According to GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, the amount of people that work from home has grown 103 percent since 2005 and 3.8 million employees now work from home half of the time. With remote work on the rise, it is becoming increasingly important for managers to know how to manage these types of teams. Encouraging communication, having processes in place and making sure your team is focused are keys to successfully managing a remote support team.
Open Communication Tools
Communication is key in any work environment whether it is with a remote team or on-site team. Having open lines of communication, especially in a remote team situation, allows your team to stay up-to-date on deadlines, upcoming work, company information and more. An efficient way to encourage open communication is by using Slack, “team communication for the 21st century.” Slack is a communication tool that allows you to chat with team members, share files, organize projects and make phone or video calls. Slack is a free tool with an option to upgrade to paid subscriptions that allow more storage and additional benefits. Using a communication tool such as Slack will help keep your entire team on track and up-to-date and lessens the communication burdens of remote workers. Once a communication system is in place, processes should be put in place for everything else.
Manage Work Flow
Just like communication, processes help keep your employees on track. Processes allow you to track your employees work while helping your employees ensure they are getting the job done efficiently and correctly. A great process to put in place immediately is using Trello, a task management website. This allows processes to be made for any and all tasks your team need to complete. Employees can easily be assigned to a task or project boards. Managers can then view and know when a task is complete or where an employee is on the project. Now that a process is put in place to track your employees work, you must get them to focus on completing the work.
Increase Production Efficiency
Working remotely comes with a variety of distractions you typically wouldn’t come across in an office. From cooking meals, to doing laundry and watching your favorite show – these are all tempting habits for remote workers. To increase a remote workers’ focus encourage your staff to have a separate office space in their home – somewhere away from the TV. Having a designated office space will feel more like a work environment and limit the distractions around them. Also encourage your team to head to a coffee shop a few times a week. This can promote both focus and creativity.
Another tempting distraction is our favorite social media sites. One way to combat this is with site blockers. Employees can set a specific amount of time to have Facebook, Twitter, etc. blocked and keeps them focused on their tasks. A great site blocker for Chrome is StayFocusd.
Technology has evolved so much that we no longer have to be at work to get our job done. Through communication, processed and focus, managers can successfully manage their remote teams. Remote work is the way of the future and these tips will help both workers and managers to be successful in their remote role.
Data Migration Support: Adapting to Today, Ready for Tomorrow
Computer, laptops, mobile devices and the Internet are pervasive in today’s world. Businesses in different industries increasingly benefit from the developments in digital technologies for smoother and more efficient operations. Technical processes such as data migration is fast becoming one of the most important and frequent upgrades for businesses. The obvious benefits of data migration are not just data protection but also better guarantees of the smooth flow of business operations. And there is no better way to embark on secure and efficient data transfers than to partner with industry specialistsre business operations.
Data Migration and Hiring Specialists
System updates boost the performance of your computerized business operations to stay at par with the competition or cater to the changing industry demands. Data migration is a necessity during these upgrades of digital equipment, software, hardware and other devices. The process of transferring all digital data from one server to a virtualized server protects essential files or data from viruses, breaches, losses, hacks, and other virtual threats.
Moving your data to a digital server secures and guards them whether for minor updates or a complete system overhaul. Data are temporarily inaccessible during the migration process. Data transfer to another server is a complex and technologically advanced method that requires specific expertise. You may have IT personnel that oversees the digital operations of your business. However, there is a world of difference when you hire dedicated specialists for the job.
Perks of Working with the Experts
Why outsource data migration services when it can be done internally? Project support experts for data migration services have the proper, up-to-date training, best available software, and the most appropriate equipment for the job. Appointing an inexperienced employee may not do them or your business justice as transferring data poses risks of corrupting or losing your valuable data in the process. Your business data are sensitive and vital for operations. Entrusting them in the hands of a specialist who conducts these services day in and day out is the safest choice for your business.
Professional project support services for data migration make sure that there is minimal or no disruption with your business operations and transactions. Experts use innovative data transfer software and methods that makes your network fully functional in no time. Advanced data migration boosts your network operation to its maximum potential.
Key Phases in the Data Migration Process
Data migration is a salient task that safeguards important and confidential business data while securely transferring data from one place of your choosing to another. Successful data migration starts with a partnership with data transfer experts that have industry experience, expertise, and a relevant plan of action suited to your business needs.
3 main stages of the data migration process:
1. Planning
Data migration specialists closely work with your team and help map out a plan for an efficient data transfer. Working with professionals saves you valuable time in conceptualizing the best methods and framework for effective data migration.
2. Data Reformat
Data reformat makes your old files compatible and accessible to the new digital server. Your business benefits from the smooth transition and migration of data that consequently avoids disruption of operation and workflow.
3. Data Backup
Project support experts back up your data as a failsafe in case there are glitches during the transfer process. Data backup is a security measure to avoid file corruption and loss which provides a huge peace of mind for your business.
Data migration is the salient process of data transfer and database preservation. System upgrades are only fully effective and secure when there is a foolproof data migration support plan. It is the key to boost your business’ digital system for better network capacity, high performance, and reliability. Hire data migration specialists with the right expertise and knowledge for a smooth data transition process.
Planning Ahead for Big Projects? Get Ready-to-go Support with Staff Augmentation Services
Large-scale projects benefit from extra personnel to carry out voluminous tasks at a given period of time and at short notice. Companies commit their resources to other ongoing projects and if a new one emerges, it needs additional labor support with the same professionalism and performance that are expected of all employees. Outsourcing the task of searching for skilled staff experienced in project support, whether IT or NOC, prevents work downtime or extension of the duration of current projects. Staff augmentation services provide much needed support for businesses when they need it the most whether for support, technical expertise or management assistance.
Why partner with staff augmentation specialists? These professionals have the experience in sourcing the right technical skills and scaling up for projects. Investing in specialist services for staff augmentation of project support and project management tasks, saves you the money, time, and energy that would be better allotted to core business operations.
Staff Augmentation Services Up Close
Staff augmentation is a business strategy that outsources short-notice or standby staff, providing your business with the extra capacity it needs and when it needs it the most. The project support solution of staff augmentation means the added resources are there such as a temporary workforce, additional skilled staff, who can meet the changing demands of operations and achieve current business project goals.
It is a viable business strategy that is beneficial for all types of businesses in different industries such as Retail, Communications, Financial, Healthcare, and Data Centers. These industries have dynamic operations and needs depending on the demands of the clients and overall market.
Key Processes in Staff Augmentation
1. Sourcing and Management
Project support specialists help source additional staff and managers with relevant experience and skills. Your business benefits from professional services to find the best workforce for your project through scoping out, sourcing and managing your business requirements.
2. Create a Workforce Plan
Specialists closely coordinate with the client, learn and understand the business and project requirements and create a workforce plan based on the results. Businesses partnering with effective staff augmentation experts benefit from a strong workforce plan that is built upon the mission framework of their business.
3. Plan Structure and Coverage
Staff augmentation specialists provide assistance in planning and mapping out a hierarchical structure for smooth workflow. Additional personnel will know where to go, what their assignments are, and who their supervisors are, without wasting time and valuable resources. Daily business operations and productivity are fully covered without disruptions.
4. Hiring and Training
Project support experts have industry expertise and tools to search for competent and highly qualified staff based on your required specific skill sets. Staff augmentation specialists help train additional employees for competence and reliability in the field. Your business benefits in having managers and personnel with proven industry expertise and experience. Outsourcing the HR to resource and hire staff for project support delegates the task and facilitates fast hiring of the right personnel.
5. Procurement and Logistics
Project support partners also cover any tasks to purchase necessary equipment. They plan logistics, and maintain and update employee databases. Your business gets help from trusted experts in the implementation and management of support staff from their deployment to the end of the project contract.
6. Monitoring and Performance Report
This monitoring service reviews the staff augmentation program and gathers salient tools for reference on future projects. The process guarantees smooth project management and flawless implementation of business operations throughout the project.
Project support specialists in staff augmentation have the knowledge, industry expertise, and resources to guarantee excellent results. Working with the right partner gives you more than a recruitment expert. The upsides of partnership with the specialists boost business growth regardless of the demands and changes in your respective niche.
