Coronavirus is a Catalyst for Work-From-Home-Tech

The coronavirus or COVID-19 has proven to be a deadly virus, affecting more than 200,000 people and claiming at least 10,000 lives since it was first detected on 31st December 2019. It has led to governments disbanding public gatherings such as sporting and political events. In doing so, they hope to stop the spread of this global pandemic that has already claimed thousands of lives from different corners of the world.

So, are you a tech-guru or online treasure hunter who enjoys working from home? Well, the only positive to take from this pandemic is now; you can do so with ease. Yes, tech companies like Facebook and Amazon have advised staff members to work from within the comforts of their home. Why? Read on to learn more!

Efforts to Control the Rise of the Outbreak

Asian companies such as the Singapore FinTech Association and ACCESS were advised by their governments to adopt new work from home or WTF tech methods. This is after the spread of COVID-19 rose from yellow to orange according to the disease outbreak response technology system. ACCESS, for instance, introduced a cloud-based conferencing video app that could work hand-in-hand with the Singapore Monetary Authority.

This was to help more than 300 of their staff members to understand the new service payment policies as well as to facilitate the issuance of new operating licenses. That said, there were concerns that this home technology system would not serve a large number of people properly. Luckily though, everything worked out without a single problem and they even received impressive user reviews.

The Need for Companies to Protect their Staff Members!

After 2 employees tested positive for the coronavirus, now Washington state technology firms are advising their members to work from home. Some of these tech firms include Apple Inc, Google US, and Microsoft Corp. Facebook has also told its millions of employees in the United States to work from home, especially if they have serious health concerns. This includes those who have low immune systems or live together with someone with the same kind of problem. Others are;

• Pregnant women
• People who have come in contact with the COVID-19 virus
• Parents who need to stay at home to take care of their kids.

Another tech company that’s heavy on smart home technology is Microsoft. Its LinkedIn department has told over 5,000 of its employees living in San Francisco who can work from home to take that opportunity and do so. It has even gone further to advise its staff members to postpone or cancel unimportant business trips.

The Ease of Conducting Business at Home with Technology

The recommendation of major technology firms to move thousands of staff to a telecommunication work environment has triggered a huge industrial shift too. With the latest home technology, employees now have the infrastructure needed to collaborate and communicate efficiently while seated at home. In fact, close to 76% of employees at Amazon and another 30% at Google are now doing so.

Teleconferencing, for instance, is an effective innovation that’s now being used by companies such as Adobe Inc, Workday Inc, and Google. This is after the Center for Disease Prevention, and Control advised these companies to adopt safer remote working systems. Luckily, 46% of organizations in the United States have implemented this policy to control the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

Some Challenges Arising from WFH Technology

While the role of technology in facilitating home workforce efficiency cannot be underestimated, there are still a few challenges. One common problem is the risk of employees feeling somewhat isolated. Company executives or C.E.Os should, therefore, make sure that they are in close contact with their members as often as possible.

Lack of trust is another growing concern when using internet technology at home. Research done by Offices.co.uk showed that a large number of workers saw the remote home working systems as a chance to take a couple of weeks off. Hence, managers should put measures to ensure that their employees are indeed working. Good examples include;

• Establishing cognitive trust- this is trust based on an individual’s ability and knowledge. It’s remotely developed using methods such as emails and frequent conference calls.
• Creating emotional trust- this is the most challenging form of trust in a workplace environment. It depends heavily on face-to-face communication to see what someone believes in or likes.

Conclusion

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread at astonishing rates, future home technology could prove to be the answer. We should, therefore, expect tech industries to continue closing their workspaces as they encourage their employees to carry out their daily business routines from home. While this may not yield long-lasting solutions, it will certainly help in stopping the spread of this ‘killer’ virus.

So, what kind of technology are you using to work from home? Also, what measures have you taken to sanitize and clean your living space? Let us know in the comments section below!

Author Bio:

Thomas Quarry is a king blogger and huge tech enthusiast from Washington, D.C. He has written a lot of informative blogs on the role of technology in business, commerce, and industry. A father of four beautiful children, currently he is self-isolating in the state of Wisconsin together with his family.