If you’re not building a winning remote team now, you’ll hate yourself later

The tech industry has long been at the forefront of innovation, the driving force behind game-changing shifts in our society. From social media to artificial intelligence, and even blockchain technology, the digital revolution is undoubtedly here. But as we begin to emerge from the crisis, another fundamental change is knocking right at our doorstep. 

Employees have been fighting for the right to work from home since the term “telecommuting” was coined in 1972. Unfortunately, it took a global pandemic, one that forced us to self-isolate during the lockdowns, to make the home office a staple of the modern workforce. COVID-19 pushed both individuals and companies alike to rapidly adapt to a remote-working model. And with a taste of this as the new normal, more and more staff are realizing they’re not particularly eager to return to their cubicles. We’re in the midst of a revolution, and remote work is the way of the future. Study after study confirms what’s already being whispered among teams.

 Management consulting firm Korn Ferry found 20 percent of employees aren’t looking forward to returning to anything in their office. In the U.K., 9 out of 10 staff don’t want to stop working from home. And 70% of U.S. employees said they’d face challenges with full-time days in the office should remote work no longer be a viable option. Forcing them to return would likely see your staff revolt, and refuse to come back. Working from home is the new normal.

Employees already appreciate the remote working model's significant benefits, and they're not ready to give it up. Enjoying more time with their loved ones thanks to the lack of a daily commute, home office solutions keep productivity high even with kids and family underfoot. Remote work is working (just like they always said it would).

Companies aren't without benefits either. Facility costs are down while lockdowns continue, and there are incredible savings to be had once expensive downtown offices are no longer needed. But where it gets incredibly exciting is within a team. Now that everyone is working from home, there is very little need to hire "local" developers. That means no shortages when sourcing talent, because it allows international labor pools to be tapped. There's little difference between a programmer working from their home in the U.S. or working from the other side of the globe. Time-zone differences can even be a blessing, as software is coded, compiled, tested, and pushed to production around the clock to bring your solutions to market faster than any of the approaching competition.  

Entire countries are emerging as new tech powerhouses. In the Philippines, some of the world's leading software companies are enjoying the development capabilities of a cost-effective workforce capable of performing to strict global standards. IBM, Accenture, Capgemini, and more have already seen the writing on the wall. Gaining high-quality developers for a fraction of the price that you'd pay for a comparable candidate in the U.S. But it can also be a "done for you" service. To cater to the rising demands of a digital-first economy, offshore development companies provide access to talent with flexible contracts that allow software and SaaS businesses to effortlessly scale - as their development needs demand.

Because managing remote staff can be a challenge, especially for large teams of developers. We know agile software development thrives in tight, close-knit groups. But having coders tucked away in a boardroom for days as cans and empty pizza boxes stack up to power through the latest set of bugs in the build, well, that’s no longer possible. And trying to move previously “in-house” teams to a remote setup isn’t easy. All the research indicates the inefficiencies, reduced cohesion, and miscommunication can trigger a cascade of missed deadlines, blown budgets, and incredible frustrations that could all be avoided with a single decision.

You need to bring on a premium service provider, one with a demonstrated track record of operating world-class remote development teams. Using proven online solutions and a history of performance to hit critical milestones and projects continue on schedule. A company that's not trying to scramble to manage now developers are working remotely, but one that has crafted a successful operation built wholly around a distributed workforce.

Remote work is inevitable. The pandemic delivered a rapid adoption that would have likely taken decades, but with change at our doorstep the ket is to adapt. The organizations that thrive will be those which see the opportunities in the depths of the crisis, and take action. Because competition is fierce, and every software company needs an edge. If you've not got one of your own, you'll quickly lose ground to the competition that does. Isn't it time you reconsider your approach to remote work and how a distributed team of developers could benefit your organization? Remote work is the way of the future.