Remember what it was like to get up at 6am only to get stuck in rush hour traffic, or suffer through a never-ending meeting that could easily have been an email?
The coronavirus pandemic has already changed how many of us work, as businesses reluctantly embraced remote working.
Guess what? It opened up a whole new way for businesses to manage their operations, communicate with colleagues and meet consumer demand.
So, what will the new office look like in 2021 and beyond?
More remote working
If the pandemic has taught businesses anything, it’s that they had the infrastructure all along to thrive in a remote working environment. Businesses simply dragged their operations into the 21st century and adapt to the new normal.
So many businesses realised that working from home didn’t mean their employees were sneaking off to watch Netflix or squeezing in an afternoon nap – on the contrary, research shows they are more engaged and productive than ever when left to manage their own time.
Amazing what a bit of trust can do (and an involuntary lockdown, of course).
It’s not to say that the physical office is a thing of the past – although it’s definitely spotlit the cost of maintaining an office space – it’s just no longer the only option.
And honestly, who doesn’t love being able to work in their pyjamas without anyone knowing?
New approaches to productivity
Clocking in and out. Good attendance. Ticking tasks off a list. That one employee that always wants to remind you late they worked last night.
Yep, the more time an employee spent sat at their desk, glued to the computer screen, the more it was assumed that they were being productive.
Virtual platforms have made employee engagement more transparent than ever. Asana, for example, lets team leaders set tasks and monitor performance in real time.
Output-based productivity monitoring is the way forward. Many businesses were already using Asana or Jira platforms BC (Before Covid). However, with more and more people working from home, expect online platforms to become the norm.
More communication
Maybe we can’t have a gossip in the office kitchen or go for after-work drinks like we used to in the good old days, but in some ways, lockdown has brought us closer together.
Many people now communicate more than they used to, albeit in a different, more socially distanced way.
Whether you’re chasing up on a report or need help making a deadline, there has been more communication between colleagues during the coronavirus pandemic than prior to it. When you’re working alone from your dining room all day, a video call can be a welcome bit of communication, even if it’s just for a chat about the weather.
Collaboration tools are great, Bonding with your colleagues over Zoom? Even better.
Increased automation
The future is here. Disappointingly, there are no jetpacks or hoverboards in sight, but we do now have call handling services, automated report generation and distribution, and other automated tools that will help make your work day infinitely less stressful.
And, they’ll support the operations of your business, especially for employees working from home. Bet a jetpack couldn’t do that.
Change is Good
The times they are a-changing indeed.
If you’re embracing the WFH home life, virtual assistant services are an indispensable way to take your business to the next level, allowing you to free up your time to focus on what matters most – pretending that your camera isn’t working … so you can stay in your jammies.
Find out what we can do for your business by contacting SmartPA today.
