In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, work from home (WFH) is the go-to solution for the majority of organizations. With social distancing becoming mandatory around the world, companies are rapidly implementing remote work solutions. Industries such as healthcare, education, financial services, and telecommunications have come to realize that a carefully planned approach to remote work is both efficient and productive.
With each passing day, it is clear that the pandemic is not going away anytime soon. Hence, we have to adapt to a new normal that involves remote work. In the meantime, you are probably wondering about the pros and cons of working from home during COVID-19. You may have come across questions like ‘why working from home is bad for business’ on the Internet. So, it is only natural that you would be interested in the advantages of remote working for the employer.
Considering how the IT sector is growing, you will be looking for the best software development team. This means deciding between hiring remote or local developers to help you with your projects. What are the factors to take into account, and which group is the better fit? Before we answer this, let’s explore the difference between the remote vs in-office models.
How Work From Home Is Different From Work From Office?
Having a work from home job means you are not commuting to the place of business Monday through Friday, and staying there to complete an 8-9 hour shift. You will create a dedicated workspace or home office setup with the proper tech stack, and follow a fixed schedule every day. You will likely establish clear boundaries so that family members respect your time and space. This is the definition of working from home vs working at home, whichever term you use.
Working remotely is the same as performing your job responsibilities outside the physical workplace. In other words, you transition from working in a traditional office to anywhere with a reliable, high-speed Internet connection. Examples include co-working spaces, libraries, coffee shops, and hotel rooms.
Advantages Of Hiring Remote Developers
Cost-Efficient
If you compare statistics, you will see that the cost of labor is more affordable overseas. Would you pay a local developer $200 an hour when you can get the same amount of work done for a fraction of the cost or perhaps lesser from another country? In this way, you can choose a team that provides the same software or web development services as local employees but often at lower price points. You can then reinvest these cost-savings in strategic initiatives such as building bigger and feature-rich apps.
Also, think about how much you can potentially save by hiring remote developers. They do not utilize office resources such as electricity, water, gas, Internet, etc. You do not have to recruit them and invest in training sessions to ensure that they stay updated with the latest skillsets. Furthermore, remote developers need not travel to the location of the company, whether it is in the country or abroad. This reduces costs as you do not have to pay for their traveling or visa expenses. All these are crucial benefits especially for SMBs with limited budgets and in unprecedented times when everyone is battling an economic crisis. As a result, outsourcing is a viable and competitive approach that increases productivity and maximizes savings in the long run.
Access To A Global Talent Pool
Having a wider range of options allows you to be more selective with the IT talent you receive. Choosing to hire local developers limits you to the resources available within your regional proximity. This can restrict your ability to shortlist and recruit the perfect candidates when hiring full-time employees, thereby ruling out promising applicants. So, you have no choice but to rely on the services available within your immediate area.
The case is different with remote developers. You can easily reach out to knowledgeable resources with vast work experiences to offer. When you opt for remote employees, you gain access to a more competent pool of developers at a quarter of the cost. As a result, there is a greater probability of building a team with the skillset and experience that most favorably aligns with your project goals.
If you build an app or a website, you know it evolves from the architecture stage, through development, and to completion. This makes software and web development a complete experience that everyone can learn new things from. So, it is essential that developers have the skills to take on your project and offer the best client experience at the same time. Remote developers often have great communication skills and processes in place that enable them to deliver end-to-end customer experiences. Examples include communication and collaboration platforms such as Slack, Meet, Asana, video conferencing software, email, and phone calls. Considering location and time zone differences, they would also be happy to connect with you through your preferred channel.
Flexible Hours
Offering flexibility in working hours improves employee efficiency and productivity. Remote developers take all possible measures to uphold their reputation so they can get maximum international projects. They operate under certain timeframes to ensure the best efficiency and productivity standards. You can give them the option to choose the hours that complement their unique lifestyles. There is no need to micromanage as long as they complete project deliverables timely.
As a result, remote developers benefit from a healthy work-life balance that enhances satisfaction and the quality of their services. Compare this situation to local developers who must travel to their workplace Monday through Friday. Office environments present distractions for local developers with activities such as lunch, coffee breaks, and commuting. This usually means they have to work overtime which disrupts their routine and impacts company culture.
Digitalization
Today and post-COVID-19, the main survival strategy is to go online. For this, businesses must fully adopt digital solutions, and many are yet to take this step. This is because many organizations are not convinced about the benefits of digitalization. Another reason is the lack of awareness of toolkits and best practices that enable digital transformation.
Hiring remote developers changes everything as it will give you a chance to emphasize the importance of digitalization for your company. This will ensure business success now and in a post-COVID-19 world where social distancing will contribute to the boom in eCommerce.
Conclusion
We can see that opting for the services of remote developers is the best choice, considering current and future circumstances. With the availability of modern tools and technologies, it has become even easier for employers to connect with talent virtually.
If you require further information, please get in touch with our team of experts. Want to know how are you leading your team remotely today? You have come to the right place. What about managing remote workers’ toolkit? We can offer tips and suggestions.
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