The arrival of COVID-19 has shifted the dynamics of the business and working landscape. Many major companies and corporations such as the likes of Google, Twitter, and Amazon have been encouraging staff to work remotely. Locally, Telstra has advised that Australian-based office staff that are able to do so should work from home until the end of the month at this stage.
We may now well see the working from home culture become far more commonplace. According to research by Indeed, 68% of Australian employers report their company now allows employees to work remotely.
If you haven’t already, it’s not too late to set in motion a plan for your business continuity and implement a work from home policy. Arrow has successfully employed at home staff and is implementing a wider work from home strategy that can be easily rolled out and implemented should it be required.
What’s great about cloud-based communication software and technology is that workers can communicate and collaborate from any location. Inbound virtual PBX Call Management allows business to manage their inbound call flow easily, and adapt to any situation that prevents workers from being in the office.
If you don’t know where to start, we’ve compiled a handy reference list of what you’ll need to do to start planning your work from home business strategy.
1. VoIP Softphones
Setup your work from home staff with a VoIP softphone. This is an application that enables a desktop or laptop to function as a phone via VoIP. All that’s needed is a headset or hand-held device. The softphone software can perform the full range of telephone features available through traditional systems, such as conferencing and call forwarding.
2. Call Routing
There’s no need for your key staff and sales team to be office based. You can manage your inbound calls seamlessly with inbound virtual PBX call management. For a small investment you’ll be able to direct and divert your inbound calls to a specified individuals or teams of staff who can be at home answering calls on their mobiles. IVR auto-attendent allows for callers to access specific parts of the business such as sales and customer service and have their call directed accordingly. Missed calls can be answered by a voicemail to email service and directed to your chosen recipient.
3. Cloud-Based File Access, Storage and Sharing
Having a centralised file sync and share solution is critical for successful collaboration on projects and documents. Some of the essential features to look for are:
4. Web Conferencing
Working from home can feel isolating at times. Staying connected with colleagues boosts morale and productivity. Web conferencing and chat brings your team together from any location and any device. The right web conferencing setup will allow your team to work on projects, share updates and conduct client meetings.
Some of the features to look for a conferencing platform are audio and HD video capabilities, screen share, file sharing, messaging and phone dial-in.
5. Remote IT Support Desk
Managing IT issues for your remote staff has the potential to drain precious resources and time. Teaming up with a Managed Service provider will allow you to provide IT support to your remote staff by allowing IT experts to access their device and diagnose the issue.
To Conclude
Implementing a successful work from home strategy takes careful planning and most importantly, investing in the right technology that enables remote work. In uncertain times it pays to have a contingency plan in place to ensure your business continuity.
How can we help?
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of how to get the right tools in place for your at-home workforce?
Arrow are recognised experts in cloud communications and migration, with exclusive and premium partnerships with industry leaders including Avaya, 8×8, Mitel, Broadsoft, and Fuze.
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