How to boost remote working productivity in professional services

Table of contents

Does remote work increase productivity?

How to track remote work productivity effectively

Increasing remote working security and boosting productivity

Embracing remote work for long-term productivity

Over the years, remote work has transformed how professional services businesses like law firms, finance houses, marketing agencies, and design studios operate. While debates around remote productivity persist and some larger (and louder) UK organisations are encouraging a full return to the office, many professionals and firms are embracing remote or hybrid work as an indefinite arrangement. Official stats show that more than a quarter of working adults in the UK (28%) describe themselves as hybrid workers today.

Does remote work increase productivity?

It depends who you ask… Concerns are sometimes raised regarding decreased output when people are removed from the structure of offices. While some flourish with more autonomy, others can grapple with distractions or motivation dips.

However, in the five years since the pandemic sent us all from our desks to our dining room tables, many have become well practised at ‘WFH’ and have found a fair few benefits too.

For example, eliminating daily commutes frees up time, contributing to a better work-life balance and reduced stress. Research shows that those working from home save an average of 56 minutes a day from not commuting. This extra time and flexibility can lead to increased job satisfaction, which can help to boost overall productivity.

Research even indicates that many report feeling more productive when working remotely, because they face fewer interruptions. Whether it’s the fire drill, a colleague chatting loudly or somebody microwaving fish for lunch (again), there can often be more going on in the office than at home. With that being said, to harness the gains of skipping the office, practical strategies for monitoring output are key.

How to track remote work productivity effectively

At Focus Group, we can help professional services businesses of all sizes to increase their remote work productivity​. How, we hear you ask?

Time tracking software

Teramind is one of the leading names in remote employee monitoring software. From law firms working remotely to digital marketing​ agencies looking to up their flexibility, it helps businesses understand exactly what their employees are doing and where risks or inefficiencies might be hiding.

Here are some of the things Teramind can do:

• Monitors user activity in real time
• Provides a smart dashboard for easy visualisation of data
• Offers powerful analytics for in-depth insights
• Generates reports on efficiency and productivity
• Detects potential insider threats
• Prevents malicious activity
• Blocks unauthorised actions

Unified remote working platforms

Your team needs access to the same tools whether they’re working from the office, home or anywhere else for that matter. From reliable internet connections, secure access to files, collaboration platforms, cloud-based communication solutions and cyber security, we can take care of it all.

Microsoft hybrid workplace

Microsoft 365's suite of applications allows your team to work effectively from any location, on any device, to ensure business continuity and flexibility. We can help you make the shift.

Remote working network solutions

Provides your remote team with rapid and responsive internet connectivity, crucial for maintaining productivity outside the traditional office.

MiFi remote worker broadband

Our Business 4G MiFi units enable users to get online quickly, ideal for those without existing broadband or experiencing poor connections.

Productivity, not surveillance

It’s important to remember, and reiterate to employees, that this is about enhancing productivity and not surveilling everybody. When implemented transparently, these tools help team members to understand their own work patterns and identify areas where they need to ask for support and improve.

Increasing remote working security and boosting productivity

For professional services firms, where the lifeblood of the business is often sensitive data, robust security in remote work setups is a necessity.

Strong cybersecurity measures, such as using secure Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), encrypted and auditable file-sharing systems, and multi-factor authentication on employee laptops and phones, form the foundation of this protection. These safeguards can help prevent unauthorised access and reduce the risk of costly data breaches that have been making the headlines repeatedly in recent months.

Our managed IT services for remote teams take care of all of this, ensuring employees have the necessary secure tools and timely support they need to be safe and efficient, whether they’re setting up their desk from their sofa, kitchen counter or garden studio.

Embracing remote work for long-term productivity

Remote and hybrid work holds significant potential for enhanced productivity in professional services, provided it's properly managed. We’ve come a long way since the rush to thrust teams into remote setups at the height of pandemic lockdowns, and these setups no longer need to, or should, be makeshift.

Today, naysayers no longer need to ask the question ‘does remote work decrease productivity?’ Instead, by adopting appropriate tools, prioritising robust security, and fostering a supportive remote environment, firms can empower their employees to thrive.

And, at the end of the day, happier employees make for happier clients. A balanced approach, considering both productivity and employee well-being, is key to unlocking the full benefits of remote work.

Ready to boost the productivity of remote working in your business? Get in touch with our team today to explore the remote work productivity tools​ we can support you with.