As of 2020, remote work has become mainstream. Employers and employees continue to strive for meaningful ways to make the remote work experience better and more productive. 

Even if employees had once dreamed of a life working from the comfort of their home, they might not have fully realized the associated technological challenges and how they might need to face them. It is just as important for employers to provide various technical support software and hardware. 

The question is where to begin. Here are four tech investments your business needs for optimal success during remote work.

1. Mobile Hardware Tools

Any hardware tools employees need in the office, they also need when working from home. You can’t place the burden of populating their home with a business-only computer and other physical tools, purchased with their own money. Even if they own a computer compliant with your operations, it is important to equip your employees with the tools they need to avoid wear and tear on their personal equipment. Further, employees might feel taken advantage of if you don’t supply them with the core tools they need, including: 

  • Laptop computer
  • Smartphone
  • Bluetooth headset
  • Hard telephone line
  • Desk and chair
  • High-speed internet

Keep in mind that you need your employees operating at peak levels, so make sure they have the hardware they need to approach their tasks with confidence, comfort, efficiency and speed.  

2. Chat Apps for Team Cohesion 

Professional chat apps have gained popularity over the past decade, but they have never been more vital than they are in 2020. In 2016, BizTech commented that the right mix of policies and technologies make remote work successful and pleasant for employees. As more work becomes team-based, the challenges of remote work during a pandemic become clearer. It is vital to ensure that your teams can communicate freely and openly to stay on track for team success. Since many collaborative groups are not static, but work together on an ad hoc basis, it is important to find ways to help employees connect in these relaxed-but-effective environments, sharing ideas and information as needed.

3. Conference Calling Services 

While smartphones are effective for daily use when employees step away from their remote workstations, they are not ideal for conference calls. The chance of a dropped call or discussing confidential information over an unsecured line is not the best business strategy. Such practices can undermine your professional standing in the eyes of your clients, executives, stakeholders and competitors. Techy V shares that conference calling software is an effective way to upgrade your team’s communication capabilities. 

4. Mobile Workforce Optimization Solutions

Investing in a mobile workforce optimization solution allows you to monitor software and omnichannel customer service to support your employees, customers and business with remote work scenarios. Everyone feels more confident and secure with a strategy in place. The transition to sudden remote work during the coronavirus pandemic has placed unprecedented challenges on everyone. A mobile workforce business solution provides the following to address and relieve those challenges with the following: 

  • Workforce management
  • Performance management and coaching 
  • Quality management, recording and analytics 
  • Analytics for speech and text 

Enjoy improved communication, scheduling and overall productivity with this tech solution. 

The Right Tech Investments Are Worth It to Ease the Transition to Remote Work 

COVID-19 has served everyone a series of challenges, but the tech world has stepped up to relieve pain points for employers and employees. Investing in various communication support systems such as call conferencing and chat apps, the right hardware and a mobile workforce solution, you offer your employees the support and the sense of inclusion they need to remain satisfied and productive remote workers.