There’s no point denying it anymore: the mobile workforce, or remote work, is here to stay.
More and more businesses are catching on to this growing trend, as well as its many benefits. That’s why the number of companies that allow their workers to work remotely has increased by 40% over the last five years.
But while they will certainly reap the benefits, these businesses will also have to adjust to this shifting paradigm — remote work is reshaping the way we view the workforce, and keeping up with these changes will be vital in the coming years.
So, let’s take a look at how exactly is remote work impacts the workplace.
Growing Out of the Designated Desk
Up until relatively recently, the idea of personalized cubicles and desks came with the obvious implication that people will be showing up to work. That notion, as you can see, is changing. The burgeoning telecommuting workforce means that the significance of designated seating arrangements isn’t all that crucial anymore.
But while individual spaces are on the way out, collaborative workspaces are anything but. You see, a collaborative space meshes amazingly well with the flexibility of the remote worker. This is because employees can come and go at their leisure, as well as make themselves comfortable wherever space allows.
Pushing Communication Software to the Limit
It’s true that remote work brings with it a host of perks, but implementing it right out of the blue is anything but easy. You need an entire network of tools if you want your remote team to do any of the work properly.
There are plenty of these tools around, sure. But in this increasingly flexible working climate, the market for business communication platforms is becoming incredibly competitive. As such, both the quantity and quality of these programs will keep growing. And with the importance of seamless communication in mind, they will get a whole lot more attention from businesses.
Smaller Conference Rooms
The tech needed to make a virtual conference room is pretty much at a point where the traditional one has become obsolete. And seeing that people needn’t show up to work in order to work, having 20 or so seats for a conference room is just wasteful.
Agile Coming Out on Top
Most people associate the agile methodology with software development. While it’s definitely in vogue there, its application is more than feasible outside the realm of programming. One of the main pillars of agile is the ability to churn in work for as long as it takes to get results. And a remote worker that’s already home, toiling away in their jammies, saves a lot of time otherwise spent on commuting. Not only that, but a remote work style also allows employers to choose from a much greater pool of talent.
Lower Carbon Footprint
As you can imagine, keeping an office running consumes plenty of energy. Not only that, but the daily commute makes a very unpleasant carbon footprint. On the other hand, a company that embraces remote work has far fewer employees walking around the office (if any). There’s much less AC action going on and fewer devices running. As a result, that company becomes much greener than before.
For additional thoughts and statistics on remote working, check out this new article from Zeo Talent Solutions.
