Because of technological advancements, businesses have now moved in a different climate from before. The shift from a physical business setting to a remote working arrangement has been one of the biggest changes across the business sector today. It has been challenging for both management and staff, but with how technology has made everything easier, remote work has been successful by using tech solutions.
These tech solutions cover a wide range. In a nutshell, they encompass all the digital tools to help remote workers collaborate, transact, accomplish work, and communicate with each other, despite the distance and difference in time zones. These tools can be anything from a simple chat application to something more complicated for project management.
To start with, here are six tech solutions you can use to your advantage to achieve remote success:
1. Online Fax Software
Despite the presence of more advanced forms of communication, many businesses across the globe still use fax. Like all other technological advancements, sending and receiving fax messages is now done online. An example of this is using email to fax with Gmail rather than using traditional fax machines. This may seem unusual but is now done in most offices, regardless of the industry.
For remote teams, your alternative is to use online fax software. The following are some reasons why this is a feasible choice for remote work success:
- It saves you time and money, as you wouldn’t be using as much paper and spending on maintenance costs for a physical fax machine.
- It enables you to send and receive fax messages from mobile devices, usually using only your mobile phone’s camera.
- It comes with high-security protocols, so you won’t have to worry about confidential messages getting encrypted, like in emails.
2. Document Scanners
Because you’re working remotely, printing documents and business correspondence regularly won’t be that useful. Rather than a printer, you’ll find that it’s handier to have a document scanner instead.
When you switch to remote working, it’s a good idea to have one in your home office. This will make sending soft copies of your files easier whenever necessary.
3. Videoconferencing Apps
Like in a physical work setting, employees can’t collaborate well if they cannot communicate effectively within the team. The physical distance and time zone differences among team members should no longer be considered hindrances to good communication. Ensure that video conferencing and messaging applications are available to meet your team’s requirements.
There are so many to choose from, each with its respective features. It’s up to your business to choose which videoconferencing app will be used uniformly across all members of your team for better connectivity.
4. Cloud Storage And Document-Sharing Software
Scanned documents will need a ‘home’ or a place to stay. In a physical office, that ‘home’ refers to file cabinets. Instead of file cabinets, cloud storage is preferred mostly by business owners.
Cloud storage allows you to store files in a shared cloud or software location. Anyone in the team permitted to access your shared cloud can upload and see those files. Security shouldn’t be a concern, as the storage can be locked and protected with a password.
5. Collaboration And Project Management Tools
Collaboration and project management tools enable remote workers to share, view, and discuss those files shared on the cloud. With a good collaboration tool, it’s easier to have team discussions and meetings in real time.
Moreover, features like a shared calendar and to-do lists may also be available. This enables the whole team to stay updated regarding deadlines. Project management tools also ensure good supervision across team managers and their respective department members despite the physical distance.
6. Mobile Hotspot
Understandably, many tech solutions for remote working need a stable internet connection to function. However, don’t forget that one of the advantages of remote working is to make any location your office. This is known as the digital nomad lifestyle today. Thus, you can be based in Asia while employed by a company in the United States or Australia.
Therefore, having a mobile phone hotspot connection is an excellent idea. That way, you can work anytime, anywhere, without depending solely on your home’s Wi-Fi connection.
Conclusion
If there’s anything we’ve seen across the business sector these past few years, it’s that the climate has changed tremendously. Physical offices still exist but are not as prevalent as before. Today, hybrid offices have become the norm. These offices are a mixture of traditional office setting and a remote one. In either type, technology plays a major role in its daily operations. However, for remote work to succeed, consider the tech solutions provided in this article.