The Future of Technology and Remote Work in 2020

A recent study found that 70 percent of the global workforce works remotely at least once a week. Over the past two decades, the lines between work and home have become blurred. Today, many workers are even citing the opportunity to work offsite as a required part of work agreements, while some companies are using this perk to attract top-tier work candidates. Remote work has become an increasingly important factor too.

In 2019, people can advance their careers from the comfort of one’s home, a coffee shop, or the emerging coworking spaces popping up throughout major cities?

This situation could not have happened without the evolution of technology and its capability to soften attitudes toward remote work itself.

The Link Between Technology and Remote Work

There has always been a link between worker flexibility and technology. Hi-speed internet and the expansion of hotspots made remote work possible. However, that wasn’t the only thing to make working remotely more of a conventional arrangement. The emergence of cloud computing, task delegation software, project management tools, and real-time communication apps like Slack made it possible to run a whole department from a home office.

However, the link between technology and remote work is strengthening. Ultimately, it is coinciding with our growing need to connect to work as well as one another.

Here are a few of the ways the evolution of technology is making remote work more accessible to employers and employees.

Virtual Reality

Believe it or not, some individuals are not a fan of the office environment, but still want to have some reminder of a world they used to know. As a result, some forward-thinking companies have developed virtual reality (VR) software that allows workers to interact with one another in a virtual office environment. One company doing this work is Rumii, a multi-platform meeting and communication app developed by entrepreneur, Lily Snyder.

The platform mimics the real-world environment of office space. Users can use public rooms for social gatherings, set up a private room for offline meetings, and even attach rooms to specific geographic locations. The experience makes users feel as if they still have a bit of the office culture without the in-person limitations.

Automation

Automation has become almost synonymous with creating exceptional customer experiences and marketing strategies. However, it has also crept into the remote work experience. For example, there are intuitive virtual assisting tools that can sense when a remote worker needs help throughout the day.

On the other hand, when it comes to automation, collaboration tools are the most relevant example of how this trend is making remote work more straightforward. Today’s collaboration tools enable managers to set up notifications of task deadlines, while other programs can automatically reveal task dependencies during the project development process.

However, remote workers truly win when they can automate many of their day-to-day tasks. From keyword research for marketers to coding simplification for developers, automation is going to continue to cause remote work to become more streamlined while adding ease to the workday.

As a result, companies that embrace remote work will much more easily adapt to technology changes when compared to their in-office counterparts.

Immersive Gameplay

One thing that many remote workers cite as the most significant disadvantage is isolation and the lack of meaningful human contact. When one is working from home, that watercooler conversation or break room collaboration session doesn’t happen.

One way that some are looking to overcome this barrier is by offering immersive online gameplay as an option for team building and socialization. Miro, a collaboration tool company, recently cited ten ways that independent location companies can build teamwork and conduct no-pressure icebreakers and online games to spur team building and communication.

Most of the focus, when it comes to remote work, has been about fostering collaboration for the sake of work. Now, more and more companies are starting to take a look at the increased benefits associated with online gameplay and socialization. As remote work begins to spread to other professions, and more remote teams emerge, having processes that mimic in-office social events will become critical.

The Future of Remote Work is Now

While many of the things mentioned above are in their infancy, they are happening. Companies are experimenting with automation, VR offices, and online socialization. A recent report by Upwork projected that 73 percent of all teams would be remote by 2028. So, as we approach the next decade, companies will have to embrace the ever-evolving relationship between emerging technology trends and remote work arrangements.

By Chanell Alexander, who is a freelance writer and content strategist. She is a writer and social media manager for RemoteHabits, a platform for remote workers to share their tips and advice for how they thrive.

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