COVID-19’s recent expansion has prompted an increasing number of businesses to invite employees to work from home. Have they, on the other hand, equipped their personnel to do so? Modern offices are jam-packed with technology and infrastructure that allows people to work, yet most houses lack even that.
If you want to keep your productivity levels up at home, you’ll need to upgrade your technology. Being behind your coworkers — or other organizations — can have a significant impact on your performance.
It may be difficult to know where to begin for people who are not used to working from home. To stay on top of their work, remote workers should consider the following five technologies.
- Adaptive Wi-Fi
While a car, bike, or public transportation could ordinarily handle your commute, Wi-Fi allows you to get to your digital office quickly and dependably. To stay in touch with your coworkers, you’ll need an internet service that adapts to your changing needs. Adaptive Wi-Fi is the solution.
Unlike the mesh Wi-Fi of yesteryear, Adaptive Wi-Fi employs artificial intelligence to chart where and when your home and devices use Wi-Fi the most. The relevant bandwidth is subsequently allocated as a result. Consider it your connected home’s version of air traffic control.
- Services for Video Calling
The rapid shift to remote employment across the country could be dubbed “the Zoom boom.” As workers return home, Zoom, one of the world’s most popular video chat systems, is expected to grow significantly.
Face-to-face meetings are essential in many firms; eliminating them is not an option. Zoom, Skype, and Google Hangouts make it simple to communicate with coworkers or clients across long distances. While video chats might not have the same feel as in-person meetings, they are a viable alternative in many situations.
- Tools for Immediate Communication
Although video conversations are beneficial, not every issue requires face-to-face resolution. You’ll need to text with your coworkers if you’re working from home. While email may be the preferred method of communication, continually refreshing your inbox and formatting your messages can be time consuming. The average workday spends 28% of its time on email alone.
Slack, Telegram, and Quip, for example, allow you to imitate the convenience of in-office communication over the web. You can assure that anyone who needs to read your message will see it right away because you can chat privately or in groups.
- Platforms for Project Management
The majority of organizations employ some type of project management software. These, on the other hand, take on new significance as workers return home. Staying on top of numerous plans and goods can rapidly become unmanageable if you don’t have the ability to check in regularly in person. While these obstacles are difficult to overcome, consolidating your business under a single platform is an excellent place to start.
Make sure everything you’re working on is clearly delineated on your chosen platform, whether you’re using Asana, Trello, or something else entirely. Software for project management Teamwork advocates establishing a project management plan for your job early on; this is critical for ensuring that things don’t go off course later. Regularly update your coworkers on how your projects are progressing, and urge them to do the same – this will help you avoid unnecessary meetings.
- Digital Assistants
Every year, the market for digital assistant devices rises by more than 50%, so there’s a strong possibility you already have one. Most employees are already familiar with digital assistants, whether it’s an Amazon Echo, a Google Assistant, or a Siri-enabled Apple gadget. However, few people are now utilizing them to their full potential at work.
Digital assistants are capable of making phone calls, sending emails, taking notes, and much more. While using one at work may be inconvenient, utilizing one at home allows you to continue working while cooking, cleaning, or performing other critical domestic tasks. Some digital assistants can also let you arrange conference calls without the need for complicated coordination.
As working from home becomes increasingly common, some employees may find it difficult to adjust to the new atmosphere. While adjusting to a new environment is never easy, using technology to your advantage might make the process go more smoothly.
Working From Home and Taxes
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March of last year, about half of the country’s workforce migrated to remote employment. Now that tax season has begun, some people may be wondering whether working from home will result in a tax break or a higher tax payment.
Unfortunately, the bottom fact is many workers may not be able to take deductions for their home offices.
According to tax experts, people who receive a W-2 tax form from their employers (such as full-time employees) aren’t entitled for a home-office deduction, nor can they write off expenses that their employers didn’t cover. The restrictions are the result of changes to the tax code established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
Sometimes, when you work at home, paychecks and taxes can be confusing, but you can create and calculate them online using a pay stub generator.
