While remote work is a benefit for job seekers and employees, for managers and business leaders, permanent remote work is an unsettling prospect. According to an employer survey by Enterprise Technology Research, the percentage of people working from home will double by the end of 2021. Even big companies like Facebook and Twitter have had to walk back on plans to end permanent remote work options and find other options with employees keenly focused on remote work advantages.
Employers, however, are concerned to turn an emergency remote work transition into standard practice.
To get a grip of how things might work with a permanent work from home, employers need to look at the decade-long operation of business process outsourcing (BPO). From customer payroll services, customer support to accounting, companies have remote partners to oversee important front-office and back-office solutions.
A study by Grand View Research study has shown that an expected compound annual growth rate of 8.5% is expected from the $232.32 billion BPO industry from 2021 to 2028.
Here let us make it clear that outsourcing business processes are nowhere equivalent to overseeing a remote internal team. An outsourcing company is highly mature when it comes to performing its tasks. Successful outsourcing businesses do not shy away from creating far-off time zones, on-site teams, off-site teams, and hiring specialists.
If not replicating, employers can learn lessons from the outsourcing industry to ensure successful internal team remote work.
Lesson 1: Return to Office
Knowledge and understanding can not come from far. High technology, high-speed internet, exceptional service with Spectrum Internet Español, or incredible digital engagement with Zoom, Slack, Microsoft team, and many more working to ease remote work.
Outsourcing leaders have a good understanding of how to bring their team back to the office. Touch the rock- is a frequently used term in the outsourcing industry. It refers to getting the employee back to the office to meet their team in person and to ensure all members are heads on with business culture, vision, and strategy.
Remote workers need to do the same in the office when required. Many businesses have come to a solution by offering a hybrid work model isolated from full-time office or full-time remote standards.
Lesson 2: Know the Metrics
One of the crucial factors for success in the outsourcing industry is having a sharp eye on metrics and measurement. The outsourcers need to meet the goals and exceed key performance indicators (KPIs) to validate their clients. Organizations that are looking towards ways to integrate remote working into their office culture should consider this aspect. By measuring remote workers, commitment, focus, and progress, they can make the blending of remote work easier in their culture.
Lesson 3: Hours Availability
Due to workspace and time zone differences in outsourcing companies to understand the importance of availability and work hours. Clients need to know when their outsourcing partners are available to give them progress reports, answer their questions, and more.
This rule can also be applied to companies that have successful remote working practices happening. A set of schedule on-office hours can work as the availability and working hours to keep the disputed team connected. Employees who can work from home think of it as a luxury to work whenever they want. Scheduled work hours will push them to show their availability at the scheduled work hours.
Lesson 4: Amplify Feedback and Recognition
The top outsourcing companies are excellent when it comes to paying attention, recognizing, and rewarding the employees that have shown hard work. From employee recognition to performance and engaging remote talents, companies can build a pattern that encourages employees into performing their best.
Critical Strategy
Whether you hire an external resource or an in-house remote worker, hardworking, committed, and talented. People can also contribute their share of efforts to build a successful company. However, companies need to keep them connected and appreciated if they want to enhance their performance.