Tech Solutions Help Your Remote Employees Feel Less Remote

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Remote employees are becoming more common these days, but it can be tough to stay connected to the office while working from home. However, with the latest tech products, remote employees can quickly get up-to-date with what’s going on in the office without missing a beat.

One of the best ways for remote workers to stay connected is by using group chat app and other technology.

Not all small towns are dying as the population of remote workers or remote employees continues to increase to about 20 to 23 percent of the entire global workforce.

As more remote employees relocate to small towns and companies shift their labor force requirements to include a large number of remote employees, it has become critical that such businesses find ways of keeping the remote worker productive and connected.

For a mid-sized company, it is critical you integrate solutions and tools that foster good communication.

As your business grows, you will likely have remote workers in various locations, including rural America.

In fact, for such a company, remote working means that you can source talent from anywhere in America and the world.

The integral portion to achieving optimal communication between your headquarters and your remote workers is technology.

Tech Solutions For Remote Employees Feel Less Remote

With the right technological solution, managing your remote team will become so easy – it is as if they are literally next door!

Here are a few toolkit solutions that will help your remote workers feel less remote while promoting teamwork.

Voice over IP (VoIP) and Video Conferencing

When working with remote teams, you need to find creative things such as reinventing the typical conference room meeting. VoIP and video conferencing allow you to connect with your remote worker in the remotest of small towns.

These solutions offer you a unified means of communication over the Internet through local connections.

When using VoIP, your remote workers may have one office number that automatically routes calls to cell phones and delivers voicemails through email.

This way, it is easy for the remote worker to stay connected at all times – and they are available to you anytime you need to call them.

On the other hand, video conferencing involves a visual connection.

Related content: Smart Home Devices, options that can help us with what we need at home!

Instant Message – IM Messaging

Instant Messaging, also known as IM, has become one of the best and least intrusive means of conferring or getting a simple answer.

For instance, IM is perfect for getting answers to logistical questions or for one-off requests like asking for links to specific files. IM involves any form of communication that offers you a chat function integrated with mobility capabilities.

Instant Messaging for remote employees
Instant Messaging for remote employees

Extra features in the best IM software include GPS functionality via a user’s mobile device.

This functionality allows a manager to easily identify where the remote team is at and relay critical information immediately. For example, there are companies that can use the technology to find out where exactly a driver is.

In fact, some messaging applications allow you to connect to your employee’s calendar, automatically changing the status to ‘in a meeting’ if a meeting is scheduled or when making a presentation to someone.

Some of the most powerful collaborative features you will find in IM programs include group chat and screen sharing. ‘Pinging’ someone and getting feedback as if the remote worker was standing next to you will help him or her feel more connected to your company and other teams.

Cloud-Based Technology

Cloud-based solutions provide you a means of sharing real-time data in a format that is easily accessible. In many businesses, the number of applications employees can access via the cloud usually defines their mobility and flexibility.

Organizations make it easy for employees to log into critical systems from any location, store files, and quickly tap into company critical information.

Another solution is Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

When your employees have to work on company sensitive information, a Virtual Private Network or VPN is the best solution that offers flexibility, as well as security.

The VPN is essentially a gateway to your organization’s server or information for approved users with an Internet connection, a computer and the proper authorization credentials.

Group Chats

More immediate than email, group chats allow you and your colleagues to communicate easily and efficiently. You don’t have to worry about typing out long messages or having to send them via email because they’re automatically sent as one message.

This means that everyone gets an update at once instead of waiting until all members respond individually. Everyone will also have an easy record of the order in which everything was said.