More people than ever are working from home, which is having a huge impact on the global workplace. This means fewer people are showing up to an office every day. Some companies have even adopted a fully remote arrangement where they have no headquarters to speak of.

You may wonder how traditional in-person roles are functioning despite this. Take, for instance, the IT department. While IT is a broad term covering many roles, a huge chunk of their time is spent maintaining computers and tech equipment that other people use.

Why remote IT staffing works

Now that there are fewer people and equipment to manage onsite, you might question the importance of IT staffing in the Philippines or elsewhere, especially when these personnel are working virtually. Such a setup works for the following reasons:

• Secure desktop support apps: these allow IT workers to remotely view and access what’s happening on a person’s screen for tech support purposes.
• Speciality IT service firms: these include software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers offering remote servers and the staff to maintain them.
• Internet-of-things (IoT) network: these cover the billions of inter-connected devices that make it easier for professionals to manage systems online.

How to boost remote IT staffing

Though IT is undergoing significant changes in the global workplace, the department is here to stay. Here are tips to make your virtual IT team more productive and effective:

1 – Establish goals without micromanaging

Encourage them to work together by setting goals for the quarter or the year, but give them the freedom to manage the workload amongst themselves. Avoid micromanaging the environment as that hinders them from providing quality results.

Also, emphasize objectives for each project to motivate them to reach the different milestones. Doing so ensures that the team understands who is responsible for certain aspects of the project. Meaning, it allows them to be accountable for their own work.

2 – Maintain connection and communication

It’s challenging to build confidence and trust among remote IT staffing. Part of shifting to a more mobile workforce is an increase in possible communication lapses. For this reason, you have to provide as many opportunities for in-person communication as possible.

Arrange for regular check-ins and one-on-ones with your employees to help them solve problems and address any obstacles. Ask for their opinions and ideas for improving your processes while giving them feedback on their work. Train them to speak in business terms instead of technical terms too.

3 – Give them the necessary tools

Remote IT staffing is only as good as the resources they have available to use. It’s your responsibility as the employer to ensure that your workers have the most intuitive and secure solutions. Doing so eliminates unnecessary hours of manual labor thereby improving productivity.

The current technical landscape requires the implementation of a mobile workforce where your IT staff is allowed to access and manage your systems securely regardless of their location. Research which tools are the most suitable for the needs of your employees and your organization.

4 – Create an environment for learning

It’s important for your technology staff to feel that they have multiple opportunities for growth. Encouraging them to take on a new responsibility or challenge is what drastically increases their performance. Therefore, promote both their personal and professional growth while they’re working for you.

If possible, offer training for satisfying their interests and developing their strengths. This is sometimes more effective in building their loyalty than a small bump in salary. Publicly recognize those who have succeeded with their jobs to serve as motivation for others to follow in their footsteps.

5 – Be there to have their backs

It’s important to protect your personnel from intrusions from people seeking technical assistance. Make sure that other members of the management aren’t swamping the IT team with demands that don’t make sense. It pays to have a system in place for prioritizing and organizing tech requests.

Resist the temptation to encourage long hours, even if the company is dealing with numerous projects at once. This type of productivity comes with unfortunate results, such as higher employee turnover and lower employee morale. The best way to boost productivity is by teaching your people to work smarter, not harder.

Where to find remote IT staffing

As technology grows more complex and advanced and more people work virtually, the future favors companies who understand the value of having IT professionals in their midst. You mustn’t settle for just anyone with technical knowledge though. You want someone with experience providing remote support.

If you’re wondering where to find and hire experts in the field, we at Remote Workmate are here to be of service. We provide IT staffing in the Philippines, among other offshore staffing solutions. Rest assured that we endorse only candidates who meet standards previously agreed upon.