It used to be that when a company or business was created, everyone was located in one central spot. Whether you had a large warehouse or a small office with a handful of people, communicating with each other was relatively easy. However, times have certainly changed.
Today’s businesses have a whole new look to them. No longer does there need to be one central location where all aspects of the business take place. Today, you can have a manufacturing plant halfway around the world, your sales staff scattered all over the country, and customer support in one building. While having people working in remote offices may help to reduce costs, it can pose another problem – efficient and streamlined communication.
So what can you do to help a team work remotely in an effective manner? Let’s take a closer look.
Automate your Processes
One of the first steps in ensuring your team can work remotely is to give them an effective way to contact one other on important matters such as inventory, customers, billing, etc. from any location. However, digitization is usually the best answer to the problem. By installing a digitized platform, such as the solutions offered through Bizagi, you will be creating a seamless flow for the entire team regardless of their location.
Your staff will connect to one single platform, allowing them to see information in real-time. This cuts back on costs since you don’t have to be in the same location to communicate and operate, limits errors since information is seen in real-time, and it can speed up processes by automating them.
Schedule Regular Virtual Meetings
Just because your team is remote doesn’t mean there can’t be meetings. Virtual meetings have become the go-to solution for companies with remote staff. These meetings should be scheduled on a regular basis (at least once a month) and should never be skipped. While it’s handy to send emails and inter-office memos, there should still be a chance to have longer more in-depth conversations with each other.
These meetings can take place on a one-on-one basis, or with a group. There are all kinds of online services companies can use to conduct video conferences.
Have a Specific Plan
As people are working in remote locations and aren’t directly reporting to a boss or even a manager on a daily basis, it’s very important to have a specific plan and role for each staff member. They need to be well aware of their responsibilities and have the proper tools and knowledge to get the job done. This includes training when necessary which can also be administered online.
Be Aware of What People are Doing
Even though it can be tough to stay on top of every remote employee, as a manager or business owner it is your job to know what everyone is doing. That is why digital platforms are so useful, as they help to make things very transparent and any faults can be easily distinguished.
