The role of technology in remote and hybrid workplace engagement
Jul 31, 2023
5 mins read
Employee Experience
No matter what type of business you’re in, technology is an important part of how you run your company. And if you’re a remote or hybrid company, it’s essential.
And I’m not just talking about video calls.
Technology is often the only way you have to connect with your distributed team and create employee experiences and workplace engagement that keeps them thriving.
As Harvard Business Review noted, “the technology experiences that employers provide will more or less define the employee experience — technology and workplace tools are, for all intents and purposes, the new workplace.”
So what can you do to ensure your technology actually supports your positive remote workplace culture? You need to ask these 3 questions.
3 questions to ask about how technology plays a role in your company’s remote or hybrid workplace engagement
Are our remote or hybrid employees equipped with the tech that they need to do their job?
According to Microsoft’s 2021 Work Trend Index (via HBR), 46% of employees reported their companies didn’t help them with remote work expenses. When employees worked in a physical office, they weren’t required to bring their desks or chairs from their home office. And quite often, they weren’t required to bring their own equipment either.
If you want your employees to be productive and successful in their remote position, you need to ensure that they are provided with or reimbursed for the tools, software, and hardware needed to do their job to the best of their ability.
Bonus question: Have our employees been properly onboarded and trained with all of their equipment and software?
It’s one thing to send your team the specific equipment and software to use, but it’s another when you’ve taken the time to help ensure that they’re onboarded and comfortable using it. This applies to everything from simple comms apps to job-specific technologies.
Have you established which tools will be utilized for which types of communication purposes?
Many companies are familiar with the various communication technologies and apps available to connect their remote teams. And while you may be using some or all of them, you will want to be sure that your remote and hybrid employees understand which communication tools to use for which type of communication.
When is it appropriate to use video calling? What types of communication should be limited to systems like Slack? Should text messaging ever be used?
Those are just a few of the many questions employers need to consider when they’re deciding what sort of communication technology policies to implement.
Are we open to feedback about the choices we’ve made?
While you may think a particular technology, app, software, or hardware component is the best for your team, have you observed your employees using it and asked for their feedback about how it’s working (or perhaps, not working)?
Consider doing 1:1 interviews or surveys of your team on a regular basis. This can help you get a better understanding of their specific needs, any gaps that could be filled with different or new technologies, and their honest experiences.
Keep in mind that technology isn’t just about connecting your remote or hybrid teams virtually. Technology can be used to help bring your remote or hybrid team together in person. That’s what Flexspace customers utilize our platform for. With seamless booking, including calendar integration, and budget management, your teams can come together in person—wherever they might be—with just a few clicks.
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