and team spirit. This helps remote workers get a better sense of their place in the organisation, consequently boosting morale and productivity.

Another important tenet of successful remote work is that the team that not only accepts individualism, but celebrates it. Diversity in working styles and skillsets is crucial to the success of every team and arguably, organisation. Employers and managers should celebrate these variations, and give workers the freedom to figure out the best way for them to achieve their goals. Providing as much flexibility as possible, in addition to recognising individual contributions and innovative solutions, will give people room to discover how they work best, and maximise the team’s productivity.

Though this might seem like a lot to take in, technology has made it easier than ever to manage a remote workforce. Today, simple and secure programs facilitate collaborative file editing, knowledge-sharing, and text, video and audio-based communication, which not only increase efficiency but also build loyalty. Human-centric management, combined with the goal-directed deployment of technological tools, can turn your remote workers into your business’ competitive advantage.

The Productivity Crisis

When asked about what businesses need to succeed, most people would respond with suggestions like a skilled workforce, cutting-edge technology, or a sizeable marketing budget. While these resources are integral for a venture to succeed, they will fail to reach their potential if their productivity isn’t maximised.

Unfortunately, too many organisations are guilty of trying to optimise productivity by deploying individual technologies that they believe will help. And while there’s nothing wrong with leveraging the technological advances at our disposal, piecemeal measures often create more problems than they solve. If you want to use technology to boost teamwork and productivity within your company, here are a few pitfalls to avoid.

Productivity Loss Due to App-Switching
Though technology is usually deployed to increase efficiency, it’s not uncommon to hear about it having the opposite effect. This is especially true in today’s world, where professionals are inundated with emails, phone calls, video conferences, instant messages, shared files and much more. While this may seem like a boon for communication and collaboration, research conducted by Hubspot found that an overwhelming number of people believe that one to five of the tools they use are redundant. Combine this with the lack of interoperability, and a disproportionate amount of employees’ time is spent switching between technologies and applications.

It’s no surprise, then, that an increasing number of businesses are embracing unified communications platforms like Microsoft Teams, which facilitate collaboration between the people, content and tools that power an enterprise. In fact, digital tools that facilitate teamwork are quickly gaining popularity by helping people conduct meetings, share information and enjoy all the parks of a high-tech organisation at a fraction of the price.

Discrepancy Caused by Disparate Apps
For instance, geographical or licensing restrictions can keep certain members of a team from partaking in a conference call, which requires a specific software. When this information is passed down to them, there is the very real possibility of important details being lost or distorted, leading to lower efficiency and an increased cycle time.

To avoid mishaps like these, businesses are deploying programs that not only ease communication, but also store recordings and files on a centralised server for authorised personnel to access.

Version Control and Access Issues
Most of us know the chaos and confusion that ensues when a file has multiple revisions, especially if more than one person has worked on it. Despite this, scouring through email threads and creative file nomenclature have been the go-to methods for version control, even in otherwise tech savvy organisations. This can lead to disastrous outcomes if a file isn’t named correctly, or stored on a drive/application disconnected from the teamwork environment.

This calls for platforms like Sharepoint that allow real time co-authoring, wherein changes are merged on the go. Ideal for enterprises where multiple teams and individuals work with data that is always evolving, some of these programs also boast of intuitive search capabilities that can boost a team’s efficiency.

The Presence of Stealth IT
Also known as shadow IT or client IT, stealth IT is made up of devices that haven’t been authorised by the IT department of a company. This includes online document-sharing platforms and unofficial data storage and computing devices. Unsurprisingly, their prevalence in the modern workplace is on the rise, owing to the demands of our ever-connected world.

However, that doesn’t mean that businesses must accept defeat against the security and privacy threats that come with unauthorised devices. A robust BYOD (bring your own device) policy can help organisations stay ahead in a competitive landscape without exposing themselves to the risks that come with increased flexibility. This policy can encompass practices ranging from restricting access to sensitive data, to ensuring that employees’ personal computing devices are equipped with collaboration software that adheres to key security standards.

The Cost of Complexity
Wasted time is far from the worst outcome that can arise out of incompatible software and applications. Today, more companies than ever before are liaising with multiple vendors. With all these stakeholders comes the problem of managing a host of vendor contracts, which – even if it doesn’t lead to chaos – will almost certainly lead to higher costs.

In addition to their aforementioned virtues, collaborative platforms help bring down licensing costs, consequently increasing your business’ margins. They also make training and collaboration easier, and thus, help maximise the productivity of your human resources as well. Combine this with the streamlining of operations, and it’s easy to see why the popularity of unified systems is on the rise. After all, teamwork is the key to a successful venture.

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