Changing times call for an audit of your technology systems.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US nearly two years ago, it didn’t just force entire labor forces to take their work home; it forced businesses to completely alter their training, processes and technology systems.

Although the media has harped on pandemic outcomes to a frustrating end, the fact remains: COVID-19 has drastically changed the landscape of the working world. And with the threat of the Omicron variant looming, it’s safe to say that many of the changes we’ve experienced are permanent.

After all, there are plenty of benefits to remote work for both employers and employees – all of which you’re probably familiar by now.

But, working from home does not come without challenges. Especially for mid- to large-size companies, there is a great deal of complexity involved in training, operating and engaging employees from remote locations.

Of course, one of the most crucial components to operations at any company is technology. As if businesses didn’t feel the pressures of digital transformation already, now company leaders and IT departments are faced with the challenge of not only equipping remote employees with the right tools, but ensuring they are trained to use them effectively.

According to Gartner, “… many still question how to accelerate technology innovation to achieve continuous success in business operations through remote work. CIOs and Infrastructure leaders need to reconsider technological shifts and bring in new ideas and technologies to support employee productivity and define the ‘Future of Work.’”

Leaders dealing in regulatory compliance, including those in healthcare, financial services and insurance, face particular pressure as they balance the need to protect their employees with the demands of highly technical and data centric industries.

Fortunately, it’s never too late to upgrade your systems or make adjustments to the way you work. If you’re in the market for a new technology solution, here are three attributes you should look for in a tool:

Accessible

These days, most technologies are considered accessible to the average user. But there’s more to accessibility than basic entry. Does your software require special downloads or VPN access? Is it available via mobile device? These questions are key to gauging user convenience and approachability.

In other words, accessibility means something different to everyone. Only once you’ve determined the degree of accessibility required for your business should you decide what tools are suited to support it.

Collaborative

The most obvious issue to come with remote work is the lack of collaboration. Conversations that used to take place over desks and water coolers have been moved online – but not always to the benefit of workers.

Software – no matter its function – should simplify user interaction and facilitate conversation in a way that feels natural. Often, that means integrating with other enterprise systems to streamline communications. The easier it is for users to collaborate and get what they need, the less training and intervention will be required by IT.

Secure

Before COVID-19 entered the picture, security was one of the number one issues facing large businesses. Now, with employees operating from home – often on unapproved devices and with little IT oversight – security concerns have only intensified.

Even if you believe your technology to be secure, it’s best to do a thorough vetting of your service providers’ systems and their protocols. How do your vendors identify and respond to vulnerabilities? Do they possess certifications such as HITRUST and SOC 2? Steer clear of broad security claims and ask the tough questions to ensure you’re getting the real deal.

Powered by ViaTech, Symphio is one example of a technology tool built specifically for modern organizations. In fact, it just received a coveted Brandon Hall Group gold award for excellence in the Best Advance in Technology Innovation for the Remote Workforce category.

Symphio was developed as an alternative to traditional customer communications management tools, most of which are outdated and expensive to maintain. The platform can be accessed from any web browser with the right credentials – no special downloads needed. And because the tool automates the document creation process, users require very little training or knowledge of the product suite in order to execute customer communications.

Users can also analyze documents and make changes at the same time, without impacting existing content arrangements. Like all other aspects of the platform, these parallel processing capabilities were incorporated to promote collaboration and make it easier to facilitate remote work.

If you’re interested in understanding how Symphio can support your remote business, contact our team or visit symphio.com to learn more.