Category: News

Is your business ready for remote work? Stickboy is donating FREE IT lockdown prep. Let us configure your work computers so you’re ready when the mandatory work-from-home order comes.

Your business will be back online with a simple flip of the switch. Same computer, different chair.

Contact us to learn more. 239-206-1193 | [email protected]

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Let’s be honest. No one wants to be having a conversation about remote work right now. However, with the fears surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19) rapidly growing, now is the time to talk. Now is the time to ensure the continuity of your business. If you don’t, you may not have a business to go back to.

Did you know:

• Less than 30% of business leaders feel their business is ready for remote work.
• Less than 10% of employees believe their leadership is equipped to handle a remote workforce.
• Less than 40% of remote workers received any productivity training.

Boy, those businesses must be in a scary position right now. Luckily, you have us.

Start With The Basics

Preparing for a remotely-connected world can be a daunting task, so we’ll focus on bite-sized tasks. Your first step: ensure you have all the physical hardware required.

Workstations. Does every employee have either a portable workstation (laptop) or a viable home computer? If your business uses a Desktop-as-a-service system already (can’t recommend it enough!) then do all employees have a suitable client device?

Remote Connection Software. Do you own any on-site hardware such as servers or network storage devices? If so, you’ll need to put in place a software for connecting to resources from outside your business’s local network.

Workstation Peripherals. If your team isn’t equipped with laptops, you’ll likely need mice, keyboards, and monitors as well. Don’t forget the cables to connect it all, too!

Communication Devices. We can’t emphasize this enough. Remote workers need to communicate. It helps productivity. It helps morale. It keeps the gear moving. Make sure all team members have access to webcams, microphones, and a phone.

Inventory Your Software

If you’re picking up new computers, you have a little bit of set up ahead of you. Take this time to inventory all the software necessary to run your business. Using web-based software? You’ll need an internet browser. Does your accountant need Quickbooks installed? What about an office suite and other productivity software? Write it all down and keep that list somewhere safe.

Audit Communication Lines

During a remote work situation, communication is key. Your team needs to be able maintain an unprecedented level of communication in order for this work-from-home experiment to succeed. To that end, you have some homework.

Phones. Do all of your workers have a phone? If not, bite the bullet and issue them a corporate phone. This will grant you guaranteed access to your team and allows your team to reach each other.

Phone Directory. Document all employee phone numbers and email addresses (leadership included) and distribute a phone directory to all employees. 

Email. Ensure your corporate email is sending and receiving reliably. Are your emails going to spam? Now is the time to address this issue.

Communication Plan. Document in writing who reports to who. When will team meetings be held? How is progress being communicated? How are delays and issues being communicated?

Talk To Your Lawyer

Finally, the uncomfortable bit of advice: talk to your lawyer. Remote work and telecommuting raise a number of unique legal concerns. Ask your lawyer:

• What’s my liability and responsibility to the safety of remote workers?
• How do I protect myself against employee fraud and data theft?
• Am I liable for personal resources (such as internet or phone bill) that my employees use?

These are questions that have no easy answer, but should be addressed before they cause greater issues for your business.

That’s Nice, Now What?

We’re doing everything in our power to spread the word about business continuity in this remotely-connected world. We won’t let coronavirus wreck your business. Download the free Emergency Remote Work Checklist and get started future-proofing your business. Too much work? Get in touch today, and we’ll make the process a breeze!

Let’s not get bogged down in the details. It’s simple. Technology is about innovation, and business technology is about growth through innovation.

Savvy business owners (and if you’re reading this, you must be one yourself) know technology is more than simple automation. It’s not about mending or repairing your current business. It’s about growing your business in new and exciting ways!

For today’s Quick Bite, we’ve got two simple ways technology can immediately help grow your business.

Improve Productivity and Capacity

As a business owner, you always want your team working to their pay grade. Every minute your team spends on mundane or routine tasks is minute lost that they could be spending on more specialized and profitable tasks. Chasing emails, filing paperwork, redundant data entry. These are all tasks that–to be frank–are beneath you and your staff.

Business technology is about automating the mundane so that your team has more time to shine on the tasks they’re uniquely qualified to complete. Tasks such as sales, customer relations, business development, and more.

The size and scale of productivity technology has grown considerably in recent years with the advent of mobile and cloud technologies. Most of the problems you face today are actual problems of yesterday. You just need the right technology team to get you through to your goal: a business running smarter.

Whether its putting you in a brand new operational software, migrating your sales team to a customized CRM, or simply integrating multiple existing softwares to reduce duplicate entry. The answers are out there, you just need to be pointed in the right direction.

Work Remotely, Expand Globally

The growth of cloud computing and remote work go hand-in-hand. With advancements in mobile technology, your business needs to be able to operate outside of its brick-and-mortar office.

Mobile and accessible technology promotes a positive workplace atmosphere as staff enjoy an improved balance between work and life. Happy workers are more productive, work harder, and generate greater profits. It’s a no-lose situation!

But it’s more than just morale.

Mobilizing your workforce allows for a more agile business. Emergencies and priorities are easier to manage when your workspace expands outside of your physical office. Collaboration becomes a breeze and the world becomes your oyster.

So what’s next?

Investing in technology pays dividends when you have the right team backing you. Is your business ready for explosive growth? Let’s talk today.