The Rise of Remote Teams in the Workplace of the Future

Due to the pandemic, remote work has become the new normal for many people. Flexjobs surveyed global workers and found that 63% of them prefer to have a remote work job.

There are various reasons for this like they have a better work-life balance, the convenience of not having to commute, and increased productivity from having no distractions. Recently Microsoft conducted a survey and found that 90% of workers reported being more productive in a hybrid or remote work arrangement.

Remote work isn’t a new phenomenon. Before the industrial revolution, many people worked from home and practiced the trade their families specialized in. And the remote work as we know it has been around since the 1980s, which NASA engineer Jack Nilles coined “telecommuting.”


However, many are wondering where remote work business trends will go from here now that many areas are loosening covid restrictions. If you want to learn more about these business trends and the insights from different professionals across sectors like translation services, marketing, and product designing, then keep on reading!

The Latest Business Trends for 2023

So much has changed over the years that it’s essential to be up-to-date with remote work business trends for 2023 and onwards. We have listed some notable trends in business that we think you should know about.

        Flexibility in the workforce — Remote and hybrid work management setups appeal to many employees due to their flexibility. However, this benefit has disrupted conventional work management and organizational structure, both public and private. Many governments worldwide are trying to catch up to this new workforce by creating policies and regulations about it. For example, how to implement tax policies on remote workers and freelancers as some work part-time or project-based.



        Implementation of automation and AI — Technology has significantly advanced and improved at quite a fast pace. With the rise of AI platforms like ChatGPT and DeepAI, work is expected to become more automated. According to Kissflow, automation increases by about 14% yearly.



        Increase need for specialization — Due to how competitive the market has become and the integration of automation in the workforce, many remote employees attend courses, programs, and seminars that would give them the skills and training to become more specialized in their field.

        Multicultural and multilingual workforce — The rise of remote work has given companies access to a broad talent pool leading to a more diverse workplace. Also, globalization has made it easier for many companies to also expand into new markets, especially with how convenient it is to get translation services.

        Increase in demand for cybersecurity — The advancements in technology have also caused a rise in cybercrime. According to TechTarget, it is predicted that by 2025 cybercrime would cost private and public sectors $10.5 trillion.

 

Benefits and Challenges of Remote Work

The reorganization of the workforce has brought advantages and disadvantages that employees and companies must face in the coming years. In the coming years, we must find effective ways to work around these remote work trends in the business sector.

5 Benefits of the Remote Work Business Trends

         Lower costs — Companies and employees can save more money by going remote. Businesses can cut costs on utilities, rent, and equipment. Meanwhile, employees don’t have to commute to work and pay additional costs for going out, like buying food and drinks from stores.

        Broadening job opportunities — As mentioned, remote work has widened the global talent pool and made jobs more widely accessible to people worldwide. It has allowed companies to get highly skilled individuals across borders.

        More autonomy — Remote workers have more autonomy and flexibility over the different types of content out there. This new setup encourages employees to take the initiative and discourages micromanaging from managers. According to Accountemps’ survey, 68% of participants said that micromanaging decreased their morale, while 55% said it hurt their productivity.

        Reduce carbon footprint — Because there is no need for offices and commuting, it will drastically reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption. Through remote work, businesses across different industries can fight against climate change in the long run.

        Improve employee retention — Some people think that remote work leads to high attrition within the company because employees will act lazy and unmotivated. However, Global Workplace Analytics reported it’s the opposite, as 95% of employers said remote work has positively impacted their company, while 46% of organizations that allowed remote work stated that they saw reduced attrition.

 

5 Challenges of Remote Work Business Trends

         Miscommunication — Nothing will replace face-to-face communication because you’re less likely to misunderstand each other. Because of this, it’s challenging for those living remotely who mostly rely on chats and emails. However, with the different tools available in the market

         Measuring productivity and mismanagement — Many businesses are hesitant to transition from an office-based model to a remote work one because they wouldn’t know how to measure an employee’s productivity, which leads to mismanagement.

         Vulnerable against cyberattacks — As mentioned, cybercrime is on the rise. A business without proper data protection and anti-malware protocols and systems exposes itself to hackers and ransomware.



         Loneliness and loss of motivation — According to Fortune, full-time remote workers were 67% more likely to experience loneliness than in-office workers. This can be problematic as strong camaraderie within an organization can lead to better communication, decrease attrition, and increase an employee’s morale.

         Investment in training and technology — Global business trends are constantly changing. If you’re not updated, your competitors can easily leave you behind. So to stay ahead of everybody else, you must know the latest technology and training programs. Obtaining these training and tools alone can be expensive for many remote workers, but it’s the only way to remain competitive in the global talent pool.



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