The global coronavirus pandemic has lead to a wide range of shifts across every sector, and the way we work has been no exception. We have all become familiar by now with the huge increase in companies transferring to remote work platforms.
In adjusting to new virtual workspaces, it falls on the team manager to ensure the smooth transition to digital forms of company communication with employees. As such, businesses are adopting new communication channels and tracking systems at accelerated rates. Shared documents like Google Spreadsheets and CRM’s have become the new filing system for tracking orders and employee results, and allowing staff to input and analyze information from multiple channels. Company communications now occur in virtual chat spaces such as Slack, where individual and group communications can be customized and organized.
Managing company record-keeping has now become totally reliant on virtual database. Cloud file storage and image sharing platforms can indicate a more easily trackable system of organization. But the responsibility for juggling this many digital communication platforms- and ensuring that employees understand and follow the correct protocols for each system- may fall heavily on the managerial team.
With these rapid fire shifts in the way we manage business organizations and communications, most of us are eager to know what will come next? What will our company workforce management look like after the pandemic?
Most analysts suggest that the recent proliferation of WFH employees is here to stay- or at least some aspects of this transformation. Remote workers who have grown accustomed to the flexible working hours and independence afforded them by swapping to WFH format will likely be reticent to return to the cubicle once the pandemic is over. And this could be good news for companies.
Releasing the regular budget for rented office space will cut down on company costs, while investing in remote workspace tools will grant space for a diversified workforce. Relying more heavily on remote employees post-pandemic means managers can hire ideal candidates from far and wide, regardless of home location.
In response to this lasting switch to remote work, tech companies are developing increasingly sophisticated remote work systems designed to help companies stay organized and connected. Targeted CRM’s will allow employees to more easily analyze data from across platforms, including company websites, social media feeds, customer support records, and various feedback sites. With effective managerial oversight, this diverse, multi-channel data can be better integrated into digital work platforms, from eCommerce sites to remote real estate services and beyond.
This lasting transition to remote company platforms comes with pro’s and con’s. Digital platforms in some senses allow managers more control over how quickly and efficiently changes can be enacted on the company’s website or virtual shopfront. But the increased ability to make instantaneous adjustments comes with the added responsibility to protect the sites from hackers. Remote workspaces will be more vulnerable to attacks, and it will be up to managerial teams to work with IT departments, creating a system of comprehensive oversight that includes protocols for observing employee logins from their widespread remote locations.
The new post-pandemic workspace means the geographical boundaries of the company can expand, and so can the regular working hours of employees. Given the increased variance in work schedule and location, employees should be required to communicate frequently. Without a shared physical workspace, managers will need to proactively conduct frequent virtual check-ins to ensure that the staff remains engaged and connected in the shared digital workspace.
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