Millions of people have moved onto the Zoom video-conferencing platform as the coronavirus pandemic has forced them to work from their homes. According to Zoom’s own statistics, its daily usage has soared from approximately 10 million daily users in December to over 200 million today.
There are a few things that are easy to take for granted in a traditional office setting: the impromptu idea sharing that happens in unscheduled conversations, quick and easy access to audio-visual tools, and the energy that comes from being around others are just a few. But more importantly, it’s easy to forget that high-speed Internet access isn’t as ubiquitous as it sometimes seems, and there are many people, areas and job sites that have limited access and connectivity.
What’s the ideal state of a technology-driven, digital-first organization? Ultimately, it’s where everything you need (and need to do) is right at your fingertips regardless of your location or the tools you have at your disposal. When companies pursue digital transformation, they often do so with a few primary goals in mind, like security, simplicity and productivity.
Maximizing productivity from a remote environment, particularly if it’s a new arrangement, can be a multifaceted challenge. Enabling employees to plan out their time, optimize their workspace, and minimize distractions are all important, but another key part of ensuring continuity from anywhere is finding ways to be digitally organized, using the tools at their disposal to label, organize and secure content even outside of your organization’s four walls.
What’s happened? Well, Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) happened. Okay, smart alec. I know about that. What else is going on? Well, because so many people are (wisely) staying at home, they’re using videoconferencing and chat technology like Zoom to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues. In fact, Zoom says that daily usage has soared from approximately 10 million daily meeting participants in December 2019 to over 200 million today. Zoom must be pleased. I’m sure they are.
The current pandemic has certainly shown the utility of electronic collaboration tools such as videoconferencing platforms. Once an expensive perk of solely enterprise companies, the video call is now used not only for executives remotely attending board meetings but also for the following... At the moment, it’s important for public health that everyone stays distant from one another.
In an examination of remote work done by the American Psychological Association, experts found, unsurprisingly, that one of the biggest challenges people face when working remotely is professional and personal isolation. More surprisingly, however, these same experts found that isolation could be eased by the perception of closeness created primarily through communication, collaboration and a sense of shared identity.
