Mastering Remote Work: How an All-in-One Management Software Improves Collaboration Across Teams

Posted on November 28, 2023December 18, 2023 by Cris Mark Baroro

Remote employment has become standard practice for many businesses in the modern digital environment. The demand for efficient workgroup tools has increased dramatically, which has sparked the development of all-in-one management software.

A remote team is an unusual setting. It can be difficult to participate in efficient collaboration and effective communication at a high standard, which is in fact the necessary expectation, if you don’t have the appropriate tools.

This article discusses the ways in which such technology can improve your teams collaboration streamline workflows and enhance business performance.

Understanding the Rise of Remote Work

Before we delve into the solutions, it’s crucial to understand the current scenario. The rise of remote work has significantly reshaped modern workplaces. Fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have shifted towards flexible work arrangements and virtual collaboration strategies, transitioning to a ‘work from anywhere’ culture.

The technology that enables remote work is also rapidly evolving. Thanks, to the rise of smartphones and mobile devices people can now easily connect to the internet. Enjoy data plans. This allows workers to break free, from the confines of their office desktops or laptops as they are no longer limited by location. No matter where employees are situated, companies can now more easily control their access to vital business applications thanks to the growth of cloud services.

How All-in-One Management Software Reshapes Collaboration

Integration and fluidity in communication are vital for teams to collaborate effectively. This is especially true in remote work where the physical barriers can cause fragmentation and silos. This is where all-in-one management software steps in.

Centralizing Communication Tools

In remote work environments, effective communication is critical to ensure that teams can efficiently collaborate and complete tasks. Centralizing communication tools using all-in-one software can significantly improve productivity by streamlining the means of interaction among team members. This approach comprises the following benefits:

A Unified Platform for Messaging, Video Conferencing, and More

There are advantages, to using all in one software, for managing tasks and projects:

Shared Project Space: By allowing team members to monitor task progress in real-time, a shared virtual workplace fosters a sense of shared accountability. It makes sure everyone is on the same page with regard to the goals and is informed.

File Sharing: File-sharing capabilities are typically included in all-in-one management software, enabling team members to effectively exchange important papers, photos, and other information. As a result, collaboration is made easier and there is less chance of losing important data.

Timе tracking: Thе softwarе’s timе tracking tools kееp tabs on thе numbеr of hours workеd, brеaks takеn, and ovеrtimе. This transparеncy and assistancе with timе managеmеnt is givеn to thе tеam. Managing rеsourcеs and kееping tabs on tеam mеmbеrs’ output is also advantagеous for managеrs.

Setting Deadlines: Deadlines can be set for individual tasks, providing clear timelines and expectations. This aids in project planning, pacing the work, and ensuring that the project progresses on schedule and is completed on time.

Holistic View of Projects: The software provides a comprehensive view of ongoing projects, showcasing task progress, resource allocation, and timeline adherence. This allows teams to strategize effectively and helps managers make informed decisions.

Structured Task Execution: With task distribution, tracking, and prioritization features, these platforms provide a systematic approach to executing work. This not only boosts productivity but also ensures efficient workflow management.

Reducing App-Switching and Increasing Productivity

The need to constantly switch between different apps leads to disruptions, inefficiencies, and potential miscommunications among team members. Centralizing communication tools in an all-in-one software platform minimizes these risks, by offering users a single access point to all essential communication features. Due to this consequence, workers have the ability to effortlessly maneuver through assignments and concentrate on their tasks, ultimately resulting in a notable augmentation in overall efficiency and output.

Streamlining Communication Channels

The software streamlines communication channels by putting various communication tools together. This lowers the possibility of messages being ignored, updates being missed, or directions being misconstrued. Clarity and consistency are maintained by making it simple to save, access, and track crucial information via centralized channels for reporting, file-sharing, and team communication.

Fostering Collaboration and Team Synergy

By enabling all team members to access the information they require and take part in discussions whether they are working in-person or remotely, a central communication hub improves and promotes cooperation. This strategy encourages cohesive collaboration throughout the entire organization, assisting teams in cooperating to achieve common objectives and supporting one another along the way.

Task and Project Management

Collaborative workspace allows teams to monitor task progress in time promoting a shared sense of responsibility. Through functionalities, like file sharing, time tracking and deadline setting the software offers an overview of projects. Facilitates an organized approach, to carrying out tasks.

Integration Capabilities

Most all-in-one software integrates with other frequently used apps (like Google Workspace, MS Office, etc.), creating a fluid work environment. These integrations minimize disruptions, leading to increased efficiency.

Reporting Tools

Numerous all-in-one software packages have thorough reporting systems that have a number of advantages for enterprises, including:

Pеrformancе Tracking: With thе hеlp of thеsе tеchnologiеs, firms may kееp an еyе on a variеty of pеrformancе mеasurеmеnts, which shеd light on arеas for dеvеlopmеnt and productivity growth.

Procеss Optimization: Data providеd by rеporting tools can hеlp idеntify bottlеnеcks in еxisting procеssеs, allowing for nеcеssary adjustmеnts to bе madе to optimizе еfficiеncy.

Comprеhеnsivе Rеports: By gathеring and collating еssеntial data into comprеhеnsivе rеports, businеssеs can bеttеr undеrstand thеir opеrations and makе informеd dеcisions.

Intеractivе Dashboards: Kеy pеrformancе indicators (KPIs) may bе sееn visually and rapidly with thе hеlp of dashboards, which hеlp firms undеrstand thеir opеrational statе and whеrе thе most focus is rеquirеd.

Animations & Charts: Animations such as GIFs which arе comprеssеd in a GIF comprеssor and charts can makе rеports morе еngaging and еasy to undеrstand. Thеy can hеlp visualizе complеx datasеts and trеnds ovеr timе, supporting bеttеr dеcision-making.

Prеdictivе Analytics: Many all-in-onе softwarе systеms offеr capabilitiеs for prеdictivе analytics, using currеnt data to forеcast futurе outcomеs and trеnds. This can bе invaluablе for stratеgic planning and managing businеss growth.

Empowering Remote Work with All-in-One Software

Despite certain apprehensions about remote work, management software empowers teams to collaborate seamlessly. Here’s how:

Promoting Accessibility and Flexibility

Utilizing cloud-based all-in-one management software has a lot of benefits that are related to accessibility and flexibility, two things that are highly desired in the contemporary remote work environment. A thorough method is given below:

Easy Access to Shared Files and Resources

Your team may access shared files and resources from any location with an internet connection thanks to all-in-one management software housed on cloud platforms. This accessibility caters to all the essential information, getting businesses one step closer to achieving a seamless workflow.

Documents may be viewed, changed, and worked on in real time to keep everyone on the team informed.

It avoids discrepancies that can possibly result from having numerous copies of a file.
Since the files are safely saved online, the chance of data loss is decreased.

24/7 Connectivity with Colleagues

Employees may interact and engage with their coworkers no matter where they are physically located or what time zone they are in thanks to cloud-based solutions that create a virtual workspace that transcends geographic boundaries.

Within a single platform, the program fosters friendship, encourages dialogue, and provides tools for brainstorming sessions, team meetings, and individual check-ins.
It enables asynchronous communication while honoring the various working hours of international teams and making sure that no one is left out of crucial talks.

Flexible Working Environment

By implеmеnting a managеmеnt softwarе that opеratеs in thе cloud companiеs can crеatе a work еnvironmеnt that accommodatеs thе varying rеquirеmеnts of thеir staff mеmbеrs.

Whether you’re a riser who enjoys starting the day of everyone else a night owl who thrives when the world is asleep or someone who needs to find a balance, between work and personal obligations it’s possible for everyone to tailor their work hours to suit their needs.
No matter what hours they choose to work, employees can continue to do quality work with quick access to team communication and project updates.

Enhancing Accountability and Transparency

Thе softwarе usеs task assignmеnt fеaturеs to dеlеgatе rеsponsibilitiеs, whilе thе projеct tracking tools fostеr accountability, and transparеncy, and еncouragе proactivе contributions.

The Future of Remote Work

Embracing remote work is pivotal to keeping up with current trends. An all-in-one software provides a pathway to master this transition, ensuring that your team’s collaborative efforts aren’t diluted by distance.

To truly master remote work, companies must understand the value that an all-in-one management software brings. By transitioning to a centralized, seamless, and transparent digital workspace, we usher in a workplace evolution set to redefine productivity as we know it.

Effective remote cooperation is entering a new era with this strategic shift, which not only empowers individuals but also strengthens corporate resilience.

What Being Remote From Your Job Means For Your Career

Posted on March 14, 2023March 2, 2023 by Jeff Peters

In recent years, the trend towards remote work has become increasingly popular. Advancements in technology, such as business management technology, have made it easier than ever to work from anywhere in the world. However, this shift towards remote work has also had a significant impact on careers, and it’s important for professionals to understand what this means for their long-term career prospects.

Remote work has several benefits, including increased flexibility, a better work-life balance, and the ability to work from anywhere. However, it also presents a number of challenges that can impact career progression. In this article, we’ll explore what being remote from your job means for your career, with a focus on the role of business management technology in supporting remote workers.

Limited Opportunities For Face-to-Face Interaction

“One of the biggest challenges of remote work is the lack of face-to-face interaction with colleagues and clients,” notes Martin Taylor, a resume writer at Discursive Essay Service and MLA Format Outline. This can make it harder to build relationships, collaborate on projects, and get feedback on your work. It also means that remote workers may miss out on important networking opportunities, such as industry events or team-building activities.

Business management technology can help to mitigate some of these challenges by providing remote workers with tools to collaborate and communicate with colleagues and clients. For example, video conferencing software like Zoom or Skype can be used for virtual meetings, while project management software can be used to manage tasks and keep track of deadlines.

Increased Reliance On Technology

Another challenge of remote work is the increased reliance on technology. Remote workers must be comfortable with using a range of software and tools to communicate and collaborate with colleagues, manage tasks, and stay organized. This can be a challenge for some workers, especially those who are used to more traditional ways of working.

Business management technology can help to alleviate some of these challenges by providing remote workers with user-friendly software and tools. For example, cloud-based file sharing platforms like Dropbox or Google Drive can be used to share files and documents with colleagues, while time tracking software like Harvest can be used to keep track of billable hours and ensure that projects are completed on time.

Potential For Isolation

Remote work can be isolating, especially for workers who are used to working in a traditional office environment. “Without regular face-to-face interaction with colleagues, remote workers may feel disconnected from the company culture and miss out on important social interactions,” says Amanda Webb, an eCommerce writer from BeeStudent and Paper-Research.

Business management technology can help to mitigate some of these challenges by providing remote workers with opportunities to connect and collaborate with colleagues. For example, team chat software like Slack or Microsoft Teams can be used to facilitate real-time communication and help remote workers feel more connected to their colleagues.

Lack Of Visibility and Recognition

Another challenge of remote work is the lack of visibility and recognition. Without regular face-to-face interaction with managers and colleagues, it can be harder for remote workers to demonstrate their skills and contributions to the company. This can impact their chances of career progression, as managers may not have a clear understanding of their strengths and abilities.

Business management technology can help to alleviate some of these challenges by providing remote workers with tools to showcase their skills and contributions. For example, project management software can be used to document a worker’s involvement in key projects, while time tracking software can be used to demonstrate their productivity and efficiency.

In conclusion, remote work can have a significant impact on career progression. While it presents several benefits, such as increased flexibility and a better work-life balance, it also presents a number of challenges that must be overcome. Business management technology can play a key role in supporting remote workers and helping them to mitigate some of these challenges. By providing tools for collaboration, communication, and productivity, business management technology can help remote workers to stay connected and engaged with their colleagues and the company, while also showcasing their skills and contributions. Ultimately, the key to success as a remote worker is to stay proactive, communicate effectively, and stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices in remote work and business management technology.

10 Signs That It’s Time For An All-In-One Business Software

Posted on April 14, 2021January 22, 2024 by Brian Kinney

Is your business prepared to grow by 50x in the near future?

The answer is yes—if you’re prepared. A profitable business model and hardworking employees are baseline requirements, but it takes more than that to push your business over the top—it takes an all-in-one business management software platform.

In the spirit of preparation, take a minute to assess what a 50x growth would logistically entail:

Hiring new employees (and onboarding them)
Purchasing new materials and equipment (and cataloging them)
Expanded remote capabilities and office space
Keeping track of 50x more documents
Expanding your CRM capabilities
Increasing your accounting workload

all in one business management software growth

The list above is surely incomplete in terms of the new costs, challenges, and variables that come into play as a business grows.

Many of these challenges can be addressed by utilizing all-in-one business management software. It’s understandable that your first thought may be “I don’t need that, at least not yet.”

The key word? “Yet”. Though business management software can help businesses of all sizes, it’s absolutely imperative to organizations that are poised to expand their business. So, don’t be behind the 8-ball—here are 10 signs that it’s time for your business to enlist an all-in-one business management software solution.

1. When Growth Is Imminent

Growth is exciting. It can also be nerve-racking, stressful, and full of growing pains.

upward growth trend of Bitcoin superimposed over a gold bitcoin token

In a hopelessly-romantic, Hollywood-esque way, it can be easy to believe that growth will hit in one tsunami-like surge—a big “aha” moment, a mega-deal with a corporate giant, or an upward profit chart akin to the likes of Bitcoin.

Not featured on the big screen, however, is the groundwork that is laid slowly behind the scenes—years and years of trial and error, finding the right employees, and testing the waters of various markets.

Albeit slowly at first, growth can actually materialize in an instant—that marketing campaign you launched went viral thanks to some verified retweeters and suddenly, you’re fielding calls from what will end up being the largest accounts your business has ever managed.

The point here: growth is built slowly, but can unfold all at once. Don’t be unprepared for that moment. You’re confident in your business—be just as confident in your ability to produce results.

As the old adage goes, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” Look at business management software in the same light—invest in an ERP for the company you want to grow into, not for the company you are at this very moment.

2. When Customer Relationships Need More Attention

Customers are the backbone of your business. Attaining a loyal customer base is hard work—it’s easy to become wrapped up in the exuberance of an influx of new customers.

Before your customers are customers, they’re leads. Is your sales staff equipped to not only handle managing additional customer relationships, but the additional amount of fresh leads coming in?

Help your employees assess the profitability and priority of each opportunity with an automated sales funnel. With an influx of new leads and customers, you may think hiring additional sales staff is the answer. While that may be a step you want to take at some point, it’s important to focus first on maximizing the efficiency of your existing employees.

Some of the biggest benefits all-in-one business management software brings to growing businesses lie in its CRM processes.

customers enjoying all in one business management software

Automating marketing campaigns, visual dashboards to track the entirety of your sales pipeline, instantaneous synchronicity with the rest of your finances, and customer feedback portals are some of the tools that can help you attract and retain a loyal customer base.

3. When You Find Yourself Making “Educated Guesses”

Going with your gut is a natural instinct. In the early days of your business, it was probably even profitable. Heck, you’ve probably made a gut decision today. But as your business grows, decisions will require more than just a hunch.

Data-driven decision-making (DDDM) will enhance your productivity and profitability across the board. Every business contains nuanced differences in its approach—analyzing the data that is relevant to your business is what counts.

ERP systems with customizable dashboards and report-generating functionality bring you the information you need to make an informed decision at a glance. Your business is unique—the business management software you choose needs to mold to your needs, not the other way around.

4. When Tedious Tasks Eat Up Your Day

Some days, work might not even feel like work. On other days, an hour might feel like a lifetime. The reality is that not every part of your job is thrilling—those mundane tasks you dread are often some of the most important (crunching numbers, taking inventory, etc.)

While these are important tasks, it’s just as important to not let yourself spend a disproportionate amount of time focusing on them.

Automation is the key to working smarter—automate the tasks that eat up your time, and use that time to focus on the bigger-picture goals that will help bring your business to the next level.

All-in-one business management software will help you do just that. From accounting to inventory to sales, many parts of the process don’t require immediate and constant attention.

Aside from automation, delegation is important, as well—monitoring the status of all assigned tasks without filling your inbox with unnecessary back-and-forth “confirmation clutter.”

5. When You’re Spending Too Much On IT Systems

Repair costs are a necessary evil. Laptops bear the brunt of coffee spillage, and interns overestimate how many monitors they can carry at once. It happens.

colored networking cables plugged into back of equipment

But what about the cost of non-accident-related expenditures? Software updates, new servers, and backups for those can chew up a budget very quickly.

With cloud computing, you’ll be able to exert more control over your finances. A cloud-based ERP removes the need for excessive hardware spending, costly software upgrades, and backup costs. All of these needs are handled off-site—and at a flat, fixed, predictable rate—so that you can focus on your business, not the tech behind it.

6. When You Need To Double Down On Regulatory Compliance

Regardless of the industry you operate in, you most likely have someone in your organization tasked with monitoring compliance. Whether you’re a manufacturer, contractor, consultant, or educator, rules are rules—and it pays to follow them.

Most of the work of a compliance manager will come in the form of keeping track of documents and ensuring on-site traceability. Checking off boxes may seem mundane, but it’s arguably the most important part of the job.

Another example, construction managers are responsible for overseeing the safety of their crew and all associated subcontractors. Before the job begins, OSHA compliance needs to be taken care of. If these certifications and qualifications are not met, it could set a problematic ripple effect in motion—delays in compliance could cause a project to go over budget and disrupt your timeline for other jobs (including the schedules of your subcontractors). A bid could also be lost outright due to a lack of compliance, causing an unpleasant impact on your bottom line as well as negatively impacting the trust your employees and subcontractors have in you.

In short, it pays to stay on top of regulatory measures by keeping all pertinent documents in one centralized, easily accessible location.

7. When You Need To Back Up Your Data

These days, data security isn’t solely the responsibility of your tech-savvy staff—it’s everyone’s job. Having a data security infrastructure in place is key, and probably something you already do to some degree. But how much of your data is backed up? And more importantly, where and how?

all in one business management cloud erp

If you are not currently leveraging any ERP solutions, the odds are your data is not sufficiently backed up. Sure, you may have redundancy measures in place on your local system, but more can be done.

In 2021, global cybercrime damage costs around $190,000 per second. Cybercriminals are everywhere and are unrelenting in their efforts to undermine legitimate businesses. If your data is stored in a singular, localized location, you may think it’s safer. But in all reality, this is not the case. If this one data center is breached, your systems will cease to function.

By utilizing a cloud software system, your data is not only decentralized and duplicated across servers, it’s backed by world-class cybersecurity professionals. Sure, your computer’s firewall is great—but having that firewall and a cybersecurity infrastructure tailored to your business needs will prevent any malicious actors from disrupting your business.

8. When Working Remotely Isn’t Efficient

Remote work is here, and it probably isn’t going anywhere for quite some time. In many respects, that’s a good thing—workers are achieving higher productivity levels, both companies and employees are saving money, and every organization’s talent pool has gone global.

There are many prerequisites to achieving successful remote work habits. Deploying proper management strategies, project management techniques, and a new kind of HR department are some of the adjustments that need to be made. But the common theme here is what lies underneath the human-based element of successful remote adaptation: using better technology.

The right all-in-one business management software doesn’t just need to be able to crunch the numbers and track your inventory, it needs to enable your people to be more effective in their roles. Track the status of projects, customer leads, and even new hires all from one place.

If your employees are able to have a centralized location where they can both find all of their work-related data and chat with their co-workers, they’ll be able to be focused and efficient no matter where they’re working from.

9. When You’re Unsure Of Your Employees’ Day-To-Day Schedules

Managing is a tricky job. On one hand, you want to be actively involved in your employee’s work. Their success is often a reflection of yours. On the other, most managers are savvy enough to know that micromanagement is not typically a successful method.

If you’re unsure about what your employees are doing on a daily basis, that’s a problem. Now, you don’t want to go breathing down their necks and asking them what they’re up to every day—that wastes both your time and theirs. The answer lies in the middle.

While you and your employees almost certainly use some sort of calendar app, are these calendars synced? Do you have a uniform, master calendar to access?

Not only should you have access to a universal calendar, but you should also have access to all of the tasks and projects that your team is working on. Instead of sending a dreaded “Hello! Just circling back on the status of this project! Kind regards!” type email, look to your software system for the answers. This way, you and your employees can be less focused on updating each other through emails and chats and be more focused on producing high-quality work.

10. When You Can Tell Your Employees Are Stressed

Hearing employees complain is never easy, especially when it comes to things beyond your control. Sure, there are some things that you wish you could provide them, but not every request is feasible or grantable.

One request that is feasible? Upgrading your software systems.

Stressed office worker with too much demand on thier time

Duplicate data sets, missing files and links, incomplete financial records, chicken-scratch notes strewn across an office—all of these problems slow down employee productivity. Even if your employees don’t verbalize their complaints, read the room. Frustration bubbles to the surface in different ways for every individual, and some may be more prone to silence than outward voicing of complaints.

At fixed monthly payments with top-quality customer support included as part of the base package, an all-in-one ERP is a much better solution to employee complaints than to Frankenstein together with various software that may or may not communicate with each other.

The best part? Most top-quality software is free to use at first.

It’s Always The Right Time For All-In-One Business Management Software

No businesses are alike. Products, customers, strategies, and everything in between all vary to a large extent depending on your industry’s specific needs.

However, people are a lot alike—we are stronger when working as a unified, coordinated front, climbing towards a common goal. While it’s people that allow your business to be successful, it’s software that allows them to reach their full potential.

The world is becoming increasingly digital, synchronized, and competitive. Enlisting the right all-in-one business management software for your business will help you stay ahead of the curve.

You’re Working Remotely. Did Your Data Come With You?

Posted on August 24, 2020October 31, 2024 by Matt Bernot

If you run a business, data is at the heart of every decision that you make. Removing a poor selling item from your inventory is driven by your financial data. Hiring the newest member of your staff is driven by the data found on their resume. Simply put, data is vital.

Businesses that have successfully transitioned to remote work have brought their data—and data management strategies—with them. As a business owner, you have the most intimate knowledge of your business. Knowledge of your finances is just as crucial as your knowledge of your employees. The best data is all-inclusive—it establishes a unity of fiscal and emotional intelligence. By utilizing your business’s “dual-threat” data, you can make the most informed decisions possible.

In 2020, informed decision making is more difficult than ever. How do you make sure the next—and most crucial—decisions you make aren’t hampered by the shift to a remote office environment? As your data moves home with you, make sure that it’s covered by a cohesive data management strategy.

Context Is King

In an interview with HBR, Didier Elzinga, CEO of Culture Amp, discusses how data provides insight into strategic decision making. He says: “Data is the pathway to context.”

As the captain of your proverbial ship, you see your business’s data in a context that others do not. The same goes for your top executives. A decision that appears lucrative in the eyes of your accounting department may wreak havoc on your sales department, or vice versa. Maintaining a balanced approach and overarching vision is driven by streamlined data management.

woman using laptop on balcony with forest in background

Every decision you make in a time of crisis seems amplified. During your decision making process, remember this: not every bad outcome is due to a bad decision. More often than not, bad decisions are born from bad procedures. Make decisions that help your bottom line without overlooking the needs of the people directly affected. Your employees make decisions every day too—make sure that they have an effective and empathic process to emulate.

In the short term, a decision that yields a profit despite taking a tumultuous emotional toll may seem necessary. Given the state of the American economy, it’s easy to rationalize this trade-off. In the long term, however, an environment where decisions lack emotional accountability is a house of cards one strong gust away from demise.

With employees working remotely, the need for individualized direction and attention from your top decision-makers looms large. This may be the first time that you have been able to digitally access your employees’ workflow, so make sure you utilize this data to its fullest extent.

Ease of Access Is a Priority

The importance of your data is undeniable. The only thing more critical than your data is your ability to access it. Moving out of the office has made this a complicated undertaking, but nevertheless, data accessibility needs to be the backbone of your home office.

Not everyone in your organization is an IT professional. Odds are, the vast majority of your employees wouldn’t fit that criteria. In order for your data to best serve your business needs, it needs to be organized and readily available to people in all of your business’s roles—not just those with skills akin to technological sorcery.

As a business owner, you need access to all of your data, all the time. But, the same doesn’t apply to all of your employees. This isn’t to say that transparency and collaboration aren’t core pillars of a productive work environment—they are. What this means is that you need to make sure the right data is accessible to the right people at the right times. Not everyone needs access to everything to get their job done.

If an employee does need access to restricted data in order to complete an assignment, it’s important that they be able to be granted access. If it turns out this data was immaterial to them after all, you have the opportunity to explain why. Your employees will benefit from your big-picture insights, and you’ll learn by seeing things from their perspective, too. Data accessibility needs are dynamic—make sure that you’re able to adapt on the fly.

Your Data In One Place

Businesses similar in size to yours have routinely relied on on-premise storage systems. In the age of the remote office, that has to change. In fact, there is a 60% chance that your business will be forced to cease operations if it suffers a major data loss.

Even if your business wards off data loss, data disorganization can still wreak havoc on your bottom line. Time spent searching for documents and information kills productivity. No matter what the needs of your business are, having all of your documents in a centralized, cloud based location will serve as a positive change for the long haul, even if your employees return to working under one roof.

man on laptop with data charts and graphs overlayed

It’s not just about your raw financial data either—make sure a coordinated system of communication is in place for you and your employees to discuss the context of your data. Additional data gathered about your employees work habits, insights, and decision-making skills will allow you to help them succeed in their respective roles. This type of balanced data is at the heart of successful businesses.

In the age of the decentralized workforce, data centralization is more important than ever. Working from home shouldn’t make you feel disconnected—it should make you feel empowered. You have the tools at your disposal to run your business anytime, anywhere.

The way you work has shifted—now is a better time than any to give your operations an overhaul. Put your data to work by establishing a virtual, connected space for you and your employees.

Why Remote Work Will Be The New Normal

Posted on April 16, 2020June 24, 2023 by Matt Bernot

Journalists, forward-thinking business owners, and employees alike have touted the benefits of working remotely for years. While cloud technology once made it a viable option, the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly turned it into a necessity. The transition to remote work was not without its growing pains, but as experience has shown, it has been the single most important factor in allowing business to stay open.

So what will happen to your organization when it’s safe to go back to the office? Will you resume business as usual, breathing a sigh of relief that you’re done with Zoom meetings? Will you brush off the brief period of having your employees working remotely and get back to normal?

What Normal Will Look Like

You will undoubtedly have the option to resume work on-site, and in many cases that will be necessary. However, something will nag at you as you try to move forward: there is no such thing as getting back to normal.

Why not? First, we’re not done with the pandemic. It will continue as we go into the summer. As Ed Yong writes in The Atlantic, “the only viable endgame is to play whack-a-mole with the coronavirus, suppressing it until a vaccine can be produced. With luck, that will take 18 to 24 months. During that time, new outbreaks will probably arise.”

Here in New Jersey, Governor Murphy agrees with that assessment. Quoted in a Politco article, he says: “The notion that we’re going to go back to some sort of, let’s just turn the clock back to three months ago, I just don’t see it.”

A Long-Term Remote Working Reality

With new outbreaks will come more quarantines, sending employees back to working from home. Simply, that means your company’s remote work setup is here to stay for at least the next two years. The best thing you can do in the short-term is refine your remote operations.

But there’s a bigger picture here: businesses shouldn’t see remote work as a bunker in which they hide. Instead, they should take full advantage of the flexibility and productivity that can only be achieved by working remotely. As Enrique Dans writes in Forbes, “Shouldn’t the lessons learned during lockdown and the fight against COVID-19 encourage change?”

He continues: “If many companies have been forced to try out teleworking, should they not, once the emergency is over, move on to offer their workers flexible systems that allow them to work from home, in a climate of trust that will enable them, for example, to avoid rush hour and be more productive in the process?”

Though it may not seem obvious, your business has been given an opportunity to approach work in a new way. With a permanent remote solution, you can now be more flexible while maintaining employment and optimizing productivity.

Solutions to Smarter Remote Work

Many business owners fear that remote work environments don’t allow them to see, understand, or review employee productivity. That’s why any remote working solution should include tracking and reporting capabilities for time and tasks.

But the same recommendation holds true for businesses operating 100% on-site. It isn’t a foregone conclusion that people working in proximity have the same oversight and quality control that modern employee tracking tools provide.

In fact, the steps you can take to ensure employees can not only work productively, but also achieve the agility to shift between on-site and remote setups. These are just a few:

Give your employees some guidelines on how to optimize their productivity while staying sane at home. You can read 15 tips for doing just that right here.
Take some internal surveys and discuss remote setups with your teams. What’s working and what isn’t? As soon as you’re out of panic mode, you’ll get a clear-eyed sense of how to implement things the right way next time.
Prepare your employees for the reality that they may be back at home again in a month, two months, or more. While there is plenty of uncertainty to come, you can mitigate confusion by drafting a clear preparedness plan and sharing it with everyone.
Make sure you have the right remote working tools. Slack and Zoom aren’t the only things that are going to run your business. You need to power core processes and your biggest operations remotely as well. Centralize things as much as possible, and favor systems instead of collections of tools.

Take the First Step Now

If nearly every prediction is correct, we’re all in for a very bumpy ride throughout the next year. Arguably, the biggest bump has already happened. But we can’t let subsequent disruptions have the same negative impacts on business. Working from home isn’t just a necessity— it’s a competitive advantage.

Sending employees home to work and optimizing their productivity can go hand-in-hand. You’ll need to be prepared next time. The good news is that your experience has given you all the information you need to make the right decisions, especially for a more permanent remote work option. Start setting it up now so your future can look much more certain.

15 Essential Work From Home Rules for Success and Productivity

Posted on March 17, 2020November 22, 2024 by Gene Marks

Thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, countless companies are being forced to set up their employees to work from home. Finally!

My company is virtual which means I’ve been working from home for more than a decade. I admit that some people are better predisposed to this. I am one of those people. I’m able to get more work done from my home office in the morning than I did in my previous office job. How? By following these very simple rules.

Rule 1: Get dressed (and showered).

No, you don’t have to put on a suit and tie or a professional outfit. But don’t sit around in your underwear either. Gross. Get up, get showered, get dressed and get to work. Oh, and brush your teeth too, please. There is a very big psychological boost when you start your workday like this. You’ll feel better about yourself. And you’ll definitely look better on video.

Rule 2: Have a set routine.

My wife and I had three kids in under a year and the only way we stayed relatively sane was by setting a military routine to our household operations, particularly at night time. Eat. Play. Bath. Bottle. Bed. Rinse and repeat. The same goes for your workday. You’ll find yourself taking work from home very seriously when you institute a serious routine to your day.

Rule 3: Create a workspace.

Assuming you have available space, use it. Set aside a place for work that’s somewhere separate from the rest of your home. If space is limited, have a workspace that you use, clean up, then use it again the next day. Don’t float around. Make it clear to your housemates that this is the space where you do what you do so that you can pay the bills. Trust me, they’ll respect it.

Rule 4: Block out your time.

When anyone asks me how I’m able to get so much done during the day, time-blocking is always my reply. Pick 1-2 hour blocks, put everything aside, and just focus on doing what you set out to do during that block. For example, I set a one-hour block to write this little blog and I’m ignoring everything else until I complete it. Wait, do I smell smoke? Just kidding. This method works, regardless of whether you’re at home, a coffee shop or in the office.

Rule 5: Avoid TV. Embrace music.

I’m a huge fan of TV and if you’re ever interested in a good show recommendation, please reach out. But I NEVER watch TV during the day. It’s just a rule. However, I’m a big Spotify listener. When I need to think – like now – I put on classical music. When I’m doing busy work – like emails – I switch to pop/rock. I’m a huge Howard Stern fan but I don’t listen to podcasts or talk radio while I work either…it’s too distracting. Stick to music, you’ll get more done.

Rule 6: Do housework.

No, I’m not kidding. A clean, organized house complements a clean, organized worker. Depending on the nature of a call (and who I’m talking to) I’m frequently doing other stuff while talking. I fold the laundry. Put away dishes. Change the cat litter. Sweep. Make the bed. It’s amazing how a good pair of earbuds coupled with a smartphone can enable you to conduct business and keep your personal life in order all at the same time.

Rule 7: Know the rhythms of your neighborhood.

Every day at 11 AM the mailman would come to our door. Which means the dog barks. And at 3:45 PM a school bus drops off kids. Which means the dog barks. My neighbors have landscapers that come every Wednesday at 2 PM. Trash collectors bang the cans mid-morning on Tuesdays. Get it? Oh, you will get it if you’re on an important conference call and this stuff happens in the background. Work from home long enough and you’ll figure out the neighborhood rhythms…and adjust your own schedule accordingly.

Rule 8: Know the rhythms of your dog.

See above. And add to that the times that your dog expects a walk. Or to be fed. Or to play. These animals are smart and know how to take advantage of us. Don’t give in to their pleas…. too often.

Rule 9: Demand technology.

You wouldn’t send Mike Trout up to the plate with a Wiffle ball bat, would you? Or a soldier into battle with a water pistol, right? Your employer needs to have the same attitude when it comes to technology. No employee can expect to match their in-office productivity with inadequate technology. You need everything hosted in the cloud and secure. You need collaboration tools. You need integrated cloud-based accounting, inventory, order management, and customer relationship management software. You’ll need an infrastructure that you do whatever you’re doing from home as if you’re in the office.

Rule 10: Pick your best times to work.

Take advantage of not being in an office and adjust your schedule to when you’re most productive. I like to get up super-early – like 5 AM – and do my stuff then because I think more clearly in the morning. My wife does her best work in the evening. Different people have different preferences. When you’re in the office, you don’t have this opportunity. But if you’re at home, you do. There’s nothing wrong with taking time off in the middle of the day as long as you’re getting your stuff done. You’ll still get the hours in.

Rule 11: …but be available when you need to.

Having said the above, there is one caveat: you have to be available when asked. Business is still conducted during business hours and your team shouldn’t have to wonder where you are in the middle of the day. When someone calls, you pick up the phone. When there’s a conference, you’re attending. If there’s training, you’re present. You have a smartphone, or a tablet so there’s no excuse for not being in touch. Don’t let your employer complain about your unavailability just because you’re working from home. It’s a problem you don’t need to have.

Rule 12: Nap and workout.

OK, I’ll admit this publicly: sometimes I nap during the day. Nothing major, but a 20-minute lay down on a sofa or my head down on my desk. That’s a perk for working from home. Other people like to take a bike ride, go to the gym or have a run in the middle of the day. Those are other perks. There’s nothing wrong with this as long as you’re getting your work done and you’re available when needed. Actually, it will give you more energy and make you more productive when you’re back at your desk. Again, you’ll get the hours in but on the timetable that you determine works best for you.

Rule 13: Ignore news, Twitter, and Facebook.

And especially YouTube! You know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t take much – a Buzzfeed list about Harry Potter (I’d be sorted to Hufflepuff), a funny Carpool Karaoke, a short SNL skit – and all of the sudden you’re in the vortex. And when you look up, an hour has been eaten up. Don’t. Stay away. Avoid. Stay focused on your work and avoid those sites until you’re eating dinner with the family.

Rule 14: Take a walk.

Don’t spend your whole day in the house. There’s a whole world out there. Get in the car, or better yet take a walk, and breathe in the fresh air. Just getting out there every day will change your pattern and get you out of a funk.

Rule 15: Finally, take this all very seriously.

This is your job. You’re being given the chance to work from home. Don’t blow it, because if you take it seriously and get your work done, it can be an awesome, awesome thing.