Q & A
EDITOR ’ S
When one mentions remote working , the following technology comes to mind : Virtual Reality , single identity , virtual private networks , videoconferencing , file sharing , messaging , AI and Machine Learning , time tracking tools , encrypted data , 4G and 5G .
The way we work is changing , and our perception of distributed working has shifted , but the future won ’ t be about remote working . Remote working often means taking office-based employees and enabling them to work from home . Whereas , the future-ready workforce looks
IAN JANSEN VAN RENSBURG , SENIOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER AND LEAD TECHNOLOGIST AT VMWARE SUB- SAHARAN AFRICA
at fully embracing the concept of being an ‘ anywhere organisation ’, and that requires culture and physical changes if organisations are going to be profitable and competitive in the near future .
It is crucial that businesses have the right leadership , culture and policies in place to ensure they attract and retain the talent they need . This new way of working has demonstrated proven benefits for employees through happiness , productivity and more frequent collaboration .
Technology is the key enabler for staff to work remotely . Employees should have a seamless and effortless experience when working from anywhere . Technologies like video conferencing programs , filesharing platforms , project management software , time tracking tools , new adaptive analytics and secure data access are helping employees who work from home . Only five years ago , many remote workers started each day with the time consuming ‘ prework ’ of prioritising their daily tasks , decisions often disconnected from whatever was happening at the main office .
With adaptive analytics , employees can log in to a system that has arranged tasks for them . Artificial Intelligence and advanced analytics enable employees to access the corporate work environment as if they were in the office .
The Internet affected numerous aspects of modern-day life . As technology races to bring more innovation into offices around the world , the landscape slightly changes each time , making work easier and more effective . One of the most important aspects of remote working is addressing what smart devices the employees will use to have access to applications and files .
Another area of technology that will expand in the future is Virtual Reality .
While not meeting the remote workforce ’ s expectations now , the technology has the power to further expand the value of communication . A virtual business meeting is a perfect example of taking things to the next level .
Education and training programmes can prove to be more productive experiences than in-person meetings , where immersive and interactive simulations ensure information is readily available and easily digestible for collaboration and sharing .
5G is a promising development that should scale up the flexibility of working with a smartphone or laptop from any location . Its predecessor , 4G , has already done a decent job at this , but it leaves a lot to be desired .
The role of technology in everyday life is fundamental , opening seemingly endless possibilities . In business terms , along with tangible benefits , it created an expectation that a worker should have the freedom to work remotely , without the constraints of an office desk or a time zone . And the truth is that people love working remotely . As more specialised professionals demand more freedom in regard to their work schedules and locations , we see companies introduce remote working policies instead of their traditional policies in order to keep up with this globally accepted practice . The future of remote working is here .
Employees should have a seamless and effortless experience when working from anywhere .
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