Remote work: Does business location still matter in 2022?

Use Cases 
April 23, 2022
Remote work: Does business location still matter in 2022?

Many professions have shown that collaborating in-person is not necessary, which is altering the way businesses are viewed in terms of location.

Since the past two years, COVID-19 has prompted business leaders to begin discussing the prospect of the workplace. It has increased the prominence of technological practices such as working from home or on a flexible schedule. Virtual gatherings, conferences, and events have shifted business priorities to online service delivery.

Throughout the pandemic, the considerations have changed. For example, some tech firms are now declaring that they are shifting their head offices to the metaverse; going beyond remote-first.  Most diverse tech hub initiatives, many ecosphere developers still feel strongly tethered to a location and are vigorously bolstering its tech economy. 

Remote work may be a way to bolster ties between metro regions, one obvious reason being that staff members can more conveniently work in a company in a different location that would otherwise be out of their reach and boost commute between them. However, there is a broader issue.  

Does the individual technologist still have a strong sense of community in their respective tech scenes at home? The web-based communities have made their professional networks more expansive than ever before. Before we assess if business location still matters in 2022, let’s take a look at a few reasons why remote work is advantageous.

Employee retention and productivity are boosted

According to a recent study, employee retention and productivity are boosted by working from home. For many, the ability to work in a variety of environments and locations is a major consideration. In order to find work-life balance, job seekers are searching for and evaluating career options.

Work-from-home policies necessitate a certain level of trust between the employer and the employee. However, it appears that businesses of all sizes are reaping the rewards of their trust investment, as productivity has increased. Efficiency has increased as a result of fewer daily commutes and longer face-to-face meetings. 

Additionally, most remote workers report being more productive as a result of working from home. A home wardrobe and not having to deal with the obnoxious coworker two cubicles over also help increase productivity, so it's a win-win situation all around. For example, most employees are eager to work as hard to keep taking advantage of these new perks. Many companies are reaping the benefits of a remote workforce that is more committed, loyal, and productive.

Lower your operating costs.

Companies of various sizes may experience varying levels of cost savings as a result of employing remote workers. For example, many businesses save money by allowing more employees to work from home. Using a remote or hybrid workplace framework can save companies money in the long run.

Remote work helps save the costs of owning a property. Companies that operate entirely online have the ability to sell off a large amount of real estate. Even organizations with a hybrid work-force can save money on property-related expenses like utilities, heating and air systems, medical coverage, parking charges, and maintenance expenses.

The price of workforce turnover is more. The costs of staff turnover and employing are whittled down when employees are happier and more productive. It is easier for you to keep your employees. Prices for business travel are high. Employees can now work together regardless of where they are physically located thanks to technological advancements. 

Methods like team communication and video conferencing allow more colleagues to collaborate. As a result, businesses are finding it less necessary to travel for business. Even with the advantages of working from home, businesses may face challenges in keeping their employees connected and focused.  

Now, let's take a look at a few of the most effective tools for keeping employees connected and on task to enhance remote working.

Effective tools for a virtual team to collaborate

Collaboration and communication are two of the biggest challenges for remote workers. If your workforce is dispersed across multiple time zones and cities, it may be difficult to communicate effectively. Your business will benefit greatly from the use of high-quality collaboration tools that keep your employees on the same page.

Face-to-face communication and written collaboration are essential for remote workers, and this can only be achieved with the right tools. Employee engagement is boosted by software like Google Meet and Zoom, which allow for face-to-face interactions. Using tools like online meetings, screen-sharing, information archiving, and chat rooms, employees can get their teams started on collaborative projects right away.

Internal emails in organizations have become a thing of the past because of written communication. Tools like Microsoft Teams and Slacks have rapidly replaced in-house messaging. Conversation threads and group chats can be set up for remote workers. 

Even simple search features can be used to organize projects into specific channels. Workers quickly grasp the value and ease of use these tools provide. Collaboration is now more accessible than ever, even for remote workers.

Preserve your remote team focused and meet deadlines using project management tools

Managing cross-department projects, whether in-house or remotely, can be a challenge. Juggling a variety of team members' priorities, temperaments, and schedules alone can be difficult. It's easy for things to get misplaced when you're also dealing with the demands of a wide range of stakeholders. Having the ability to work from home enhances this. 

Similar to collaboration tools, project management tools help keep your employees on track. The deskside team can assist you in determining which tools for communication and collaboration are best suited to your company's specific requirements.

Conclusion: A large number of employees work from home whenever possible, and both employers and employees alike are recognizing the benefits and drawbacks of this arrangement. Everyone can see that there are a lot of advantages, such as lower costs and increased productivity. Many jobs in the economy can now be done from home thanks to advances in technology.

Of course, remote work has its disadvantages too. These include: feeling isolated, tougher to form meaningful relationships with colleagues, lack of transparency with difficulties and obstacles, and most importantly, burnout among many more. 

Keeping both its benefits and disadvantages in mind, we believe that business location, whether hybrid or remote, may be more beneficial for small businesses that are looking to cut costs. Not to mention that big companies benefit from this as well. 

For employees, sitting at the comfort of their own homes may be relatively preferred over traveling long distances to work sites. It only saves one's expenses but also time. At the same time, employees can keep themselves productive and gain international experience with foreign companies hiring.