Everyone knows at least one person that works remotely. In today’s professional world, companies understand that there are a slew of benefits for both the company itself and their employees when they offer flexible work options. So, telecommuting is on the rise.
And for those traditional companies and supervisors that believe it’s critical for teams to be present in an office environment in order to be successful, they’re in for a big surprise.
Statistics show that remote workers are actually more productive and have better retention rates while intrinsically lowering overhead and real-estate costs for a company.
But, and even with slew of benefits that follow flexible work options, some companies, supervisors and even employees are held back from stepping into modern times out of fear of eliminating face-to-face interactions. Fear of shifting from a traditional work environment that supposedly ensures projects are on track, and staff is productive, efficient and collaborating.
Oh, how far from the truth that strays.
The truth is, as we’ve shifted into a modern workforce where telecommuting is a norm, so has our telecommunication technology and corporation communication strategies. Business VoIP providers have created a foundation routed in cloud communication solutions that not only enable, but catapult, business collaboration into the next generation.
From anywhere, on any device, at any location, employees are now easily equipped with the perfect set of mobile collaboration and productivity tools that ensure an in-office experience, even at home in bed.
So, how is it done? How do we ensure that remote workers are able to have an uninterrupted mobile communications experience, regardless of location? It’s quite simple.
Here are the top 3 ways to engage remote workers and reap the benefits of offering flexible work options.
1. Get them connected
Just like providing your in-office employees with the right tools and technology to get their job done, you do the same with remote workers. You get them their computer with their required software, a printer, a cell phone, their desk phone…. wait, “their desk phone”?
Yes!
Long gone are the days where a business desk phone must be connected to bulky hardware in an office.
Business VoIP providers can easily help you connect remote workers with top-of-the-line IP desk phones by just shipping them a phone to plug into their home router and electrical outlet. That way, they have a business extension, with all of the features and functionality of a company desk phone, right in the convenience of their home office.
Bluetooth enabled, touchscreen keyboards with 7-inch touchscreen color displays, MobileLink for mobile device integration, crystal clear HD audio and 96 programmable personal keys all on a device connected 100% to your work extension, sitting at your home office. Now, that, is modern business operations and high quality connectivity.
That’s one of the most basic and fundamental benefits cloud communication solutions offer a remote worker, and it’s already a slam dunk.
2. Get them organized
This concept is not just limited to remote workers, because what this is, is a concept of breaking down business siloes and connecting employees, regardless of location or device.
So, from the get-go, it’s critical to provide both your in-house and remote workers with an enterprise mobile collaboration and productivity app that gives employees everything they need to connect, communicate and collaborate across blended media environments.
Put simply, cloud communication solutions offer a single application that can be downloaded across tablets, desktops and smart phones to deliver a persistent collaborative workspace from anywhere.
Real-time voice and video calling, audio conferencing with web sharing, individual or group chat, file annotation, calendar integration, team meetings, file sharing, screen sharing and more, the options are comprehensive. If your staff closes their eyes, they can probably even make themselves believe they are in their cubical at HQ – that’s how consistent the collaborative experience is.
That’s a lot to offer employees, all under a single, user-friendly, mobile application, right? Yes!
So much so that it’s hard to understand how companies can even survive without an enterprise mobile collaboration application that drives productive teamwork.
3. Get them teamed-up
Go team, go! Everyone loves a good team project at work. One that disperses the work-load and capitalizes on individual strengths to create a masterpiece. Teams are just a fact in the business world, and they aren’t going away any time soon.
So, how do you team-up remote workers from all around the country, or even the world? Quite simply, actually.
You’ve already been given the fundamental structure for mobile collaboration between remote workers (see #2 above), now let’s strategically team up individuals and get them organized for better results.
Business VoIP providers are best known for creating cloud communication solutions that challenge the way we do business – for the better, of course.
And with that, in comes a work stream, unified communications and collaboration tool that powers around-the-cloud connectivity between team members through virtual rooms. Acting as an extension of a mobile collaboration application (again, see #2 above), this mobile-first application design is necessary to keep remote workers and their projects on task.
Delivering a seamless and open environment, cloud communication solutions are flipping the traditional office phone paradigm and allowing business teams to seamlessly work together from afar.
Store and archive data by project, subject or person, instantly search and retrieve information including IM conversations, documents, and emails, created automated alerts to assign project tasks, annotate files, schedule meetings, enter group chats, or sync up with video conferencing. It’s everything a remote team needs in order to stay organized, share business ideas, keep connected and get the project done more efficiently.
Your employees will easily be able to keep up to date on all project progress and assignments from within a single application. No more disconnected disarray of messages, tools, paperwork, emails, chats, etc. Everything required to get the job done, is held in a single virtual room, designed to help your team get the project done.
