Remote Workforce Software: What You Really Need to Know
Workstatus
AI-powered workforce analytics for remote, hybrid & in-office teams. Enhance workplace productivity with real-time data.
The remote workforce is here to stay. According to a recent study, over 70% of companies plan to have some remote employees even after COVID-19.?
However, managing a productive and engaged distributed workforce requires the right technology stack.?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key capabilities your organization needs in remote workforce software and top tools to consider.
Did You Know?
74% of companies expect remote work will negatively impact workforce engagement and collaboration.?
However, the right remote workforce tech stack can minimize these risks while enabling productivity, security, culture, and innovation across virtual teams.?
Let’s dive into what you really need to know.
Challenges With Remote Workforce Management
Here are some major challenges with managing a remote workforce:
1. Communication and collaboration?
With employees working remotely, it can be difficult to maintain open communication and collaboration.?
Managers need strategies for keeping teams connected through video conferences, messaging platforms, and digital workspaces.
2. Productivity and time tracking?
Without being able to monitor employees in an office visually, measuring productivity can be challenging.?
Remote workforce management software provides tools for time tracking, activity monitoring, and project management to keep employees on task.
3. Onboarding and training
?Onboarding new remote employees lacks the in-person interactions that help build connections and understanding of company culture.?
Extra effort is required for thorough virtual training and making new hires feel welcome.
3. Technological issues?
Reliable technology is essential for a productive remote workforce. Troubleshooting IT problems can consume significant time and hurt output.?
Proper tech support resources are crucial.
4. Company culture
Maintaining a cohesive company culture is tougher without daily in-office engagement.?
Remote managers need to get creative, promoting culture through virtual events, communications, and periodic in-person gatherings.
5. Monitoring performance
Accurately evaluating the performance of remote workers relies heavily on setting clear expectations and metrics.?
Managers should regularly collect feedback and communicate wins and areas for improvement.
What Is Remote Workforce Management Software?
Remote workforce management software provides tools and platforms to manage, track, and optimize the performance of employees working remotely or from multiple office locations.?
It includes features like:
Remote workforce management software aims to replicate managers' connectivity and visibility in a traditional office environment. It enables seamless communication, collaboration, and oversight across a distributed digital workspace.
Struggling to manage distributed teams?
Get control with optimized scheduling and oversight.
Benefits Of Remote Workforce Management Software
Here are some major benefits of using remote workforce management software for your organization:
1. Improved productivity: Time tracking, project management, and data-driven analytics give managers more insight into work progress. This allows them to keep teams on track and optimize productivity.
2. Enhanced collaboration: Digital workspaces with messaging, conferencing, and file sharing break down barriers and silos between remote employees. This facilitates team collaboration across locations.
3. Streamlined communication: Integrated communications through chat, email, video, and project channels give employees faster, more efficient connections. Important information is less likely to be missed.
4. More effective onboarding: Onboarding tools provide new hires with engaging training content, documentation, and onboarding buddies to ramp up faster despite being remote.
5. Greater transparency: Managers gain more visibility into work through time-tracking metrics, project dashboards, and communication records. This improves transparency and oversight.
6. Data-driven insights: Detailed analytics on performance, work patterns, and team collaboration shed light on successes and pain points. Managers can use these insights to refine workflow processes continuously.
Must-Have Remote Workforce Software Capabilities
When evaluating options, here are the core capabilities to look for:
Communication:? Real-time messaging, video conferencing, and document collaboration enable team alignment. Look for user-friendly tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Asana.
Productivity Monitoring: Understanding work patterns is crucial for remote teams. Time tracking, project management, screen monitoring, and analytics provide visibility. Tools like Workstatus can help.
People Management: Managing remote workers requires streamlined onboarding, training, goal setting, and performance management.?
Security: Data protection, access controls, and cybersecurity are critical when workers access sensitive company data remotely. Solutions like NordVPN, Dashlane, and Okta provide security layers.
Culture Building: Remote work can stifle company culture. Virtual hangouts, recognition programs, and online events maintain engagement. Tools like Donut and Kazoo enable this.
Top Remote Workforce Software Solutions For You
Here are the top remote workforce software solutions for you:
1. Workstatus
Workstatus is an all-in-one software platform purpose-built to help managers optimize productivity, collaboration, and oversight for distributed remote teams.
?Let's dive deeper into some of Workstatus's key capabilities for remote workforce management:
Time Tracking
Workstatus offers comprehensive time tracking through its desktop app to provide complete visibility into how remote team members spend their hours.?
The app automatically records activity levels, websites visited, applications used, tasks worked on, and meetings attended.
?Managers can establish productivity benchmarks and get alerts when remote staff fall below expectations, enabling course correction.
Project Management
Sophisticated project management tools within Workstatus give managers oversight to align remote workers around key objectives and deadlines.?
Managers can assign tasks, set due dates, track progress through customizable workflows, view individual and team workloads, and ensure deliverables are met.?
This prevents diffusion and keeps remote workers focused.
Performance Management?
Workstatus generates rich performance insights through randomized screen captures, time logs, and productivity scores.?
Managers can quickly identify top and bottom performers remotely by getting data-driven visibility into their work patterns and accomplishments.?
They can then take corrective actions like additional training, coaching, or incentives to maximize remote team effectiveness.
Remote Payroll
Workstatus offers integrated global payroll processing to easily pay international remote team members while remaining compliant.?
Automated payroll through Workstatus saves managers substantial time and headaches compared to manual HR administration.
Team Scheduling?
Managers have complete flexibility to optimize schedules and workloads for remote teams based on employee time zones, skills, and availability.?
Smart scheduling prevents productivity lags due to understaffing at certain times.?
It also ensures adequate coverage for customers globally.
Employee Habits Tracker
Workstatus tracks device usage including applications accessed, websites visited, and activity levels.?
Managers gain valuable analytics to shape internet usage policies, ensure security protections are followed, and optimize workflows.?
This oversight is crucial when remote staff use personal devices.?
Lost productivity from remote teams?
Regain it through smart workforce analytics
2. Desktime
领英推荐
Desktime is a user-friendly time and productivity tracking tool optimized for remote teams. It captures apps and websites used, keyboard and mouse activity, and idle time.?
Managers gain visibility into remote worker patterns and project work. Useful productivity metrics identify training opportunities.
Pricing:
3. Interguard
Interguard focuses on time, attendance, and leave management for deskless mobile workers.?
GPS tracking and geofencing provide insight into remote worker location and movements.?
Scheduling tools optimize job allocation and compliance. Custom analytics uncover bottlenecks.?
Pricing:
4. Toggl?
Toggl delivers simple and intuitive time tracking for remote teams.?
Features like productivity metrics, timeline reports, and integrations with PM tools like Asana boost accountability.?
Idle detection reminds remote workers to stay focused.
Pricing:
5. timeTracko
timeTracko combines time, attendance, and project tracking for field service teams.?
Remote teams can clock in/out, submit timesheets, and attach geotagged photos from mobile. Scheduling tools reduce overtime costs.
Pricing:
Contact for pricing
6. Deputy?
Deputy is tailored for shift-based workforces. It focuses on schedule management, timeclocks, leave requests, and labor cost analytics.?
Automated shift notifications and overtime tracking capabilities optimize remote worker allocation.
Pricing:
7. Clockify?
Clockify is a free time tracking app for remote teams.
?It offers stopwatch-style tracking, productivity metrics, and integrations with tools like Jira, Trello, and Quickbooks.?
The free plan suits small business needs.
Pricing:
8. Harvest
Harvest focuses on streamlining time and expense tracking for professional services teams.?
Features like project budgeting, invoicing, and integrations optimize resource planning and billing for remote consultants.
Pricing:
9. TSheets
TSheets emphasizes simplified time tracking and scheduling for field services. GPS tracking optimizes job dispatching.?
Mobile clock-in/out, mileage tracking, and job costing automation save field managers time.?
Pricing:
10. TimeDoctor
TimeDoctor provides robust time tracking with random screenshots and productivity ratings to monitor remote workers.
?Extensive reporting identifies underperformers. Integrated simple project management and easy payroll help manage remote teams.
Pricing:
Best Practices For Implementing Remote Workforce Management Software
Let us see some best practices for implementing remote workforce management software:
1. Clearly define goals and objectives: Before implementing any new software, companies should think about what problems they want to solve or what efficiencies they hope to gain. This helps guide the software selection and implementation process.
2. Get executive buy-in: Having support from leadership is crucial for successfully rolling out new systems company-wide. Make sure key decision-makers understand the benefits and are on board.
3. Involve stakeholders early: HR, IT, managers, and a sample of end users should provide input during the evaluation and rollout of remote workforce software. This ensures wide adoption.
4. Start with a pilot group: Rather than deploying to the entire workforce at once, test with a small pilot group first. Work out any issues on a smaller scale before expanding.
5. Train thoroughly: Provide training resources and support to employees before launch. Make sure everyone understands how to use the software properly. Offer ongoing training as needed.
Selecting The Best Remote Workforce Management Software
Here are some important factors to consider before selecting the best remote workforce management software:
Closing Thoughts
Choosing and implementing effective remote workforce software takes research, stakeholder buy-in, and thorough training.?
But with the right tools in place, companies can transform the productivity and oversight of distributed teams.?
Carefully evaluate options to find affordable, user-friendly software that streamlines scheduling, time tracking, communication, and other critical management needs.?
The investment pays dividends in performance gains. With smart planning, remote workforce management success is within reach.
FAQs
Ques: How does Workstatus help manage remote teams?
Ans: Workstatus simplifies remote team management by offering features like time tracking, task assignment, and screen monitoring. This allows managers to stay connected with their remote workforce, track their progress, and ensure tasks are completed efficiently.
Ques: Can Workstatus track the hours worked by remote employees?
Ans: Yes, Workstatus tracks the hours worked by remote employees through its time-tracking capabilities. Employees can easily log their hours, and managers can monitor their work activity in real-time, ensuring accurate payroll and productivity management.
Ques: How does Workstatus ensure data security for remote work?
Ans: Workstatus prioritizes data security for remote work by employing encryption protocols and secure cloud storage. This ensures that sensitive information, such as time?
logs and project data, remains protected against unauthorized access or breaches.