Lots of the things that changed during the COVID-19 pandemic have reverted to a state of affairs that is similar to what was in place pre-2020. One change that has remained sticky, however, is the level of remote working. There is still a lot of it, and companies are still grappling with the productivity question.
Are your employees productive when working remotely? Not just getting things done – are they truly productive? Are they more productive on the days they are in the office than on the days they are working from home? Where are the remote working efficiency challenges and workflow bottlenecks?
It’s time to find out through workplace monitoring software.
The Right Way to Monitor Remote Workers
There is a lot of advice out there about how to ensure your employees are productive when working from home. Examples of that advice include defining responsibilities, clearly outlining your expectations, and setting clear goals. Proactive communication and regular check-ins are also best practice.
There is nothing wrong with any of these things. In fact, they are all examples of good management.
But they are not enough.
And the question is complex, as there are lots of variables at play.
Some employees will be hard at it when working from home but working hard and being productive are not the same thing.
Too much time could be being spent on certain tasks, while some remote workers might be getting distracted away from work even more than they know.
And then there will be some remote workers who are taking the proverbial. There often aren’t many, but in any large organization, they do exist.
Workplace monitoring software is the solution.
What is Workplace Monitoring Software for Remote Employees?
Workplace monitoring software is not about catching people out. It’s not about snooping or surveillance, either. Instead, workplace monitoring software is about accountability and autonomy:
- Facilitating the autonomy that comes with working remotely.
- Maintaining accountability by being productive and adding value to the organization you work for.
Here’s a brief run-through of how workplace monitoring software works:
- The software monitors the digital activity of employees, including when they are working from home. It does this in a way that causes zero disruption to the day-to-day experience of employees.
- The best solutions (like ours at WatchPoint) also detect work simulation technologies, such as “mouse jigglers”, that attempt to evade remote work monitoring.
- The monitoring of employee digital activity produces data that can then be analyzed by an AI algorithm to identify patterns, trends, and correlations.
- Insights into performance and workflow are presented so you can make informed decisions and identify areas for targeted interventions.
Best Practices When Monitoring Remote Workers
- Adopt a transparent approach to workplace monitoring with open communication that explains what is happening, why, and what you want to achieve.
- Choose the right workplace monitoring software with the features and capabilities that will ensure you achieve your objectives.
- Make sure you retain ownership of all your data, trends, and metrics. This is especially important when the workplace monitoring software uses AI to analyze the data.
- Allow enough time for data gathering and analysis. Three months is a common time period for this phase of the process.
- Avoid excessive monitoring or interventions with an emphasis on results rather than minutes and seconds.
You will also need to decide on metrics to track. Important metrics include:
- Time tracking – work hours and idle time.
- Task management – time spent on tasks, task completion rates, and task-related billable hours.
- Computer and device usage – website tracking, app tracking, and software tracking.
Next Steps
At WatchPoint, we support enterprise organizations to better manage their remote workers, optimize productivity, and minimize inefficiencies. While we work with customers in all industries, we have particular expertise in the financial services sector. To get a bespoke demo of our workplace monitoring software, please contact us, and a member of the team will get back to you.
