Not so long ago, the majority of employers claimed that working from home wasn’t feasible for their employees. They argued that to do their jobs properly, workers needed to be in an office or other traditional workspace and that an alternative option didn’t exist.
Today, this attitude has changed completely. With more and more employers embracing working from home and the flexibility this offers, we’re seeing a huge surge in the number of people who are doing their jobs – and doing them well – without having to go out of their front doors.
So what’s facilitated this change and turned the impossible into the eminently possible? The answer is the latest slew of technology. We take a look at some of the most important innovations that have helped to enable this new and exciting shift.
Video Call Technology
In the past, one of the major arguments against working from home was that it isolated employees and stopped them from working as a cohesive whole. Employers said that without meetings and interaction to help workers coordinate their efforts, the wheels would fall off and productivity would be impacted.
In 2021, this is no longer a concern thanks to video call technology. Allowing entire teams to ‘meet’ and talk through any issues online, this has allowed for collaboration even outside of the office.
Skype and Zoom are two of the most prominent examples, with 43 per cent of remote and in-house teams now using a video conferencing solution, and 78 per cent of corporate companies using video calling software. This adapts to everything. From one-to-ones to team meetings and has arguably revolutionised the amount of time we need to spend in the office.
Remote Troubleshooting
But what happens when you run into a problem? While working from home is all well and good when technology is playing ball and everything’s going smoothly, we’ve all experienced a situation where it doesn’t work as it’s supposed to.
Enter remote troubleshooting solutions like Dameware remote desktop for mobile. So how does it help? This mobile application allows access to Windows computers from Android and iOS devices. There’s also a standard desktop version available too. If you have an employee at home who’s run into issues, they don’t have to struggle on alone. You can pass the problem over to your IT pros, who can then take a look at what’s going on via their mobile or desktop.
The result is remote troubleshooting, the ability to provide around-the-clock support, and no wasted working hours due to easily fixable tech issues/individuals struggling to get to grips with the system.
Collaborative Software
Besides, the latest technological developments mean it’s possible for your team not just to interact but to collaborate on their projects too, even at a distance. Should you wish to check over and feedback on a document you’ve been sent, there are now numerous ways to do this.
Google Docs is an obvious example and is a wonderful tool for businesses in need of solutions. Allowing numerous users to work on, edit, and leave feedback on a document at the same time, it allows you to have several individuals collaborating on a project, even if they’re thousands of miles apart.
Other great collaborative software for businesses to check out includes Microsoft Teams, Slack, Trello, and Flock.
The takeaway
When it comes to working from home in 2021, many of the traditional obstacles that existed are no longer there. In fact, this more flexible model of working can prove superior, increasing overall productivity, reducing overheads, and boosting employee satisfaction – so long as you find the tech to accommodate your new approach.
Do your research, pinpoint the perfect solutions for your businesses, and these benefits are yours for the taking.