As you read this from behind a screen while sitting in your living room, imagine what things would be like if we weren’t working from home because of Coronavirus… You’d probably still be reading this in your living room working from home. In 2016, not too long ago but feels like ages, 85% of global business was done by virtual teams. The world was already gearing up to go virtual, the current situation merely expedited the transition. 

Why Workers Want to Work on the Web

In this age of digital communication, more than half of workers want processes that are always improving. We’re living in a fast-paced world, with instant messaging, instant transactions, and instant noodles. We need work processes, which greatly affect our performance, to keep up.

Half of all workers want collaborative workplaces, people want to feel important and like they’re contributing visibly. They also feel more connected to their team when working on projects together, and are looking for a culture of collaboration, with 91% wanting stronger team relationships with colleagues. 

A sizable 43% of workers want access to the latest technology, because why not? If it measurably adds to or enhances our work why sit around waiting for everyone else to start upgrading? The earlier new tech is adopted the greater the gains and advantages over competitors. 

New Needs to Know Now

Emphasis on openness is a must for 9 in 10 workers, people want transparency. Workers want employers that see them as valuable additions worthy of being in the know and that can be held accountable. They also want to know how their business makes decisions about processes. People don’t want to sign on with a megalomaniac who throws darts at a board to make decisions nor with someone who delegates writing and adjusting processes to someone who knows nothing about those whom it affects. 

Communication within and without the workplace has evolved, so workers want changes that accommodate such alterations. 74% of workers prefer sending messages instead of in-person discussions. It’s more efficient, you can edit out mistakes, and you don’t have to deal with all the awkwardness that can arise when talking in-person. Almost 80% hope to have more tools for communication. 

Areas for Improvement

1 in 4 of people working remotely struggle with interacting solely through technology. Relying on tech alone could lead to: 

• 69% reduced productivity
• 67% increase in lack of team engagement
• 58% increase in difficulty managing tasks

How do we combat these crippling disadvantages? Be available, to answer questions, to help troubleshoot, and to keep everyone in the know with updates. Look smart, according to Photofeeler, profile pics of people wearing glasses appear more competent. 

Tech to Help

Use Grammarly to sound smart, which measures correctness, clarity, engagement, and delivery of your writing, as well as fixing spelling and grammar. With Shift, you can look smart, which connects all of your accounts, apps, email and tools to stay organized. 

Communicate intelligently with Slack, which connects teams with organized spaces and channels to communicate clearly. Use InVision to collaborate well, editing digital media with real-time feedback and quick updates. Work smart with Sequel, using bots to communicate generally for you on Facebook, WhatsApp, Slack, Kik, and text, thereby increasing your availability.

Workers seem to know what’s up, with 65% of employees predicting work will only become more digital and more global. Covid-19 has made that forethought into a reality, so pandemic and after, Workplace tech is here to stay, so embrace it and make your work experience better.

Learn more about how to work smart here!

This story originally appeared on Kivo Daily