What are the tools and software that will become essential for small businesses to manage a remote workforce?

By Josh Alston

A new breed of startups and small businesses are managing a remote workforce in 2021. At the same time, existing SMEs are adapting to a new world where they are hiring freelancers, contractors and employees from around the world to get access to top talent without having to pay for office space or benefits.

While COVID-19 might have accelerated remote working, it was already a trend on the rise before the global pandemic outbreak. A survey undertaken last year by Roy Morgan research showed that around 4.3 million Australians or 32 per cent of the workforce was working remotely in some capacity in April 2020. The number of those #WFH according to Capterra rose from 57 per cent in March 2020 at the start of COVID 19 and soared to 66 per cent by November 2020.

With vaccines rapidly being rolled out across the country, there is hope that Australia can return to some normality soon.

But any thought of remote work arrangements being rolled back can be shelved, as shown by a recent global survey by PwC that showed that 90 percent of Australian workers want flexible work arrangements to stay, and three-quarters of the workforce believe a blend of remote and in-person work arrangements would be ideal moving forward.

Companies need to modernise their communication strategy to be in line with a remote office—and they shouldn’t be afraid to over communicate.

While many companies are now prepared (or are preparing themselves) to manage a remote workforce, some challenges need to be addressed. Around a third of all remote workers say they feel less connected to their colleagues, while 31 per cent of remote staff reported that they thought they were over-managed.

Managing a distributed team can be hard work – where you may have to learn to manage time zones, communication styles, multiple languages and cultural differences. Here are some of the essential tools that SMEs will need to manage their remote workforce successfully:

Remote access and remote control computer software

With remote access software, you can connect to any computer on your network and provide support remotely. This is perfect for IT professionals who need to access their clients’ machines or anyone that wants to have remote control of another computer. It can work well in any situation where you need more flexibility than a standard remote desktop connection.

Leading options: TeamViewer, Splashtop, Mikogo

Telepresence software:Telepresence is a new way to communicate with your team, customers and partners. With Telepresence, you can see everyone in the room, share documents on-screen, and even manage your office setting.

Leading options: Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, RingCentral Video

Real-time communication apps:These apps allow teams of all sizes to collaborate more effectively through instant messaging, sharing files such as images, videos and documents. They also assist managers to keep track of how their employees are progressing projects using live updates and shared conversations.

Leading options: Slack, Google Workspace, Discord

Dedicated video conferencing solutions:While many of the previously mentioned software solutions and apps include video conferencing functionality, there are many benefits for setting up dedicated video conferencing.

The video and audio quality is much higher, and you can help employees feel more connected by setting up in a boardroom or office environment, rather than an app like Zoom where you only see faces. You can easily share screens, documents and other files in real-time and involve the entire workforce as if they were in the same room.

Leading options: Cisco WebEx Business, Intermedia AnyMeeting, Google Meet Series One

Security tools for remote workers:Connecting home computers, smartphones, and other devices to a work network creates potential intrusion points for data breaches and cybercrime. Therefore, a quality virtual private network (VPN) is essential for users logging on using remote devices. At the same time there are security solutions for password management like Dashlane that may also be deployed.

The bottom line is that the success of a distributed workforce largely depends on culture and leadership styles – but there are some helpful apps out there for SMEs looking to make their work life more manageable. If you’ve found yourself struggling with how best to manage your remote team, these tools should help.

Remote workers and distributed teams were accelerated during COVID; now they are here to stay. Here are the essential tools your SME will need to manage decentralised workforces.

Feel free to contact us for anything that relates to your business finances so we can help with your success.

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