Tips for setting up a remote workforce
In the wake of COVID-19 one of the pressing challenges for many business is setting up a remote workforce. But depending on your business that many not be as easy conference calls and emailing. Here are a few tips for choosing the right technology for setting up a remote workforce that will help you maintain and maybe even improve productivity.
Two of the most important technologies you should focus on are those which streamline communication and collaboration because after all, those are at the root of any well-run business.
Sourcing
Evaluating the right technology can be the key to setting up an effective remote workforce, and while this will take some time, it’s necessary to ensuring the smoothest transition and to making sure the technology you choose is the right fit.
No two businesses are exactly the same and this is no different when it comes to collaborative tools. You’ll want to evaluate the specific ways in which your business operates from how you communicate between departments and clients, to how teams are managed, to how you evaluate productivity.
To determine the right fit, you’ll want to ask yourself these questions: What’s the cost vs return on this investment? What is the level of effort required to transition with one technology vs. another? Ease of use (how much time and training is required for employees and clients to use the chosen technology?) and how secure is the platform against loss of data in a breech?
Communication and Collaborative Apps
A strong suite of collaborative tools such as Lean Kit, Hip Chat, or Podio, can help businesses, employees, and clients collaborate on projects while cutting down on what will undoubtedly become an increase in back-and-forth emails that can quickly turn to a clutter of confusion.
While there are many collaborative tools, they may not all be the right one for your business. You may only need tools like Slack or Zoom facilitate communication or a project management tools like Jira to manage tasking and have a bird’s eye view of what employees are working on. Whatever your needs, taking the time to clearly lay them out will help you set up an effective remote work force.
Popular Communication Apps
Popular Collaboration Apps
There’s no denying we’ve been thrust into a new era where business have to adapt if they’re going survive, but rather than focusing on the negatives, consider this as a good time to evaluate the efficacy of old practices and how to incorporate new ones because it is that self-examination and a willingness to evolve that will help you prepare for what is quickly becoming the new “normal”.