CovIT: Technology in the time of coronavirus
Written by Adrian Law on
Without a doubt, coronavirus has been a tragedy for many people, both around the world and locally. Yet for those fortunate enough to still be in work, we’ve been asked to continue “business as normal” as much as possible. Despite the many disruptions to our regular schedules, the most obvious being the requirement for most to stay at home, businesses have been able to continue running with the help of technology. Here are just some of the ways you can leverage technology to continue being productive at home:
1. Work from Home
It almost doesn’t need to be said, working from home is on the forefront of everyone’s minds now. But there are various factors that can boost efficiency and effectiveness of your work from home arrangements, and several options available to businesses.
Depending on your office’s structure and requirements, you could be ready to simply allow your employees to bring their computer, monitor and peripherals home. Or you might want to deploy a fleet of laptops to better equip your employees for working remotely in the future. These IT deployments may require some time and financial investment to set up, but can boost productivity immediately.
A bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program is also an option, but bear in mind whether all of your employees own and are willing to use their own devices for work. Additionally, there security or administrative concerns to address regarding staff doing company work and accessing company information on a device your business doesn’t control. There are, of course, measures that can be taken to mitigate this risk, but it is a nevertheless a decision worth weighing up.
2. Remote Access
So your staff are all set up to work from home, but they need to access some of their files from a work server, perhaps backup their data. Enabling remote access to computers or servers at your office can be greatly beneficial for reducing employees’ need to rely on IT support or time-consuming phone calls over simple issues. Set up correctly, employees will be able to use a company-issued login to access the files from your server as if they were in the office. Both Microsoft Windows and macOS have capabilities for remote access, but bear in mind that it is important to secure your network when allowing devices to connect to your computers externally.
An alternative to enabling remote access on your server is to have data and programs available on an intranet, a portal website that staff can log into from a web browser. This method brings its own advantages and disadvantages. Expertise and time can be required to develop and maintain this system, but it can be a streamlined way of allowing staff to work from any device.
3. Video conferencing
Many of you would have heard of Zoom, or have existing preferences for video conferencing software and/or equipment. The need for high-quality video and audio devices is clearly seen in the short supply of webcams and microphones in stores around the country. Video conferencing is an essential tool especially for larger businesses, so that staff can continue to hold meetings and keep teams up to date.
Equipment or software doesn’t even need to be a barrier in some cases. While it is useful to have high-quality communication in many circumstances, and in your main office, even a laptop or mobile phone can be sufficient for simple conversations or meetings, and many free platforms are already available for meetings of 2 or 3 people. These can all be considerations as you think of how much you want to invest into enabling video conferencing for you and your staff.
Looking forward
Chances are, your business is already working from home and has even implemented some of this technology. How can you be applying this experience to the way you work once the situation clears up?
Perhaps you’ve realised from these new working arrangements that your staff are more productive working from home, or that they don’t need to be in the office 5 days a week. Or maybe it’s the opposite – you’ve seen how much more valuable it is for your staff to meet face-to-face. Whatever the case may be, now is a great opportunity to see how technology can help you maximise productivity, by returning to normal or forging a new normal ahead.
Working from home is already an initiative many businesses have implemented, and it can come to yours, too. There will be some upfront investment of time and money needed, but consider the benefits to your staff’s productivity and satisfaction. Whether your staff stay at home or return to the office, technology today can enable us to be productive in, and despite, any circumstances, so what better time to keep your business on top of IT?
For technology support in any of the areas mentioned above, or anything else your business needs, LOTUS can handle IT. Find out more about our services, or contact us here.