Remote working had become more commonplace before the pandemic, but there is no doubt that Covid has accelerated the shift towards home working. As thousands of employees continue to work from home, here are some tips to make remote working work for your business.
By Team Savant
Image: Jenny Ueberberg
Technology
Investing in technology is essential for businesses looking to adapt and adjust to working remotely. Modern tech enables companies to connect with clients and provide products and services no matter where the core team is based. Using the latest software, devices and systems, such as cloud telephony and video calling software, colleagues can interact with each other, employees can work from any location that has Internet access and businesses can function efficiently and cost-effectively. If your business is switching to more flexible working models, it’s wise to carry out a tech audit and explore potential investments and upgrades that could help you further enhance productivity and optimise the service you provide for your customers.
Communication
One of the most important considerations for businesses that work remotely is facilitating seamless communication between employees and ensuring customers have easy access to responsive support. Use technology to enable employees to work collaboratively, organise regular meetings and catch-ups and add a social element. Many people miss interacting with their colleagues and chatting away from their desks, and it can be difficult to replace this when sitting at a desk at home. Schedule reunions to catch up and talk about things that aren’t related to work and consider organising face to face get-togethers.
You can also keep hybrid events so that those who are meeting for face-to-face get-togethers can interact with those in remote locations. This will help to encourage a sense of togetherness in your staff. Hybrid events let everyone feel included and can help enhance company culture when they are organized effectively.
Scheduling
Greater flexibility is one of the major perks of working from home. Many employees enjoy the flexibility that being out of the office gives them. As a business owner, it’s beneficial to try and promote flexible working without making sacrifices that could impact the quality of the service you offer or reduce productivity. One way to do this is to set core hours. If everybody knows that they have to be contactable between 10 am and 3 pm, for example, they can choose how to plan their days. Some people may want to start work at 6 am while others will be more productive if they start and finish later. Core hours also provide options for employees who have other commitments, such as childcare, for example.
Staff And Client Input
It is only possible to make remote working work for your business if your employees and clients are on board. Talk to your team, use questionnaires and surveys to gauge reactions to new ways of working and see how your clients feel. If there are issues or complaints, you may need to make changes to ensure that the service meets customer expectations. If there are mixed feelings within your team, you could consider the option of combining remote work with hiring an office or using office space on-demand for meetings, for example.
Remote working has become the norm for many businesses, and it looks as though most employees will continue to spend more time at home. If you are adopting a more flexible approach, upgrade your technology, encourage open communication and socialisation, figure out the best scheduling solutions for your team and ask employees and clients for feedback and ideas.