For some companies, the pandemic forced a “work from home” policy. Today, many have kept this option available to their employees. While there are certainly benefits to allowing employees to work from home (fewer social distractions, financial savings, better work life balance, etc.), if you don’t have the right remote technology, a remote workforce can create internal complications. Using the right tools helps alleviate possible pain points. Consider the following remote work technology tools to ensure your work environment functions smoothly:
· Central Communications and Video Meetings
Emails can pile up, and it’s easy to lose sight of what messages need an immediate response and what can wait. Using an internal communication tool like Slack or Google Chat streamlines the continuous back and forth interactions between co-workers. Most, if not all, tools allow one-on-one and group messages. We’ve also seen the rise of Zoom and other video conferencing platforms (they are likely here to stay!). Which makes it worth considering an option that includes both messaging and video conferencing abilities like Microsoft Teams.
· Cloud Computing
A means to access information and applications online instead of having to build, manage, and maintain on your own hard drive or servers, cloud computing is relevant to remote technology because it provides easy access, collaboration, and file sharing experiences. The top cloud providers are Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
· Make it Mobile
Remote employees may work from different places, and they are more likely to check in on work items during non-business hours than a traditional office employee. If you use mobile friendly apps, your employees will appreciate the flexibility and be more productive. You could also consider issuing portable WiFi devices so that workers can have a stable connection no matter where they are.
· Project Management Software
With less in person communication, being organized is essential. Seamless planning, tracking, assigning, and transparency are just a few general reasons why a project management tool could be one of the best things to implement for your team. Tools like this help everyone stay on the same page, be held accountable, and communicate more effectively. A lot of PM software is tailored to a specific industry (ex. Jira for software development). Check out the Forbes list of the top 2023 project management tools, broken down by industry.
A big plus to implementing remote work technology is that it boosts efficiency for “work from home” employees and the office goers. It’s really all about making tasks and communication easier, a win for everyone.
Sources:
https://resources.owllabs.com/blog/remote-working-technology
https://www.salesforce.com/products/platform/best-practices/cloud-computing/