In the last few years, there has been a significant movement for going beyond traditional work setups. One such development is the growth of the mobile workforce. Find out how you can better manage this new breed of employees with Virtua Solutions Outsourcing’s help.
What Is A Mobile Workforce Anyway?
The mobile workforce is an offshoot of the remote work movement in that both have eschewed traditional office setups in favor of working at their preferred location. But there is one difference that makes the former group unique. Most remote workers still work from a fixed location, often their homes.
Image from Skedulo.
The mobile worker eschews even that completely. They prefer to work while on the move. Such workers set up a temporary “office” wherever they are and then move to another location as needed. Remote and mobile workers can overlap, transitioning between the two classifications as they need.
Another crucial aspect of the mobile worker definition is the type of technology that supports it. As the name implies, there is a heavy emphasis on portability and operability from anywhere. Laptops and smartphones are two ubiquitous pieces of tech associated with the group. The growth of cloud technology has helped increase accessibility even in remote locations.
What A Mobile Workforce Offers
Okay, so the benefits of being a mobile worker are pretty obvious for the employee. But what about your company?
One of the most important benefits of this model is that it lets you expand your talent pool greatly. Without the need for dedicated workspaces, you can have any number of people as part of the team. It will be crucial for projects that require talent outside of your location.
Image from Forbes.
This ability also gives you greater flexibility. You can readily expand the team as needed. That is essential for business growth, as you can penetrate other locations without setting up a physical office first. You just need to send your team to the desired locale to set up shop.
Another benefit of a mobile workforce is that it gives you a better perspective of your team. You get to see how effective your members are in managing their resources. You also get to see how the team adapts to changing work circumstances. Such insights can help you create a better management strategy.
The Challenges Of Managing A Mobile Workforce
Of course, with it being one of the latest trends in the labor scene, there are various challenges you have to deal with. These challenges can impact how well you can oversee the team and harness their mobility.
Scheduling
Image from OpenSimSim.
Mobile workers often operate on a very flexible schedule. They might opt to be present only at certain times or days. It can create a situation where your team is working at different times. Your company needs a scheduling system that best accommodate and bring these schedules together into a coherent workflow.
Supervision
Another challenge that you will face with mobile workers is supervision. Since they are not physically present, you have to find a way to monitor their work. Since they will be moving often, you would also want to get updates on their whereabouts. On the other hand, you need to ensure that these monitoring efforts will not interfere with their flexibility.
Creating Employee Happiness
This one might seem odd since greater mobility should provide workers with greater freedom. However, there is more than just that to ensure their happiness. In particular, you should find ways to help them feel more connected with their peers. That will require a considerable effort from all the departments within your company.
Getting The Right Solution For Mobile Workforce Management
To meet these challenges and keep your mobile workforce engaged, you need the right support team. And Virtua Solutions is ready to be that. So, you might wonder. Why us?
The biggest reason is because we are mobile ourselves. Ever since our inception, we have adopted this setup for our operations. As such, we fully understand the challenges associated with this model. That lets us give you a fully optimized solution.
Guiding Your Mobile Team Towards The Right Direction
One of the most essential elements of effective mobile workforce management is effective coordination with your spread-out staff. Our human resources team will serve as a central hub for them as they move about and do their work.
Image from National Governors Association.
To start, we will keep track of the location and progress of your team members. Since some might be moving frequently, they have to send regular updates on their whereabouts. We organize these updates for you and the employees’ benefit.
We can also help your mobile team fulfill other HR requirements. For instance, we can help your mobile team submit and process such documents as leave requests and claim forms. On the other hand, our team can also work with your main HR office to send out responses and ensure that their concerns are resolved.
Keep Your Mobile Team On The Go With Virtua Solutions
With the ever-changing face of the labor landscape, being able to keep up with the times might mean getting out of the office. And Virtua Solutions is ready to be on the road with you. Contact us today and let’s help your employees become more mobile.