The switch to remote working has been happening steadily over the last few years, but there is no doubt that the recent pandemic has contributed to its growing popularity. Working away from the office means, as a business, you need to look at ways to make sure everything works seamlessly and securely. Businesses can thrive with the right solutions in place but equally, the wrong setup can be detrimental to productivity. So how can you establish effective IT solutions for long-term remote working?
Is remote working here to stay?
In short, yes. However, it is likely employees will be split between the office and home. This is known as the hybrid model. A recent study by Adecco UK & Ireland showed that 49% of employees wanted to spend half their week working remotely, so it looks like now more businesses must be prepared for a hybrid style of working.
Remote working obviously brings a number of benefits to a business. It reduces travel and travel-related expenses and often allows employees to be more productive with fewer office distractions. Remote working also gives companies the opportunity to take on employees living in different locations, potentially widening the scope for talent as well as cost savings if remuneration is based on the area. Additionally, businesses can cut costs associated with having offices.
However, a shift towards permanent remote working can also put a strain on your business if you don’t have the best setup. To thrive in this new era of working, it’s essential for companies to have the right long-term solutions in place and ensure they align with their IT strategy.
What challenges does long-term remote working pose for businesses?
There are pros and cons to all working arrangements and alongside the benefits of remote working also come the challenges it poses. These include:
- Being excluded from conversations that take place in the office and the social aspect of being in a work environment.
- Presenteeism or what office based workers are ‘seen’ to be doing, which could put remote workers at a disadvantage.
- Constant software updates, robust password management, and multi-factor authentication as to combat the increased risk of data breach.
- Management trust issues if they are unsure whether employees are capable of remote working productively.
In March 2020, the COVID-19 lockdowns forced businesses to close offices and allow work from home to ensure the safety of their staff. Now, as we look towards a post-pandemic future, more companies are recognising the benefits of remote working than ever before and endeavouring to overcome the challenges posed in order to maintain this style of working. The study highlighted that work/life balance during the pandemic improved as a result of remote working and a happy workforce definitely leads to an increase in productivity.
So how do you overcome the challenges?
There is no doubt that the right technology can be crucial to overcoming many of the challenges of remote working. From general communication to the security of your data, IT can help alleviate any problems faced and make hybrid working an effective and successful model for any business. Effective IT solutions will help improve:
Communication
Clear and unified online communications allow employees and customers to stay connected, wherever they are.
Productivity
Effective cloud-based solutions can empower your workforce to use time more efficiently while supporting diverse roles and needs.
Digital skills
With expert support from experienced technicians, training, and accessible technology, your team will be able to improve their knowledge and harness essential digital capabilities. Digital upskilling has become attractive to job seekers and two-thirds of professionals in Adecco’s study agreed that digital and remote working training is important to them.
Trust
Before the pandemic, working in an office meant employers could keep an eye on their employees. This, of course, changed when we were forced to work from home and employers had no choice but to have full confidence in their workforce. Employees have said that that feeling trusted to get the job done must continue post-pandemic (78%). Effective productivity and communications tools can give employers some peace of mind and ease those trust issues.
Security
Strengthening your cyber security will not only keep your business technology secure but will also help customers, partners and shareholders feel more confident about working with you.
So, what technology do businesses need to give them the best chance of success in the new era of work?
While every business is different and solutions can be tailored around your goals or company culture, here are some basic recommendations:
Microsoft Teams
When businesses moved from the real to virtual space, if you didn’t have Microsoft Teams, your communication most likely suffered. This technology allows you to communicate and collaborate seamlessly on a single platform where you can video call, chat, and share work.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is the productivity cloud and more than just apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint. It brings together productivity apps with powerful cloud services, device management, and advanced security and is sure to improve productivity and efficiency.
Cyber security
Having the right measures in place to make sure your data and people are protected from viruses, malware and breaches is crucial to any business, but especially so when offering remote working to your team.
Cloud solutions
Tailored cloud solutions enable easy access to files, reliable backup, and disaster recovery wherever your team is based.
Windows Virtual Desktop
This allows employees to securely access business applications from anywhere with an internet connection, so location is no longer a barrier to connectivity.
Having the right IT for your business goals and requirements
While it looks like remote working is going to be an important part of a post-pandemic world, there are countless ways to run a successful workplace, and you can decide on how you approach these changes as a business. Most importantly, your technology should be the catalyst rather than a hindrance to your productivity, efficiency, and success.
We’ve looked at some of the challenges that businesses can face and how effective IT solutions can help you tackle this head-on. By embracing remote working, you can open up a whole host of opportunities for your employees, customers, and clients, and you will no longer be held back by location or distance.
Here at Aurora, we help businesses of all sizes move over to a more hybrid model of working. We tailor solutions to your business and can help as much or as little as you need. From becoming your IT support department to resolving any immediate issues quickly, we offer solutions based on your technology needs.
So if you would like any advice on effective remote working and the best IT solutions for the job, then please do get in touch and our team can work with you to get everything your business needs to provide the best IT solutions for successful remote working.
