Working from home pre-pandemic was often considered a perk rather than a requirement. Once COVID-19 hit companies were forced to shift to a remote work environment overnight, and to the surprise of many, productivity did not suffer. Now that the world has opened back up again, we are learning that what we once thought would be a temporary situation has now become the new normal. More and more companies are deciding to remain remote due to its overwhelming benefits. For a modern workplace to thrive, it must transform into a digital workplace with the ability to conduct business from anywhere, anytime, and with anyone. Businesses must provide employees with technologies that allow them to stay connected to colleagues and customers. Companies of all sizes can help employees work remotely without skipping a beat, by augmenting these common workplace technologies.

INTERNET SECURITY

Just as an office needs a strong internet service to support in-house employees, remote employees need excellent service as well, with enough bandwidth to handle streaming connections for tasks like video conferencing. To ensure that employees have a great connection, employers can do the following:

• Consider supplying or supplementing remote employees’ home or office internet to ensure they have top speeds and can stay connected.
• Add in reliable phone service so employees can connect via their devices.
• Make sure employees understand how to keep their devices safe by avoiding unsecured websites, using virus protection, and refraining from downloading unapproved apps and software.

·         All employees must follow key cybersecurity guidelines. Additional cybersecurity tactics include:

• Securing their work phone and computer.
• Installing a firewall.
• Downloading anti-virus and anti-malware software that is set to update automatically.
• Regularly backing up information.

THE CLOUD

Employees need virtual access to the same information and tools they’d be able to access in a physical office. The cloud hosts files, data, and applications within a centralized server and makes them accessible from any device with connectivity. It’s important to remember that remote employees need virtual access to everything, not just a few applications or files. Businesses deploying a cloud strategy must provide employees with ways to share information, sync schedules, process important documents, and back everything up securely in real-time. To be successful with both cloud and remote work, determine what tools and applications employees need to do their jobs, and ensure that a cloud environment mimics the in-office experience.

Phone

When working remotely, it’s easy to forget about the telephone, but it’s still a key business tool, both in and out of the office. Look for a flexible phone system in which employees can use one phone number that switches seamlessly from a desk phone to a mobile device, allowing them to stay connected from wherever they are. A great option for a company with remote employees is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solution, which offers benefits traditional wired systems don’t have, like:

• The ability to forward a number to multiple phones and reach employees whether they’re on their cell phone, a home landline, or an office phone.
• Call management and routing, which acts as a virtual receptionist to answer calls and help callers connect to the right person.
• The ability for employees to check voicemail remotely, receive notifications on a mobile phone when their office line receives a call or voicemail, and use voicemail transcription.

COLLABORATION TOOLS

When all employees are in the same office, it’s easy to get together in a conference room to exchange ideas and present information, but when employees are remote, getting together is not as simple. Collaboration platforms and unified communications systems are key for future workplaces. In addition to allowing participants to see each other as they speak, web conferencing systems offer tools to share slideshow presentations and documents, easily schedule or change meeting times and record meetings and presentations for future viewing. Another great tool is group chat software, which can make it seem like everyone is in the same room.

As remote work continues, it can introduce challenges when it comes to keeping employees connected, productive, and engaged. At Managed Business Solutions, we have the unique ability to help you implement the right technologies to help your business run smoothly and efficiently by streamlining communications and integrating your workspaces. Please contact us for more information on how our IT team can help simplify your busines