How will COVID-19 permanently affect remote work trends?
COVID-19 has drastically changed how businesses operate. After the world resumes back to "normal," what remote work changes will businesses permanently adopt? What businesses have benefited from these changes? What changes would you like your business to permanently adopt?
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Apr 16, 2020
Hello Skye,
I hope with the widespread global pandemic, most of the companies are likely to invite their employees back!!
Coronavirus has shifted the working patterns all across the globe where the employees are pushed to work remotely. Eventually, with the increase in work from home events, there is a storm of opportunities as well as problems for the startups as well as established enterprises. As the government bodies all across the world are quickly intervening in the response towards the global pandemic, the businesses are constantly shifting towards meeting the objectives of their customers or suppliers.
Businesses operations have changed due to COVID-19
COVID-19 is constantly pushing the companies to operate in different ways and the instances of system resilience are tested today as it has been tested never before. This is in light of below-mentioned factors-
Systems- Most companies are looking for quick fixes which have increased the business risks.
Experience- Pandemic has changed the experiences of customers, citizens, business owners, employees, etc forever.
Business operations- Business operations across various industries have been disrupted with the immense pressure of the pandemic.
Customers- Companies are forced to move with unprecedented speed and re-evaluating the factors to deliver customer satisfaction.
Future is arriving slowly for remote business works
The worst aspect of the pandemic is that it is not only affecting the life of the people but it is also impacting the global economy. With the months of the global shutdown, it is speculated that even if the situation comes back to normal there will be some permanent adoptions of strategies in the functioning of enterprises irrespective of the company size.
More emphasis will be given to virtual conferences or meetings.
Academic institutions or businesses based upon the same will go on demand.
The business of 3D printing and sourcing the locals will increase.
The business will be more connected to their customers.
Business sectors benefited from the pandemic
Millions of small or large businesses, as well as individuals, are in the financial run because of the threat of the coronavirus. But the other part of the industry is benefiting because of the considerable changes which are forced due to it. The number of businesses which are leveraging the cause include-
Cloud computing
Electronic payments
Video conferencing
E-Commerce and collaboration
Streaming online content across multiple platforms
Savvy corporations
Online grocery or eatables delivery
Telecommunications industry
What changes would you like your business to permanently adopt?
The Coronavirus outbreak has become the foremost tragedy which has changed the lives of people globally. Many enterprises are trying to remain afloat of their business processes and as 'work from home' is the need of the hour there have been a number of trains which are likely to be adopted permanently in the future. These changes include reassessing the business as an unusual strategy, showcasing empathy and understanding, thriving to be the best, providing customer-centric solutions, etc.
Coronavirus is really not a thing anyone has ever wished for but as the situation is right here, let us utilize it to emphasize what really matters.
Apr 14, 2020
The switch to remote work is a forced but unavoidable measure in the face of a global pandemic. Many conscious managers understand that one infected employee coming to their office can endanger the entire company. Even those who have always been refusing to hire and manage remote employees have to face that distributed teams are a fact of life these days. Quarantine entails working from home for millions of people all over the globe, and that brings questions:
How to efficiently organize remote work?
Does it matter if a person works from home or in an office?
What is better, to work with someone in the same town who lacks self-management skills, or hiring an offshore team with a remote DNA and years of online performance management?
We have been managing distributed teams since the day we were founded and would like to share our experiences and best practices in this article.
How do you manage a remote employee?
There are three basic options:
Employees use their own computers. This option is acceptable if your employees do not need specific software, or if the software required is in the Cloud. For example, it is enough to provide your sales manager with CRM access and an email;
Your employees bring their workstations home. This is a good option if they need specific software or licences to perform work, or if your employees do not own a powerful enough computer that would allow enough processing power. It is easiest to start your employees working on own laptops, but if the quarantine is extended it might be prudent to deliver their workstations to their homes from the office;
You organize remote access to RDP via VPN. An excellent interim option: Does a designer need access to corporate file storage and a powerful computer? Install a remote desktop app on their workstation and let them use it.
Read also: How COVID Affects the IT Industry
Note that if you provide employees with remote access to work servers or stations, you need to take care of corporate data security. This is especially true if you are working with personal data that is protected by law. Secure connection channels, filters for IP and MAC addresses, two-level authorization – by taking care of information security at the start of the “remote”, you secure yourself from many problems in the future.
Also, pay attention to the fact that the employee at home had high-quality broadband and with useful speed Internet. If you don’t have enough Internet at home to do your tasks, you might suggest that your employees connect a second ISP at a reasonable speed for the duration of their work, at the expense of the organization, of course.
Staff turnover is the main problem in the IT industry, but remote work practically solves it. Professionals appreciate employers who practice distributed teams, and they must be trusted and valued for their skills.
If professionals have about five years of experience, they are predictably moving to remote work because they need time for family, they want more responsibility and immersion, not bureaucracy and endless meetings.
Moreover, the specialists of successful companies do not want to return to the office; they are willing to make this sacrifice for the sake of incredible and unique offers, so providing remote work opportunities can be a powerful differentiator for employers who want to be more competitive on the labour market and attract the best talents from anywhere in the world.
Besides, we have received indirect confirmation of the thesis that remote employees are more loyal. The majority of employees (87%) have been with companies for over two years. At 8allocate, we have many employees from home for their comfort and convenience, and for us, as employers, it is essential to provide comfortable working conditions and payment.
Thus, remote work not only gives access to qualified professionals from around the world but also allows us to hire more passionate, loyal and happy employees.
Time is very challenging now but we at 8allocate believe that where there is change, there is an opportunity.
Also, we want to share some advice on how to work remotely:
Regular communication support: sprints, meetings, interviews with weekly targets (zoom, skype, hangouts);
Give quick feedback so that colleagues feel that it is even faster than it was in the office;
Maintain operating rhythm, discipline, control key indicators;
If necessary, add micro-management, especially in those issues where there is a risk of not performing;
Remote work is a separate corporate subculture. Photo contests, various flash mobs, virtual visits, video congratulations to colleagues, showing pets – even in the mode of work from home ideas for corporate leisure is a lot and, most interestingly, in the office will not always be able to repeat this. The purpose of each item is one – to support the involvement of staff and, therefore, productivity.
Taking into account all the changes in the market, and the fact that the world of employment will likely never be the same, have you thought about growing your team with remote developers? Reach out, and we will be happy to advise!
Apr 14, 2020
Thanks Artur. Do you think any of these remote changes will remain permanent after the world resumes back to "normal"?
Apr 13, 2020
I think it will increase them in many industries. Better companies will walk away from this experience realizing how terrifying it can be if they rely exclusively on-site work models. Some companies will walk away from this and hope it never happens again while others will see the value.
It is going to be great to see many businesses adopting softwares and tools like Zoom that make remote communication possible!
Apr 13, 2020
Thanks, Ryan. Has your business seen a positive or negative impact from working remotely? What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages?
Apr 13, 2020
There are definite pros and cons! I just started my own company in February. I was already planning on working from home before the virus spread so widely. I love working from home because I don't have to spend any time commuting. It also gives me a great level of flexibility which I enjoy. I can take a break and help with the children. I personally can't help but feel like this is how families are supposed to operate with fathers and mothers being more involved than just after 5pm.
However, it is easy to become distracted. My two boys love to crawl up on my lap and press the keys on my computer! So sometimes I have to close and lock the door of a room if I need to pound some work out. You really need to find a dedicated workspace that you can use to get away when you need to.
Apr 14, 2020
That's great that you get to spend more time with your boys. Do you think working remotely has an impact on your productivity?
Apr 17, 2020
To get the businesses running in these crises, businesses are focusing on using a cloud-based management system that could manage employees' shifts efficiently while working remotely and enables customers to book online services. Like, say repair businesses have been using POS software that provides an appointment calendar so the customer can schedule an appointment at best available slots and receive the services at their doorstep and allows business management & their associates to manage appointments efficiently.
May 1, 2020
I recently launched my own consulting business offering coaching for digital entrepreneurs teaching how to adapt to the remote work lifestyle.
As a new contributing writer for Business.com, I'm excited to share knowledge about these issues with the online business community based on personal experience I've accumulated as a full-time digital nomad over the past 4 years!
I'm also interested in learning about new innovation solutions from company employees and managers who are already adapting to the future of work.
You can book a free consultation call with me at Be Remote Consulting.
Here's an article I wrote on my blog with a list of online tools to work remotely from anywhere in the world.
198 Free Tools to Help You Through the Coronavirus Pandemic
-Mike
Great thoughts here. Thanks, Dharmendra.