Speech Blog

The world is moving and adapting more quickly than ever before. Businesses are constantly challenged to keep up with shifting business practices, as well as react to unforeseen circumstances that can have widespread impact on both clients and staff. For instance, who could have anticipated the far-reaching implications of a global pandemic? Organizations must be prepared to pivot, like when faced with a scenario where employees must work remotely, and have a plan in place to help them be as flexible as possible. For example, do you have the equipment or solutions necessary to work from home if you couldn’t leave for the office? Without such a plan, a business could very quickly find that work and efficiencies may be halted as they put these solutions in place.

For instance, in light of this new global health concern, businesses all over the world are doing their part to limit unnecessary person-to-person interactions by requiring some or all of their employees to temporarily work from home. Some organizations might inevitably find it more challenging to continue with “business as usual” under the current circumstances if they lack the necessary planning or technology infrastructure to work remotely. Just like in most disruptions to routines, productivity can be a problem as individuals figure out what works best for them in their new set ups. As businesses consider the best ways to handle remote work during this uncertain time, these tips can help you and your organization set up a remote working model to ensure that you can keep things moving as smoothly as possible.

1. Have the right tools and processes in place

In an office setting, employees are usually set up on a common network for easy data access. From home or on the go, that network can take a long time to load and work properly, hindering  productivity. Cloud based software can be beneficial as it can be accessed from anywhere and from any device. It allows the ability to keep track of information movement and multiple users can work in tandem. Most software has an application for smartphones, so work can be carried out from practically anywhere. Solutions like these provide the flexibility and mobility of working anytime, anywhere.

2. Keep security top of mind

Organizations often rely on multiple layers of security and data protection at their places of business, such as firewalls, digital virus protection, increased network security and more. Staff working remote may not have these strong measures in place – for instance, employees’ home Wi-Fi networks may not be as secure as highly monitored office networks. In order to keep employees and data safe even outside of the office, businesses should make sure that all devices are using best practices for data protection, including password protections and multi-point encryption. Further, keep staff up to date on your organization’s security policies, such as spam and phishing best practices, password policies and more, and provide them with materials to help them adhere to these policies at home. Ensuring these items are top of mind for staff can help arm them against potential attacks, especially as they may begin to see an influx of fraudulent emails related to COVID-19.

3. Ensure access to important information

When setting up a remote working model, it is always a good idea to have an information hub, so employees can have access to the information they need to function properly. Setting up directories would also be helpful, so people know who to contact with questions. Proper IT support should be in place for any troubleshooting, and guidelines and tutorials should be available for tools and any other assets that are required in a daily working environment.

If you and your organization are planning to set up a remote working plan, check out how Philips SpeechLive can help to retain productivity even when you are not in the office. You can also reach out to us directly at info.na@speech.com with any questions or concerns you may have.