Tony Wang is the co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Agora.
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During the Covid pandemic and beyond, businesses across all industries have come to rely on voice and video technology much more than ever before. But as we have all seen, there is considerable variation in the effectiveness of voice and video solutions implemented by different companies. In 2020, many companies discovered that their digital workflow and communication tools were not set up well enough to be used all day long outside the office.
In the past two years, we’ve also seen great examples of how real-time engagement (RTE) technology can empower business teams, keep employees focused and efficient, and, in short, make remote workflow not only comparable to on-premises workflow, but can also make it better.. Here are five lessons companies can learn from their peers who chose to focus on RTE-enabled workflow and communication tools. (Full disclosure: My company provides RTE products, as do many others.)
1. Businesses need to embrace more advanced technology and a simplified workflow.
If remote working is to be at least as efficient as face-to-face, the business needs solutions that make workflow seamless. That may sound obvious, but many companies have noticed that their third-party platforms add steps to a workflow instead of adding efficiency. Employee feedback has made many business leaders realize the importance of investing in solutions that support uninterrupted audio and video. Business leaders should look for tools that deliver on the promise of RTE: consider the most advanced before moving on to the most basic.
2. Businesses should look for solutions that fit their changing needs, rather than what is convenient or popular at the time.
Not all popular mass-market solutions ultimately work for teams that are all decentralized the time – not unless they consider remote working as default. For this reason, business leaders should avoid the mindset that the hybrid workplace is “dissolved”. A business on the move should regularly think about RTE compliant workflow tools available to them. Don’t be afraid to lead; advocates the solutions you believe in by exposing your business partners to them as well.
3. Businesses must evolve to properly leverage real-time engagement technology.
RTE-compatible workplace communication tools are already on the market and growing rapidly, but the company must be ready and willing to explore those options. A number of factors can slow down a company’s ability to adopt new technology, from thinking “We’re too small” to thinking “We’re too big”. But the adoption of RTE should be part of a modern company’s future strategy, especially since skilled workers are in high demand and these workers are actively seeking employers who offer easier, more flexible and more enjoyable work environments.
4. Businesses should look to existing tools and features for clues about what remote working might look like in the future.
Look beyond your own industry and use cases: Other industries use RTE technology in more sophisticated and sophisticated ways than your average workplace. For example, RTE is now at the center of gaming industry events and live entertainment, connecting thousands of users to an experience and to each other without causing delays or network bandwidth congestion. Companies need to research the tools and features used by these industries to get clues about what the remote working tools of the future might look like.
5. Learn from forward-thinking companies digitally replicating real-life experiences with RTE.
We’ve seen enough at this point to know that truly effective remote workspace tools have robust functionalities to handle as many aspects of the workflow within the platform as possible. Innovative companies understand that workplace tools should enable employees to achieve more than in a face-to-face meeting or phone call. This makes for a more productive and satisfied team. Companies should look to colleagues who are already using real-time audio and video tools to streamline their workflow for inspiration.
Final Thoughts
Companies that have chosen to focus on workflow tools that enable real-time engagement serve as examples of efficiency, productivity and employee satisfaction. They recognize the central role of a seamless and intuitive workflow in employee retention and the ability to innovate. The key is to focus on technology that not only replicates, but improves the way we communicate face-to-face.
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