Evolution has always been the only constant and adaptability is what has allowed the survival of the fittest. We, humans, are one of the very rare species that have well-survived the changes and have evolved to come this far where technology drives the world. We live and breathe technology. Technology is deeply influencing our day to day lives and most of our daily tasks have now been digitalized. From smartphones/laptops to high-speed 5G Intenet speeds, everything around us digital. One of the best examples of how technology and digitalization have transformed our lives is the ‘Way we are working now.’
Yes, times have changed and so has the work culture. We no more work as we used to. Businesses are adapting to remote working culture and employees are loving the freedom to work remotely since it gives them a better work-life balance by eliminating unnecessary commute hours.
Also, the ongoing pandemic COVID-19 has shown the world why a remote working culture will always be a way out for businesses to survive even during tough times, apart from other benefits.
However, like every other successful process, remote culture also requires a well-planned strategy that mainly involves leveraging technology to build a successful remote team by digitizing business processes. So, here we will be discussing why a digital strategy is important when working remotely:
Communication has always been a key strategy in building a successful business and that hasn’t changed with the remote working culture instead it has just been digitalized. Digital Media has empowered communication, making it easier to communicate from different locations. Online professional communication apps like Slack, Flock, etc are very useful in communicating at all times from remote locations.
Clients are the epicenter of businesses and even when working remotely, staying connected with them in case they have any queries, is very important. Again, a digital media strategy has a very important role to play since text messaging apps like WhatsApp come in handy to stay connected with clients while video conferencing apps like Zoom assist in conducting online discussions with the clients.
Every business strives for success and growth. Reaching out to potential clients and converting as many as possible is what businesses look out for. And the rise of digital marketing has changed the scenario completely since businesses can reach out to potential clients even while sitting at home or working remotely. Sending automated emails, informational blogs, etc. have made remote working culture a success when it comes to bringing in new clients/customers.
From regular round table meetings, businesses are now moving onto video conferencing platforms like Skype, Google Meet, Zoom, etc. to conduct business meets, and also to keep things real between employees and clients.
Instead of spending money on renting fancy corporate workspaces, a well-managed remote team allows the freedom to invest the same money in recognizing and rewarding employees through online performance management systems.
A goal-oriented approach is very important to ensure the timely delivery of services and/or products. A digital approach always keeps the business ideology at the forefront even when working remotely. Using digital apps like Google Sheets, Google Keep, Office 365, etc that are both online and easy to use can be adopted to plan out daily tasks in advance, track team progress, etc thereby increasing the efficacy of remote teams.
No matter what business an organization is invested in, without a proper management system, no business can profit. When working remotely, it may get tricky to manage employees as well as clients. But a digital strategy uses project management apps like Trello and CRMs like Hubspot, Zoho, etc to ensure hassle-free management of employees and clients.
As said earlier we are living in a digital age driven by technology and therefore new tools and tech are being developed every now and then to make human tasks easier. And to be up-to-date with new technologies and tools available in the market, training and skill development of individual employees as well as the team is very essential. With remote teams, Ed Tech platforms like Udemy, EdX, Coursera, etc offer in-depth knowledge in developing remote employees.
One thing that might have been trouble for businesses a few years ago was access to data from remote locations that may have prevented them from adopting a remote work culture. However, times are changing and the rise of cloud computing has played a crucial role. Organizations are switching over to cloud sharing apps like Googe Drive which are both secure and can be easily accessed from remote locations. And no wonder it is one of the Digital Media strategies that needs to be adopted if businesses are to build a strong and productive work culture.
A well-planned and executed digital strategy is the need of the hour and ungratefully to the horrifying Coronavirus scene, the world is learning to adapt to the culture of working remotely.
It is time that businesses understand the importance of digitalization and incorporate it into their business model to get the best out of their remote teams. Remote workforce is the future and this is the time to invest in it.