The Covid pandemic brought in a new era that changed the daily practices of businesses. Virtually overnight, the business world was forced to become well-versed in remote work. Remote services have become common practice in business and many have made the transition. Although the pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, many companies have recognized the significant benefits of a remote workforce and indicated their intentions to embrace this trend on a permanent basis.
As the CFO of Ulta put it, “There is no burning need for a physical office other than for learning, mentoring and team building.” The company reported shocking success rates in its ability to move forward with day-to-day operations remotely. As technology moves forward, the business world is adapting to this remote model as normal practice. Here are 5 things to know about engaging in this new norm of business.
Know your company’s needs
When adapting to remote business activities, you must be able to assess your company’s needs and current processes. This analytical step will allow your company to identify the areas of your business that can benefit from remote business practices. For example, a digitized financial sector could be an optimal choice for the transition to remote practices. Financial work could be quickly accomplished remotely while freeing up money and space for other sectors of your business.
Engage in business with professional remote services
Once you have identified the areas of your business that could benefit from remote services, allow professionals to help you carry out remote work. Having a third party trained in remote services could be an easy way to make a clean transition. Opting for this route eliminates trial and error along with training costs.
Adapt to digitized data
Digitized data is the new way of business. 70% of companies reported having a digital transformation strategy in place. This is an essential component to any business that hopes to compete in the market. Transitioning to highly automated financial and accounting procedures cuts out human error and allows your company to run smoothly and effectively. Once this transition has been made, remote services are accomplished with ease.
Acquaint your company with a hybrid model
While remote services are the most efficient way to operate in the new business realm, in-person meetings should be utilized periodically for team building and strategizing. Having a hybrid model for your business will allow you to optimize goal congruence while still reaping the benefits of remote operations. Your remote team can assist and facilitate your transition to this model.
Assign responsibilities and define clear goals
Assigning clear expectations to your remote team is imperative when moving to remote services. Research shows that new business teams make 50% more mistakes than established ones. This is largely attributed to a lack of a goal congruence and communication between top management and their workers. The competitive edge that remote services offers must be paired with clearly defined expectations, deadlines, and responsibilities. This is easily managed through effective communication.
Focus on communication and scheduling
Successful remote teams rely heavily on the ability of management to create clear communication channels. This means creating a strategy for communication based on your company’s needs. This may take the form of scheduled phone calls, emails, or in-person meetings. Regardless of the form or frequency, installing these meetings creates a much-needed sense of unity between the company and its remote members.
Conclusion
As the business realm moves into remote processes, it is imperative that your business create a strategy to remain competitive in the market. Identify the processes in your company that are best suited to be accomplished remotely and prioritize clear communication, particularly of clear goals and responsibilities. Finally, your business may find that these changes can be best facilitated through the help of remote professionals who are well versed in this form of business.
