How new technology enables working from anywhere, not just working from home

Even just a few years ago, working from home was more of an exception than a regular occurrence. Many office leaders and colleagues expressed concerns about how productive employees could be if not confined to the walls of a traditional office space.

But productivity is not tied to office space. Most studies today reveal that working either from home or on the go is gaining traction, and employees who work from outside their office are as productive as ever.

"Telecommuting" begins

Technological advancements in the 1970s allowed companies to use telephone lines as a network bridge and connect offices or remote locations. With that came the beginning of “telecommuting.”

In the years that followed, other technological developments, including video conferencing, Voice over IP (VoIP) and file sharing services made remote working that much more practical. What started as a slow workplace revolution has only increased more rapidly in recent years to become more common.

The proliferation of personal computers made working from home that much easier. Since then, laptops, smartphones and advanced connectivity transformed working from home into working on the go. Today, workers can do more than stay connected while on the road; they can be as productive as they are in the office from anywhere in the world.

A clear direction

Exactly how many people work remotely — either a portion or a majority of the time — is open to some debate. One recent survey found upwards of 70% of professionals work remotely at least one day a week, while more than half (53%) work at least half of their week remotely.

Meanwhile, a Gallup analysis found 39% of workers in 2012 worked remotely “in some capacity.” That number increased to 43% in 2016. The Gallup examination found that while more people are working remotely, those who do are doing so at an increasing rate. What’s perhaps just as telling, the study found workers are working remotely in many fields, including some unexpected ones, such as finance, healthcare and transportation.

“Increasingly, people want to be able to adjust their hours and schedules as needed and work remotely when they can without compromising work quality or productivity,” Gallup noted in its “State of the American Workplace” report.

Embrace the trend

Regardless, the trend is clear: Working from a location other than the office is not just growing in popularity. Employees demand it, and they view the option of working from home or on the go as an added benefit of any role. Increasingly, employees weigh heavily their ability to work from outside the office when deciding whether to pursue an opportunity. 

Companies need to embrace the trend and put in place the latest technology that enables workers to stay connected and maintain their productivity. The solutions that facilitate this type of workforce are on the market. A solution like true gapless handover allows workers to transcend network limitations and avoid the frustrations that come with a poor network connection.

A solution like SatBridge offers organizations a new opportunity to deploy satellite communications and maintain business operations in even the most remote corners of the globe. Now, connectivity is no longer limited to major population centers.

Future technology

The idea of instantly sharing files in the 1970s was a dramatic shift in thinking. Only a decade ago, receiving email on a mobile device was still a novelty. Today, they are mainstays of the business world, and it is hard to imagine a time when these technologies did not exist.

With the rapid development and adoption of new technology over the past decade, in particular, organizations and employees alike are primed for the next wave of solutions. Technology is evolving, and in many ways, the shift will seem less dramatic than the first teleworker 40 years ago. What shouldn’t be surprising is how it will make our lives easier — and more productive.

The Carnegie Technologies difference

Carnegie Technologies offers a number of solutions that enable the future of work, including the ability to work from anywhere. Let us know how our solutions can help your business.