Transitioning to a Remote Workforce? Read This!

This year was a year of change, as many businesses were forced to switch to a remote workforce. While some were ready for the transition, others were caught off guard.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by new office arrangements, you are not alone. The great news is, it is reasonable to streamline your processes and successfully manage a remote team.

The first step is to identify areas where you are having difficulty. In the following article, we will explore the most common issues companies have when moving to a digital environment, and strategies you can implement to smooth the transition.

1. Problem: How can we manage customers when working remotely?

Solution: Without customers, you don’t have a business. But how do you manage your customers when your team is working remotely?

You can use software to optimize your mobile workforce, assign tasks, and track progress. A centralized, cloud-based call centre is key to customer management, regardless of how they communicate. With the cloud, your employees can work from anywhere, with shared data updated in real-time.

For example, your customer relationship management solution should accommodate inbound and outbound calls, SMS, social media, and e-mails. Your operatives will own all the data they need to continue the conversation and close the sale.

2. Problem: How do we communicate as a team if we can’t be in the same room?

Solution: One of the hardest parts of working remotely is not having immediate access to your team members. If you are used to working in the same building, you may be missing that easy communication.

We recommend mixing up your platforms to ensure nothing gets missed. For example, e-mails are suitable for general information and attachments, but inboxes fill quickly, and you may not get an immediate response.

Video chat is ideal for meetings, check-ins, and brainstorming, but workers can experience “Zoom fatigue.” Business chat rooms with private messaging and public channels are for updates and quick Q&As. With the option to mute messages, you can keep your team motivated without persistent distractions.

3. Problem: How do we plan tasks and complete projects without face-to-face contact?

Solution: In the traditional workplace, you may meet with your team members throughout the day to discuss their progress. Your staff may even work collaboratively on projects.

When you switch to a digital workplace, you will probably need to make changes to managing tasks. Look for project management software that gives everyone a clear picture of what needs to be done, by who and when.

When you schedule calendars, split up projects into smaller tasks and allocate the right people, you want to get a clearer idea of how your business progresses. Reporting and graphs can help you set goals and modify them as necessary.

4. Get the right tools for a smooth transition. | Remote Workforce

Transitioning to a remote workforce can be daunting, and there are a few common areas where companies struggle. For example, managing customers, communicating with your team, and collaborating can be difficult without the right tools.

Cloud-based software can be beneficial, including customer management solutions, task management programs, chatrooms and video conferencing. Be supportive of your team as they get used to the new work arrangements, and provide training to ensure they understand their new roles and responsibilities.

You may not have planned a remote workforce, but you can be productive when using innovative thinking and intelligent software.