More and more businesses around the world are giving their employees the benefit of working from home. Not only that, but they are actually seeking top talents in various countries, in order to create the best and most efficient remote teams. We can’t help but wonder, are remote teams becoming the future of work?

Chances are you know someone who is a remote worker or is one yourself. And the number is increasing by the minute. Years ago, remote teams weren’t even a possibility. Traditional office work was considered the only way, and if you wanted to reach someone after working hours it was absolutely impossible. Nowadays, things have changed. Remote teams are becoming more and more popular, and there is a good reason for it.

What’s in it for businesses?

Good question. If you have a team you can overlook from 9 to 5 and make sure they’re working on their tasks, why give them the benefit of working from home? Well, it has been proven that remote teams can be even more efficient.

Not only do you have a team you can always count on, but they are actually more engaged and tend to log more hours. When you think about it, having someone sit in the office all day does not really make sure they’re getting their work done.

Remote workers love the fact that they get to work from home, and are working hard in order to prove that remote teams can accomplish great things. Think about it. If having remote teams were ineffective, would they keep growing?

By having remote teams, companies are not only getting valuable and loyal employees, but they are also saving a lot. Just think about how much you spend each year on office space and the bills that come with it. It actually pays off.

Keep your team engaged

Your remote team is already motivated and productive, but how do you keep them engaged? Easy. Communicate.

Because remote teams are growing each day, companies are developing multiple solutions to their everyday problems. Luckily communication is no longer one of them. Now we have so many online tools we can use for chat, video calls, sharing files and so much more.

Slack might be the first one that comes to your mind, but there are so many other great tools as well. When we were a small team, the entire communication was easy. However, as our team grew, we had to find some effective tools to keep things running smoothly, and Slack was the first one to join our team. That’s one of the reasons we created Vacation Tracker. It’s the easiest way to track your team’s vacations and days off. And with that, another one of our problems was solved.

However, even though we have all these online tools to help manage remote teams easier than ever, we should never forget that meeting face-to-face is still the best way to keep your team engaged. When meeting in person, remote workers will create bonds, and working together from different locations will be even easier.

Another great thing about meeting in person is that your remote workers will get to know their management better, and won’t have a problem coming to you when they have something they want to talk about.

There are disadvantages…

Needless to say, remote teams are amazing. However, there are some disadvantages that can be solved rather quickly. As we’ve mentioned, working from different countries means your team members won’t get to talk very often and establish relationships. However, that’s when various communication channels and team building come into play.

But, you need to know how to manage all those communication channels in order for them to work. Create a messaging plan, so everyone can contact whoever they need to, and schedule daily or weekly meetings in order to share company updates with everyone. Only with this system can you have loyal employees who give their best day after day.

For a deeper dive into best practices, check out our guide on managing remote employees for tips on building structure, maintaining communication, and supporting your team across time zones.

Are Remote Teams Becoming the Future of Work?

Even though some companies are still not ready to let their employees work from home, the fact is that remote teams are growing. And they are growing fast. Many have realized the benefits it offers and are not willing to give them up.

“People today really value workplace flexibility and remote work because it allows them to focus their energies on work and life as opposed to commuting or other complications due to geography.” — Ken Matos, Vice President of Research, Life Meets Work”

Remote teams are becoming increasingly popular, and it can definitely be said that they are the future of work. The only way to have satisfied employees is to respect their work-life balance, communicate openly, and in return, you’ll get top talent and a successful company.

Aleksandra Cvetkovic

Aleksandra has been with the team since day one, bringing her passion for all things marketing.