A Guide to An Integrated Work from Home System

Thanks to the pandemic, working from home is increasingly common practice. This is a trend business leaders should welcome. A recent Stanford study found several benefits to this approach. Teleworkers were less distracted and more productive in their day-to-day roles. There was also an increase in job satisfaction. However, it is not as simple as deciding to allow team members to work remotely. It is important to ensure they also have the means to do so. If you are a manager looking to optimise your new work structure or an out-of-office employee, there are a few small measures that can significantly improve your workflow system.

Communication and integration

For Mac users, the mobile device management system allows employers to support employees working from home by applying settings and content on devices. This is a straightforward process. Simply ensure all devices have the latest operating system available and then configure settings or distribute content through Apple Business Manager.

For remote control, Anydesk has all the features and tools necessary to connect with desktops or servers in any location. It can be found in the App Store and is compatible with other Mac based systems as well as desktops running Windows or Linux. You can customise settings and users’ access to suit your needs. It is low in size and updates are automatic

The basis of any successful workplace is communication. Right now, the most popular team chat service is Slack and it is easy to see why. It offers private chat, group channels and guest accounts for messaging people inside or outside the organisation. In terms of video communication, Zoom and Skype both provide screen-sharing and are cross-platform ensuring everyone can communicate regardless of the device they are using. There are more sophisticated robotic telepresence devices available for those in search of a compromise. It is a means to have a presence in the office while being at home. Products like Double are self-driving, two-wheeled videoconferencing robots that allow for all of the benefits of an integrated, interactive workplace.

Equipment

For the employee, the tools at your disposal will have a big say in the efficiency of your workspace. The most important thing here is to plan ahead. List what you need to do and what you need to do it. Spending lots of time in video conferences? Invest in a good headset and mic. Plugging in a laptop to a monitor? Get an adapter and plug your keyboard, mouse and charging cables into that. If your job involves plenty of paperwork a printer with scanning capabilities is essential.

Productivity

Other helpful tools include:

• Alfred (hotkeys, keyword shortcuts)
• Clockify (time tracking)
• Google alerts (calendar planning and reminders)
• Freedom (distraction blocker)
• Todoist (task management)