Covid-19 was the most disruptive crisis affecting business, society and the economy in the UK in peacetime history. The virus has been shown to be more harmful and deadly than anyone predicted just a few months ago. As a result, thousands of companies had no choice but to close office doors and implement a comprehensive remote work strategy for all staff.
About the Author Sridhar Iyengar is Managing Director of Zoho Europe. Also, due to the extremely rapid pace at which things have escalated, many companies in the UK have had no more than a week or two to review their entire internal operational strategy, to move to a 100% remote working model. While it's true that flexible work initiatives have been a growing trend at a growing number of companies in recent years, thousands of companies simply aren't prepared to prepare an entire workforce for remote work.
IT infrastructure
Many are in a position where they don't have the IT infrastructure and applications to oversee operations. They also lack the collaboration tools and technology to cope with the change in remote work, and are ill-equipped to retrain staff on how to use the new systems. Also, managing tasks like payroll, analytics, finance, sales, as well as data security and workplace cohesion via video conference in half a month can be time consuming. . A recent survey by private equity firm Leonne International found that more than a quarter of business decision makers believe their company lacks skilled workers to handle "widespread and long-term remote work for staff." At the same time, four in XNUMX companies say they intend to increase their IT and technology investments to support their employees working in family isolation, and nearly half of companies should be more open to collaboration during this difficult period. . . The good news is that there are many services and technologies available to ensure that businesses can continue to operate relatively smoothly, despite disruptions.
Software as a service
With modern developments in software-as-a-service (SaaS) capabilities and cloud technologies, for example, the world has never been better placed to deal with a crisis that has confined so many people to their homes for the foreseeable future. . One of the toughest times for companies lucky enough to survive this horrible time and the impending recession is now. Retraining employees, getting used to new services and applications, and recreating a remote version of office culture is half the battle in keeping your business productive and even profitable. However, engaging in a "brand new" approach to remote work doesn't mean you have to flush your corporate culture with bath water. In fact, providers of web-based business tools and software development companies have spent years ensuring that their technology works as smoothly and securely as possible, allowing employees to seamlessly switch between remote and office environments, without clouding or disrupting corporate culture or communication channels. Technology cannot replace culture, but it can complement it. Culture can still be promoted from a distance and this can be due to strong leadership setting the tone and ensuring that the same cultural aspects are promoted throughout the company. However, it is still true that adopting a large number of new services in a matter of weeks can be difficult, and there are a number of things that companies and employees should keep in mind when implementing a 100% remote work model:
Understanding technology
Without teaching TechRadar readers how to suck eggs, it's important that all of your employees, colleagues, or even managers are up-to-date on the technology required for your business operations, and most importantly, on each type of technology. For example, unless it is already in place, it is essential that key decision makers are aware of the difference between Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS), which is required according to with the offer and the requirements of your company.
Choose simplicity
Of course, implementing a remote work strategy must start with the right technology. It can be so easy for operations managers to select a variety of different online tools or software from a multitude of different vendors based on user ratings. This typically results in a "Frankenstein monster" of an IT infrastructure, with different SaaS applications running different services or functions of a business. Therefore, it is impossible to visualize an organization's data on a useful time scale for making strategic business decisions. This should not be the case and companies should ensure that all applications and software come from a single vendor, on a single platform. Ease of use is also a key factor to consider when selecting a new provider, especially as staff need to adapt quickly and work remotely.
Invest in online resources
A recent report by a British think tank revealed that a third of employees have seen their video conferencing system crash in the last three weeks. This is not surprising given the large influx of remote workers and the enormous strain this places on existing home computing resources. Organizations facing constant IT outages have clearly failed to adapt to the online demands of remote work. This requires appropriate internet bandwidth (a household containing 2-4 remote workers should consider a download speed of at least 100-200 Mbps). Also, outdated hardware previously used for nothing more than web browsing may not be suitable for working from home. Organizations should consider upgrading employee computers or webcams with a modern equivalent if there are ongoing performance or productivity issues (usually the system specification of at least 4 GB of RAM, one processing unit (CPU) with a processing speed of 1.6 GHz and a hard drive or solid state drive with at least 100 GB of space is ideal).
fullfilment of security requirements
Since the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK, we have noticed an increase in the number of cybercriminals trying to take advantage of the new widespread corporate teleworking policy. A wave of new insecure devices and increased use of home devices has given cyber attackers a host of new outlets to hire, hack or corrupt, meaning business data is more vulnerable than ever. It is essential to use a platform service provider that prioritizes security and privacy. Things to consider when reviewing a service provider's security are: Do they advertise? - if so, it is likely that the customer data will be used in one way or another for personalized advertising, so that your personal and business data is not only stored in your own IT infrastructure, but also in the service providers advertising on your platform. You should also determine if the company you work for has its own data center; if so, you can be more assured that the most stringent security and due diligence procedures are in place to maintain security. data from the services you use.
Online training
Not everyone can get used to new technologies right away. Therefore, it is important that videoconference training sessions are offered to all employees, so that everyone can become familiar with new technologies as quickly as possible. This will not only contribute to productivity, but also to business security: It's easy to forget that the influx of remote work encourages opportunistic cybercriminals to target employees who may not be well-versed in it. simple cybersecurity or fraud detection measures. Instant access to online advice and technical support is also invaluable today, which is why we at Zoho have enhanced our 24/7 online technical support service.