Expanding Horizons: How to Build a Team Scattered Across the World?
Modern business is adapting to new market conditions. While in the past, preference was given to the classic five-day work week with mandatory office attendance from 9 to 18, today companies are actively establishing remote employment.
Why has remote work become so popular, how to ensure a seamless process for a team scattered across the world, and what tools are needed for this? We'll cover these topics in our new article.
Top 3 reasons why remote work is a good idea
A few years ago, companies started actively implementing a system of "perks" to attract new employees. Competitive prices for the company's products and services, free coffee, delicious cookies, and a shortened Friday are good bonuses. Today, the absence of these perks is considered outdated.
After the pandemic in 2020, another "magnet" was added to this list. Office employees were allowed to work from home. The crisis has passed, but many companies have retained the option for their team to have a more flexible work schedule. It has been discovered that this format has many advantages.
Hiring employees worldwide: Large companies are competing for top-notch professionals who are located in different cities and countries. By offering them remote work regardless of their place of residence, a company gains a significant advantage over its competitors.
Cost optimization: By allowing employees to work from home at least a few times a week, a company can reduce its expenses. This becomes possible due to the absence of the need to rent large office spaces, pay for transportation tickets, and cover travel expenses for employees. Additionally, the cost of hiring highly skilled professionals in other countries can be lower. #0a84ff
Increased productivity: According to a study by Perceptyx, people have quickly adapted to remote work. Employee loyalty and efficiency have significantly increased as a result of experiencing less fatigue, saving time on commuting, and being able to dedicate more attention to themselves and their families in this work mode.
By the way, analysts are confident that following the shift to remote work, the market can expect another change - the adoption of a four-day work format. The effectiveness of reducing the workweek was first studied by Icelandic researchers. From 2015 to 2019, employees worked 30-35 hours per week instead of the usual 40 hours, while receiving the same pay. It was found that not only did their productivity not decline, but it even increased. According to the employees themselves, this was made possible by finding a balance between work and personal life.
Why are some companies not happy with this new trend?
The reasons for resistance can vary. For example, Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix, stated in his interviewwith The Wall Street Journal that 'the inability to meet in person, especially on an international level, is a significant drawback.'
Another reason is the unsuccessful experiences of other companies, or simply the unwillingness to reshape established traditions. This is understandable: anything new is always approached with caution, mistakes are inevitable, and time is needed for the system to adjust. However, the modern world dictates new rules, which means that thinking and approaches to work need to change.
The experiences of well-known companies confirm that embracing and developing new trends is much more effective than fighting against them. Zapier, with a staff of over 200 employees, operates entirely remotely. GitHub, a subsidiary of Microsoft, has 1,200 employees from over 60 countries. We should not forget about giants like Adobe, Amazon, Spotify, Google, Facebook, and Airbnb, as they are actively implementing remote work and continue to demonstrate impressive results to the world
"We trust our employees and provide them with the opportunity to shape their work so that they can achieve the best results," said Roland Busch, the CEO of Siemens.
How to organize the work of a team both remotely and in the office?
It's not enough to simply make a decision to transition employees to remote or hybrid formats with office visits 2-3 times a week. It is necessary to ensure the technical infrastructure, including computers, microphones, cameras, and software.
For successful collaboration within the team, remote work should be integrated into the company's structure. Logitech, a pioneer in technology manufacturing, offers the best solutions for this. The brand's specialists have conducted numerous research studies to identify key challenges and business needs. This has led to the creation of a whole arsenal of tools that help bridge the distance and optimize remote work.
One of the most important processes is the transition of meetings and negotiations to the digital environment. Comprehensive video conferencing systems such as conference cameras, video bars, and speakerphones are commonly used for this purpose. According to Logitech and the National Agency for Financial Studies and Initiatives (NAFI), 52% of companies equipped with such systems use them from 1 to 3 times a week, while a quarter (24%) use them from 4 to 7 times a week.
Why does your business need Logitech equipment? Let's go through it step by step.
The brand brings together all the well-known video communication tools into a unified ecosystem. This means that the camera and headset, for example, will work seamlessly together. You won't have to waste time troubleshooting technical issues.
Employees can focus on their work tasks without being distracted by technical nuances. The setup and use do not require specific skills or the assistance of IT specialists, and software updates are available for free on the manufacturer's website.
The boundary between work in the office and at home (or anywhere else!) is practically erased. Logitech video cameras and headsets create a sense of real team presence due to their exceptional image quality and connection. Just imagine: Logitech cameras recognize human figures, human voices, and analyze lighting conditions. They automatically adjust image scaling and sound volume, while eliminating background noise.
Demonstrating excellent communication quality and using advanced technology highlights your business's high status and its commitment to excellence. This creates admiration and trust – people want to do business with such a company.
Logitech solutions allow for online meetings in rooms of any size. For small meeting rooms, we recommend the Rally Bar Minikit; for medium-sized rooms, the Rally Bar; and for large rooms, the Rally Plus. The speakers and microphones can be placed anywhere, expanding the coverage radius. Mounting options can also be individually tailored to each room.
Logitech products seamlessly integrate with Mac and other devices. They also have built-in video communication systems like MS Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet.
In addition to video conferencing, Logitech offers a wide range of peripheral devices.Mice and keyboards, presenters, device adapters, docking stations, headsets, and more. All of these will help blur the boundaries between cities and countries and establish a quality work process.
Unique service from ASBC Moldova: Free testing of Logitech products
Sometimes, doubts about the correctness of a decision can hold us back from trying something new. We offer you the opportunity to eliminate the guesswork and simply try it out!
ASBCis the official partner of Logitech in Moldova. The company always caters to corporate clients and provides equipment for free testing. You and your employees can experience any Logitech demo kit in action, identify the technological needs of your business, and dispel any doubts before making a purchase.
To submit a request, get in touch with our specialists or fill out the application form on our website.
Conclusions
Company leaders may debate for a long time about where their employees should work - in the office or at home. But instead of that, wouldn't it be better to ask the employees themselves what they want? Everyone is different, with some needing the camaraderie and energetic atmosphere of an office, while others prefer the tranquility and comfort of a home environment. Some may be forced to relocate, and letting go of a top-notch professional due to a change in their place of residence would be unwise.
The future belongs to companies that understand that, despite the importance of the process, it is the results that should be evaluated. Let people work from wherever they can bring the maximum benefit.