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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we think about working forever. With more than three quarters of people now working remotely, organizations are being pushed to innovate like never before. [This isn’t a temporary shift either, a pre-pandemic Economist prediction stated that by 2035 there could be one billion “location independent” workers.] Instead of bringing productivity to a halt, organizations are turning to cloud technologies, remote monitoring tools, and IT automation to overcome the many challenges that come with the pandemic.
Cloud
Perhaps the most obvious push has been the urgent need for cloud technologies. As a majority of the workforce is now working remotely, cloud-based collaboration tools are in increasing demand. These tools make working remotely much more manageable and allow users to perform the same work virtually as they would have done in the office, creating a sense of normalcy. Not only can organizations stay on schedule with meetings, but they also benefit from real-time communication, global accessibility, shared data, and simple deployment and maintenance.
Collaboration isn’t the only thing that cloud technologies offer. Cloud infrastructures give organizations the flexibility to scale accordingly, which is crucial during uncertain times. Physical data centres simply don’t allow the same kind of flexibility. Cloud infrastructures and SaaS apps take the headache out of scaling hardware and bandwidth, allowing workers to connect to an organization’s network through their home internet.
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) Tools
Shifting over to remote work does not have to mean loss of productivity. While it’s understood that working from home during a pandemic comes with its own nuances, many organizations are turning to remote monitoring and management tools to help track employee productivity [to make sure employees are working efficiently]. ActivTrak, Teramind, Hubstaff, and Time Doctor are just a few leading U.S. based remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool providers.
RMM tools are important for more than just efficiency; selecting the right tool can help decrease client downtime and make sure that equipment consistently runs at peak performance. Proactively monitoring devices and equipment allows organizations to nip any problem that arises in the bud. RMM tools also allow organizations to monitor devices accessing their networks and get any possible security threats under control.
IT Automation
The pandemic has presented a new set of challenges within the realm of IT. In order to maintain customer uptime and operate at full capacity, it’s important for data centres to run smoothly and at full capacity. However, social distancing rules and fear of an outbreak can make this difficult. IT automation is a popular solution that organizations are turning to in order to streamline business processes. Data centres have always relied on process automation, like the use of environmental sensors in racks and servers, giving companies broader control over the infrastructure.
The three main automation technologies currently are Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML).
The most popular of the three is RPA. Organizations can use Robotic Process Automation to eliminate tedious work. RPA is software programmed to mimic human action and take on IT systems. One perk of RPAs is that they don’t make mistakes and can work around the clock. Organizations can streamline operations by automating simple business processes that would otherwise take up valuable time. Workers can then focus on what’s important, producing higher quality work.
As organizations adapt to this new way of life, they should think of these methods not only as temporary solutions but also as lasting investments. Remote work isn’t going anywhere after the pandemic ends. RMM tools, IT automation, and cloud technologies are all beneficial no matter the setting.
