COVID-19 significantly disrupted all industries and organizations, but early-stage startups seemed to have had the maximum impact. With the uncertainties continuing, contingency plans require most offices to adopt a remote working model. But having an utterly remote startup can have its own set of challenges.
Recent developments have given startup founders and workers a first-hand experience of what a remote work culture with digital access to services can look like.
Many have found the benefits of working from home, as workers get more time to spend with family or personal pursuits due to the decrease in commute time.
But can a 100% remote startup actually work out? This blog addresses all your doubts regarding remote working culture.
Here are some tips to help you adopt remote working for your startups and adopt digital technology to aid you in this process:
Mobile Hotspots
In a digitally-connected world, having access to the internet is the primary requirement. But there can be downtime even in cases where you have the fastest internet connection with impeccable service. In such cases, having a mobile hotspot as a backup becomes essential.
Several smartphones have built-in hotspot capabilities, enabling your laptop or desktop to connect to the mobile network and stay online if your WiFi is down.
Remote Collaboration Tools
A significant issue with working remotely is the inability to collaborate in real time on particular projects. Remote working provides an isolated environment for workers to get things done independently, but remote collaborative tools come in handy for tasks requiring united efforts.
If you want to work with your colleagues online, use software like Team Viewer or Microsoft's Remote Desktop Client to get things done.
These apps enable remote workers to see each other's screens, get remote access, and make real-time updates. Some of these features are available in teleconferencing tools like Skype, Zoom, etc. Additional apps to interact and share files, like Microsoft Teams or Slack daily standup bot are also great collaboration and sharing options.
Video Conferencing Apps
Since remote working became mainstream, popular video conferencing apps like Skype, GoToMeeting, Zoom, Webex, and others have soared through the roof! If you want to know which one to pick between these platforms, you can always compare their features and price plans to figure out which is best for you. When you're comparing Cisco Webex to other UCaaS services, take a look at Wheelhouse.com.
For successful remote working, having regular catch-up calls and weekly or daily standups is a must to stay on track. Video conferencing helps the team to get the feel of the physical huddle, as each team member can speak out and voice their opinions on the call.
For video calls, we also suggest having a structure for the meeting and ensuring everyone contributes. Share the email of the agenda and set expectations beforehand, so your team is prepared for the panels, making them productive.
Online Office Suites
All your data is essential, and if you have multiple teams working on files or documents, it is bound to create confusion. To help address this, online office suites are a great option.
You can choose from Microsoft Office, GSuite, or other offerings that provide specific apps. The most popular office apps, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc., are offered online as part of the Office 365 suite.
These also come with support for SharePoint, a fantastic storage option for enabling multiple teams and users to access documents and get access to information. Meanwhile, GSuite is an excellent option if you're primarily using Gmail for your office requirements, and it has Google Drive for storing your files and information.
Cloud Storage
In addition to storing your data, cloud storage is excellent as you can access your files from anywhere and use any device by putting in your credentials.
This allows you and your team to work on multiple devices and access information while ensuring it is safe. Some fantastic cloud storage options and file-syncing apps are Google Drive, Sync, OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud Drive.
Security & Management Tools
Organizations are adopting digital data storage and the cloud, but it also comes with risks. With remote access and information shared online, there has been an increase in cyberattacks and leaks. Organizations must ensure a proper security structure and maintain optimum maintenance to manage this.
You can use tools like BitLocker to encrypt your data and online antivirus software like Norton, Kaspersky, Avast, or others to ensure all incoming data and links are scanned before being accepted.
Also, manage access controls to your data and periodically update passwords using office administration apps to ensure no third party can access your data.
CMMS Software
A computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) helps companies streamline maintenance work and functions as a one-stop asset management solution. CMMS solutions are a must-have for startups who want a fully remote operational model, as it offers all the features that can manage remote working.
The CMMS benefits include creating work requests, tracking orders, recording asset history, and tasks schedule. The CMMS solution's goal is to help you improve the efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance activity in any organization.
If you are looking for the best CMMS software in the market, several options are available depending on your requirement and budget. Out of all the computerized maintenance management software systems in the market, Limble CMMS is the only one that checks all those boxes and more.
Technology is here to help you go remote!
To sum it all up, remote working comes with unique challenges. However, we are now in an age where technology is advanced and nimble enough to help organizations make this the new reality.
COVID-19 and the restrictions in place to stop the spread of the virus are still in place for several countries and may continue. And technologies adopted during this time can now have a long-term impact as the future only gets more digital.
So if you embrace remote working entirely, you are not alone, and it can be achievable. Have the proper focus and vision and leverage technology to help you achieve success!
