The Role of Technology in Remote Work for South Africans
For many, remote work has become a new way of life in 2020, with millions of South Africans forced to work from home due to the current global pandemic. But with many businesses and their employees already familiar with remote working, the pandemic has showcased the capabilities of technology when it comes to achieving work beyond the traditional office setting.
This shift to remote working aided by modern technologies has come with its own unique challenges for both businesses and individuals. Businesses must ensure their teams are able to seamlessly collaborate, provide the right security measures to protect company data and documents, while making sure employees remain productive and engaged.
Secure Collaboration and Communication
Remote working wouldn’t be possible without the right tools for collaboration and communication. Cloud productivity tools from vendors such as Microsoft, Google and more, allow teams to work together from anywhere, at any time. All files created on a collaborative cloud platform can be accessed and edited simultaneously, with changes saved in real time, allowing for teams to remain up to date with projects or tasks.
Next, today’s collaboration solutions now lay out communication policies and protocol, providing vital information such as response time expectations and the ways teams can communicate. This encourages better and faster collaboration. In addition, these rules ensure the confidentiality of information and the ability to track important documents and conversations.
Cyber Security
With all of today’s collaboration tools, security should remain a key focus for both individuals and their employers. Authentication processes are one way of keeping data secure. Most tools allow for individual user credentials, which include multi-factor authentication and strong password policies. This helps to reduce the chances of unauthorised access. All data should also be encrypted when moving to and from a service, as this completely masks it and makes it almost impossible to access.
Other typical security measures such as antivirus scans and email security protocols help secure the data of any business, while also safeguarding the personal information of their customers. Establishing secure profiles and desktops – cloud based or on-premise - helps ensure any existing or new services and applications are added to a secure environment.
Data Management and Continuity
It’s also important that organisations protect their data with a data backup solution. Data must be backed up at regular intervals to ensure information is accessible and safe if anything happens to any of the current solutions that contain the data. Having a consistent backup strategy also allows organisations to restore their data back to an earlier version if it gets compromised.
In addition, the tools used for backup solutions need to remain reliable and accessible at all times, allowing for data to be accessed in the case of an emergency. There is also a need for businesses to be prepared for disruptions due to disasters or instability of the network, which may lead to the loss of data. Having a consistent backup strategy with online capabilities, helps protect a business against data loss.
QikTruck: Goods Transportation for Remote Work
For thousands of South Africans that are currently working remotely, there can be a need for equally remote access to goods transportation. QikTruck is a South African-based on demand truck and driver hire service that helps customers get from point A to point B in a safe, secure, timely and cost-effective manner. Without the need for a delivery fleet and drivers, businesses can save time and money by having goods transported by a QikTruck driver.
QikTruck’s experienced drivers are able to deliver goods quickly, with fast turnaround times, contact-free delivery and most importantly, peace of mind. As a business, you can provide customer satisfaction by delivering goods safely, reducing customer contact and having goods shipped quickly with little effort. And with every QikTruck driver vetted with the necessary police and valid licenses, you know that your goods are in safe hands.
Now more than ever, it’s important to embrace technology and all the benefits it can bring to remote working. In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, businesses and individuals alike should ensure they have the right processes, tools and solutions to remain productive, secure and collaborative.