The recent spread of COVID-19 is inspiring more and more businesses to ask employees to work from home. But have they prepared their employees to do so? Modern offices are packed with technology and infrastructure that makes work possible, but most homes don’t have a fraction of that support.
If you’re hoping to maintain productivity levels at home, you’ll need to beef up the technologies you’re using. Lagging behind co-workers — or other companies — might seriously hinder your performance.
For those not used to working from home, it might not be easy to know where to start. Here are five technologies remote workers should consider to stay on top of their work:
1. Adaptive WiFi
While a car, bike, or public transportation might normally manage your commute, Wi-Fi allows you to efficiently and reliably commute to your digital workplace. To stay connected with your co-workers, you need an internet service that responds to your needs dynamically. Enter Adaptive WiFi.
Unlike the mesh Wi-Fi of yesterday, Adaptive WiFi uses artificial intelligence to chart where and when your home and devices use Wi-Fi the most. It then allocates the appropriate bandwidth accordingly. Think of it as air traffic control for your connected home. This system guarantees that not only does everything in your house get the Wi-Fi it needs, but also that heavily used devices get the most powerful and secure service. Adaptive Wi-Fi provider Plume offers products that not only dynamically respond to your needs, but also provide online security to ensure protection during usage.
2. Video Calling Services
This quick switch to remote work across the country might as well be called “the Zoom boom.” Zoom, one of the world’s most popular video chat platforms, is poised to make big gains as workers head home.
Face-to-face meetings are the backbone of many businesses; removing them altogether isn’t an option. Platforms like Zoom, Skype, and Google Hangouts make it easy to stay in touch with co-workers or clients across distances. While video chats might not have the same feel as in-person meetings, they provide an effective substitute in times like these.
How to Effectively Deal with a Remote Workforce: Here are some ideas to consider as your team is shifted from working at company offices to a remote workforce working from home.
3. Instant Communication Tools
As helpful as video chats are, not every problem requires face-to-face resolution. Working from home, you’ll need to textually communicate with your co-workers. While email may be the go-to, constantly refreshing your inbox and formatting your messages can be a tedious time drain.Twenty-eight percent of the average workday is spent on email alone.
Instant chat tools like Slack, Telegram, and Quip let you simulate the ease of in-office communication over the web. With the ability to communicate privately or in groups, you can ensure that whoever needs to see your message will do so instantaneously.
4. Project Management Platforms
Most businesses use some kind of project management platform. These, however, take on new levels of importance as workers head home. Without the ability to check in regularly in-person, staying on top of different plans and products can quickly become unwieldy. While these challenges aren’t easily overcome, consolidating your company in one platform is a good place to start.
Whether you use Asana, Trello, or something else entirely, make sure everything you’re working on is clearly demarcated on your chosen platform. Project management software Teamwork suggests laying down a project management plan for your work early on; it’s crucial for ensuring that things don’t veer off track later down the line. Regularly provide updates on how your projects are coming along, and encourage your co-workers to do the same — this can help cut down on unnecessary meetings.
5. Digital Assistants
The market for digital assistant products grows by more than 50 percent every year, so there’s a good chance there’s already one in your home. Whether it’s an Amazon Echo, a Google Assistant, or a Siri-enabled Apple product, most workers are already somewhat familiar with digital assistants. But few are currently using them to their full potential on the job.
Digital assistants can make calls, send emails, take notes, and do so much more. While using one in the office might normally be disruptive, using one at home can allow you to continue to work as you cook, clean, or perform other important household duties. Some digital assistants can also enable you to hold conference calls without the difficult coordination they typically require.
As working from home becomes a necessary reality for more and more workers, some may struggle to adapt to the new environment. While the transition can be far from easy, using technology to your advantage can make settling in a bit smoother.
The post 5 Technologies to Support Working from Home appeared first on ReadWrite.
This article was written by Brad Anderson from ReadWrite and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.
