The Pros and Cons of a Remote Workforce

A remote workforce refers to a team of workers employed by a company but do not work within the office environment. Such employees are given their tasks and allowed to work from a local coworking space, home or any other external location. Some companies employ workers who work from as far as a different state or a city across the world.

The Pros of a Remote Workforce

Below are some advantages of employing a remote workforce;

1. Flexibility

The main pro is that employees can achieve company goals and complete project from anywhere they find fit. It means that employees have the freedom to design their schedule so that they can experience both their personal and professional life to the fullest. It means that employees can get more work done. The work done is also of better quality.

2. Reduced costs

Employing a remote workforce reduces costs by eliminating items like access control security systems from the budget. Access control security systems, include doors, biometrics and other entry systems. Instead of access control systems used in traditional offices, to manage a remote workforce, you can use virtual access control system measures. Virtual access control refers to an entry system that is used to limit access to a system or a virtual resource. For instance, an access control system requires a remote worker to enter specific credentials before gaining access to a company’s systems. It allows the IT department to keep track of what is happening with the remote workers through the entry systems. Therefore, you do not need to organize for CCTV installation.

3. Innovation

Hiring a remote workforce is also a mode of promoting innovation. With freedom and flexibility, employees are encouraged to exercise innovation while completing their projects.

Cons of a Remote Workforce

Hiring a remote workforce is not something that you can decide to embark on without a plan. You require an intricate system that will help you manage the workforce.

1. Managing the WorkForce is Challenging

With a workforce situated at a traditional office, you can easily manage the employees at a personal level, even when you are not around, you can use systems like CCTV installation to check on what is happening. With a remote workforce, it is hard to do this because you mostly have no idea where the team is working.

2. Delayed Delivery

Another challenge is that delivery of results like completion of projects can be delayed because you do not have control over the workforce. The delays may not be intentional as issues like power outages can foster them. At a traditional office, you can avoid such delays by using tools like ACCL. An ACCL is a tool that provides automatic switching between the main power supply and a generator in case of a power outage. Distractions can also lead to delayed deliveries.

Types of Jobs Done by a Remote Workforce

Some jobs that can be given to a remote workforce include;

. Marketing- companies use remote workforce to perform roles like email marketing, sending out newsletters, omnichannel marketing, and sending email funnels. Mailchimp offers a variety of Omnichannel marketing services, email marketing and email funnels. Mailchimp is also a designer of newsletters; hence can be hired as a remote workforce.

. Analytics- companies also hire remote workers to perform and analyze company and business analytics. For instance, Mokee’s mini cot bed business uses remote workers to run their analytics department and cot marketing.

Conclusion

The remote workforce is yet another result of the technological revolution. Companies save a lot of money from employing remote workers. The main money saver is the fact that companies don’t have to rent large office spaces for employees.