COVID-19 fundamentally changed the physical dimension of work. While we learned valuable lessons about health and sanitation, we also discovered that virtual workplaces aren’t just possible—they are highly effective.

As the world eases into a new reality, 74% of professionals anticipate that remote or hybrid work will become the standard. However, for many companies, getting ready for this new operational reality is still a struggle. Managing collaboration between remote administrative staff, on-site personnel, and external vendors requires a new set of digital muscles.

“We are able to work remotely because there are people out there taking care of our infrastructure. Bridging the gap between them requires more than just virtual meetings.”

5 Practices for Seamless Remote Collaboration

To overcome the challenges of hybrid workflows and vendor collaboration, organizations must adopt strategies that foster seamless operations. Here are five practices to start mastering today:

  • 1. Use Cloud-Based Software: The digital revolution introduced innovations that allow us to operate from anywhere. Cloud-based solutions make sharing files, giving updates, and sending requests easier. It’s also beneficial to onboard contractors and vendors into the same system using role-based access to protect confidential data.
  • 2. Set Communication Tools and Standards: Keeping communication lines open is a major challenge in remote management. Decide on a unified platform for company updates and vendor communication, and establish regular video conferences to align on strategic directions.
  • 3. Provide Constant Training: Up to 70% of remote staff receive in-house training. Continuous learning is an excellent opportunity to upskill your remote team, utilizing learning management systems or on-demand webinars to boost overall productivity and performance.
  • 4. Hire a Dedicated Project Manager: Remote performance management can be foreign ground for some leaders. Relying on a virtual project manager ensures that recurring and ad-hoc projects keep moving forward efficiently, despite the lack of physical leadership presence.
  • 5. Provide Constant Feedback: The hybrid workplace is new territory, meaning there are no hard-and-fast rules. Better performance is the result of constant evaluation. Regularly gather feedback from vendors and staff on system pain points and adjust your workflows accordingly.

The Cloud Advantage in Facility Management

Implementing a cloud-based system like Sweven provides a virtual space where every stakeholder can interact securely. Here is where cloud technology makes the biggest impact:

OPERATIONS Task Management

Track recurring maintenance and ad-hoc tasks in a centralized virtual space, keeping remote managers and field vendors perfectly aligned.

COLLABORATION Secure File Sharing

Store and share crucial facility documents, manuals, and vendor contracts securely in the cloud with role-based access controls.

ADMINISTRATION Enterprise Planning

Connect your daily field operations with finance and resource management to maintain profitability and oversight from anywhere.

BUILDING A CULTURE OF PROACTIVITY

In remote setups, employees need to learn how to work hard and work smart. Managers shouldn’t allow remote teams and external vendors to fall into a purely responsive work culture. By utilizing cloud-based platforms, you empower your staff to reach out first, address issues proactively, and make collaboration natural to a virtual and hybrid team.