Top Technologies That Are Transforming the Remote Workforce

We’re quickly approaching the year 2021, and the telecommuting boom shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. The ongoing pandemic has driven innovators to come up with revolutionary systems to help remote workers and employers navigate this new landscape. These tools helped to address connectivity issues, gaps in communication, and downtime. 

Video chat services, augmented/virtual reality, cloud security, and employee monitoring software are just a few systems that have served as major technological catalysts across multiple industries.

Read on to learn more about these top technologies, and how they’re transforming the remote workforce.

Instant Video Chat

From international business meetings to happy hour, video chat has become a communication staple in 2020. This technology has made it possible for remote teams to effectively mimic face-to-face communication from any location.

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 crisis, companies are relying heavily on remote compatibility to keep everyone safe – and productive. Working from home comes with a unique set of challenges, but video platforms like Zoom and Skype have created an immersive dimension of digital communication.

Text messages and email often fail to convey critical emotional cues and verbal intention. Using video can help workers get their point across more efficiently, assisting with workflows all the way down the line.

Interest in video chat as a primary means of offsite communication has spiked by more than 700% just this year alone. Even after employees return to the office, this is going to stick around as a primary tool for inter-office meetings, presentations, and even training.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Just like video provides users with a realistic impression of who they’re talking to, AR/VR technology can create completely immersive digital environments to assist workers in a wide range of industries.

Those who work in practical fields can still work on life-like digital renders of their physical prototype models. Leading companies like Facebook are even applying mixed reality, which is the combined use of virtual and augmented reality simultaneously. 

These same systems are also helping virtual students keep up with their degree plans. With a VR headset, students can complete training assignments and experience real-time virtual walkthroughs to gain a better understanding of the subject material.

Working in a virtual environment reduces overhead for business owners, and greatly lowers the amount of space required for employees to build an appropriate home office.

Employee Monitoring Software

As employees around the world brought their jobs home with them, managers had no tangible way to review employee performance, monitor corporate devices, or ensure that teams are staying on task. Employee monitoring software provided small businesses and huge corporations with a secure way to allow employees to work from anywhere, without sacrificing the level of oversight they had in the office. 

This form of computer monitoring program works by tracking online actions and behaviors to:

• Prevent unauthorized or illegal browsing
• Track productivity
• Identify behavioral and workflow issues 
• Reinforce data security
• Protect users from data/identity theft
• Strength reputation management

Internal and external threats are reaching an all-time high, and virus protection alone is no longer sufficient to protect your staff and clientele. Using a monitoring system has provided both workers and business owners an easy and affordable way to stay safe online. 

Cloud Computing

With the growing rise of cloud-based devices and the Internet of Things, it’s become crucial for corporations to allow employees to merge their personal and corporate lives to an extent. Cloud computing is one way employers have been able to bridge the gap.

Many employers rely on the use of employee-owned devices, which can pose security and productivity risks. As nearly every aspect of our lives moves to the digital marketplace, using unsecured mobile apps and online accounts can put work and personal information at risk. 

Some employees might be working from their home office, while others might be more productive at a shared workspace or local coffee shop. This could leave them vulnerable to unprotected wi-fi networks and external digital threats. 

Companies are using secure cloud-based email, communication, file-sharing, and storage platforms to protect employees from this growing risk.

The post Top Technologies That Are Transforming the Remote Workforce appeared first on Fossbytes.

from Fossbytes https://ift.tt/2IkcT8i
via IFTTT