How Technology Enhances Remote Working

Remote working has become a permanent option for many employees. The surge in popularity occurred during 2020 and its implementation was facilitated by technology. As we emerge from the pandemic:

• 90% of employers say that working remotely hasn’t hurt productivity.
• 64% of professionals expect remote working to become standard.
• 70% of the workforce is expected to be working remotely by 2025.

Remote working often involves a hybrid model, potentially offering the best of both worlds – it can mean lower business costs for the company while keeping its employees happy, healthy, and motivated. Full time remote working requires a revision of many policies and procedures, along with careful performance planning and employee engagement.

Initially, technology supported remote working via connectivity, data access and security. As remote and hybrid working has become a permanent feature for many people, issues such as collaboration, communication and wellbeing have grown in importance.

Technology’s role is to boost the productivity and experience of remote working. This requires businesses to invest in digital solutions that allow teams to work and collaborate efficiently, such as:

1. Reliable cybersecurity.

85% of people surveyed by Cisco think cybersecurity is more important now than before the pandemic. An EY poll found that the majority (71%) of respondents reported that remote work support was their most significant security challenge within their organisation.

To maximise security, a ‘zero trust’ model is recommended. This assumes that no users or machines are automatically trusted, always requiring authentication or authorisation. This approach can be implemented for all users or hybrid users only. Read our tips for secure remote working and reducing human cyber risk.

2. Wellbeing policy.

In Buffer’s research, ‘collaboration and communication’ is the joint biggest struggle for 20% of remote workers. ‘Loneliness’ also scored 20%, emphasising the importance of proactively monitoring employee wellbeing when adopting a remote working model.  Creating a digital wellbeing workspace ensures employees are as productive and motivated at home as in the office, reducing stress and burnout. From breakout ‘water cooler’ areas for informal catch ups to software that captures feedback about wellbeing, technology can help.

3. Easy-To-Use hardware.

Experiencing IT problems when working remotely can leave employees feeling frustrated and isolated. Supplying user-friendly hardware, configured so it’s ‘ready to go’, and a responsive IT support partner minimises employee ‘down time’ from both a work and emotional perspective.

4. Fast networks.

As more employees work remotely, connectivity, speed and reliability at their home location is critically important.

This is especially relevant for video calls, which are crucial to colleague and customer communication when working remotely. It’s expected that in 2024 in-person meetings will account for just 25% of enterprise meetings (a decrease from 60% prior to Covid-19). Video calls are here to stay. Consider our technology tips for online meetings.

‘“By making it simple to work remotely, companies offer the flexibility that employees want whilst protecting productivity,” says Eric Hughes, founder of EMH Technology in Hitchin. “Technology is key to achieving this goal. Slow networks, insufficient software, or cumbersome hardware affect performance and morale.”

Has your organisation changed its working model to introduce remote working permanently?

Would you value a discussion about how technology can optimise productivity?

Talk to the friendly IT professionals at EMH Technology. We’ll offer expert advice tailored to your business operation, jargon-free.