Remote working is now a major part of modern business life, with technology making this feasible even for sectors, such as customer service, recruiting and HR, where physical location traditionally mattered.
Changing norms after the pandemic, together with the evolution of digital tools, has led to widespread acceptance of remote, hybrid and flexible work.
Proponents of remote work point to the benefits of improved work-life balance and reduced operational costs, while critics raise concerns over the potential negative effects on teamwork, communication, and the development of less experienced employees.
Workers are increasingly expecting more flexibility from their employers and this is supported by
new legislation, coming in on 6 April, that includes allowing employees to
request flexible working from Day 1 of starting a job.
So how can SMEs use technology to manage the reality of changing work patterns?
Meeting The Challenges
Diverse working arrangements are a fact of life for many, but this can make it harder to manage teams who are dispersed across multiple locations or who don’t share the same working hours – especially when it comes to project management and collaboration.
The key is in finding the right tools to manage staff effectively wherever they’re based, so that productivity doesn’t suffer and objectives can be realised as effectively as when everyone is in the same physical location.
Easy, Accurate Time Tracking
WorkSmarter’s
Time & Attendance service offers SMEs a secure and seamless solution that helps maintain productivity and accountability within their teams, regardless of location.
With features tailored to support remote and on-site employees alike, employers can bridge the gap between different work environments so that teams who are geographically separated can still effectively manage their projects and collaborative work.
- Simplify the process of tracking work hours, breaks and project time from one easy to use centralised platform.
- Maintain accurate records for more effective results and transparency.
- Check-Ins are easy using QR codes or a single tap from your mobile device so staff can record their start, finish and break times from any location.
- Geolocation auto-detects whether staff are working from the office or home.
- Real-time updates show who’s on duty and who’s taking a break – helping staff plan better and synchronise shared activities.
- Detailed Timesheet entries allow better project tracking – managers can monitor progress, performance, review workload capacity, and provide support at the earliest stage.
- Customise employee settings for more tailored management to meet the unique demands of different roles and projects.
- Set individual rates of hourly pay, all calculated automatically.
- Export to your payroll software, or track time for billing client projects.
- Detailed reports help to analyse your important information and inform strategic decision-making.
Affordable Technology Solutions
Organising a dispersed team is far easier when businesses have access to the appropriate technology that can support employees at every level of the company.
Building in digital capability makes it easier to accommodate more flexible, efficient working practices and ensures managers have transparency and oversight of their teams.
Talk to us to see how WorkSmarter’s intuitive platform can help simplify your people management in a time of rapid change.
Book a demo with one of our friendly platform specialist advisers.
