Strategies for Investing in Remote Work Capabilities for Your Business

Most businesses have been compelled by circumstances to suspend their traditional operations. As part of the social distancing measures, employees now have to work remotely. This may be easy for the 41% of businesses who had previously implemented remote working. If you are part of the majority, this article is meant for you.

At this point, remote work is a huge transition with many challenges. You have to start to worry whether the remote working model is effective for your business. The pandemic has made remote working the only choice for every business. How then do businesses in this category survive this era? These tough times require managers to make revolutionary and strategic choices. It’s no longer a question of its possibility but how to implement remote working capabilities.

Analyse Its Feasibility

Before you begin, a feasibility analysis of remote work implementation in your business is essential. This will involve evaluating tasks that can be initiated and completed remotely. Not every task can be conducted remotely, you need to decide what can and cannot be done. Another consideration is the achievement of consumer satisfaction in your service delivery. Remote working strategies demand financial investments in equipment and technology. Will the cost of investment supersede its returns? There is no fast rule for successful remote working. Your analysis should be based on your business specifications. Analyse different methods and choose the one that offers the highest returns.

Internationalization of Payment

In a remote setting, foreign trade and employment are not uncommon. Remote working equips tiny start-ups to transition into global companies at rapid rates. Developing a payment option that facilitates international business is a prerequisite. It ensures timely and seamless transactions across nations and continents. In addition to speedy transactions, internationalization payment methods save cost. When compared with wire transfers, they demand less transaction fees.

Ensure that Employees have Remote Digital Access and Tools

Remote digital access is the foundation for every remote working strategy. Your employees need to have fast and reliable internet access. Give them stipends to establish this in their homes if need be. A smartphone, tablet or PC is required depending on your business’ requirements. Your remote work strategy is as good as the collaboration tools you use. While there are general collaboration tools, there are also industry-specific tools. Research on and integrate tools specific to your business operations. These tools will not only make remote work possible but ensure your employees’ productivity.

Data Protection

Remote working comes with flexibility and freedom. On the other hand, there is a threat of data breaches which could be disastrous. Sensitive data can be accessed by hackers or destroyed by malware. For this reason, data security is of utmost importance in every remote work strategy. You need to implement protection software like the VPN. The cloud is currently the most reliable data storage platform. You can also implement cloud storage for data protection and accessibility. With this, you need not worry about the number of remote workers. Your data will be accessible and secure.

Carry Your Employees and Clients Along

It’s wrong to assume your employees have remote working skills. You are also accountable to your clients and you need to inform them of changes in your firm. This is most important when the changes affect your mode of operation and service delivery. You need to give them time to adjust to these changes. During this time, you will make a formal announcement of the coming change. You will also take time to train and equip your employees to adjust to the change. Failing to keep everyone up-to-date will often translate into collaboration and remote work failure.

Test your Structure

Before you fully implement your remote working structure, a trial phase is required. Your plans and expectations do not always translate to perfect realities. The trial phase will involve a partial implementation of remote working. During this period the effectiveness of the structures in place will be assessed. At this point, you can check the suitability of your collaboration tools and equipment. You can also assess the behaviour and performance of your employees and clients. Thereafter, you can make changes based on the feedback received from the experiment.

Final Thoughts

You must be deliberate about the implementation of your remote working strategies. As you plan, you must examine the long-term implications of your choices. Remote work is not a trend for just this season. A perfectly executed strategy will ensure business continuity and productivity. When you’re done, you’ll be wondering why I’m you didn’t consider remote working before now.

Originally published at https://nextplane.net on May 8, 2020.