Nowadays, remote work is a normal part of business, but while it’s very practical and many employees see it as a huge plus, it’s not without its challenges. To handle this, companies are using all kinds of automated systems to keep things running smoothly.
Intelligent automation (IA) takes this a step further and helps track performance and automate tasks like processing documents more efficiently. This way, a company can be sure their teams are efficient and productive, no matter where they are.
This article will explore how IA can help manage remote teams and how, with the right tools, your company can adapt to remote work and still stay highly efficient.
How Intelligent Automation Can Streamline Remote Work Environments
Remote work is on the rise (especially after the 2019 pandemic), but managing remote teams has unique challenges, like gaps in communication, issues with allocating tasks, and difficulty with overseeing projects. Intelligent automation can be a solution to all of them because it can make these processes run smoothly.
One essential component of Intelligent Automation (IA) is Intelligent Document Processing (IDP). IDP automates processes like document sorting, data entry, and request approval. IDP makes sure that all data is consistent and accurate, which enables remote teams to handle massive amounts of data effectively and with few mistakes.
In addition to this, automation tools make it easier to delegate tasks, keep an eye on progress, and make sure everyone is aligned, regardless of their location. These tools make sure that projects stay on track without the need to constantly check in manually.
Plus, if routine tasks are done automatically, teams have more time to focus on strategic work and improve collaboration and communication. And for you as a business owner, that means more productivity and happier clients.
Approximately 80% of remote workers use standardized collab tools/technology for communication and staying on track. IA can additionally enhance this by automating task delegation and key performance indicator (KPI) monitoring.
How to Improve KPI Monitoring with Intelligent Automation
When you’re working with remote teams, tracking KPIs isn’t easy because of the lack of real-time visibility and inconsistent reporting. With teams spread all over the place, it can be hard to track individual and collective performance.
This is where IA comes into play – it can help gather and analyze real-time data, automatically generate reports, and monitor KPIs.
Gathering Data in Real-Time
If your IA system can gather all relevant data automatically, it can also generate accurate performance reports. This means that there’s no need to do it manually and you can be sure that key metrics are constantly monitored.
With automation, reports are made faster, better, you can make informed decisions, and address issues before they even come up.
However, (according to a Gartner report) with the rise of remote work, about 67% of businesses are expected to increase cybersecurity investments in 2024. This will ensure that remote work is not only more efficient, but also secure, especially when automation tools handle very sensitive data.
3 Key KPIs to Monitor
- Productivity Metrics
IA tools like time-tracking software can keep an eye on how much time team members spend on specific tasks and give you insight into task completion rates and productivity in general.
According to the IWG, 85% of businesses reported increased productivity rates after implementing flexible work options/opportunities, as well as including remote work. Furthermore, (according to GoRemotely) some companies have observed a 40% increase in productivity when remote workers had their own dedicated spaces. This study only highlights the potential for IA tools and how they can boost efficiency by optimization.
- Engagement Metrics
Artificial intelligence analysis tools can evaluate how engaged remote employees are because it can analyze how much they communicate with each other through platforms like Slack or email.
This gives you a better understanding of your team’s morale and involvement.
- Customer Satisfaction Metrics
Collecting customer feedback automatically can give you a clearer picture of how well remote teams are doing in client-facing roles and make sure that they provide a high level of service.
The automation tool will also pinpoint areas that need to be improved.
3 Ways IA Supports Growth in Remote Workforces
As your business expands and adapts to remote work environments, you’ll need to efficiently scale operations without increasing overhead.
IA can help you with this, here’s how:
- Scaling Remote Operations
IA will allow you to scale up your remote teams without needing more resources. It automates important tasks like onboarding, training, and sharing knowledge.
This way, new team members can get up to speed quickly, and automation will make sure that everybody gets the same training and materials.
- Supporting Global Teams
Remote teams often work across different time zones, so managing tasks can be very difficult. IA solves this problem because it can offer 24/7 monitoring and automatic updates.
This will keep the workflows running smoothly even if there are no managers available. Everyone stays on track, no matter where they’re working from or when.
- Cost Efficiency and ROI
Cost efficiency is one of the biggest advantages of IA and one of the main reasons people turn to it. When repetitive tasks are automated, your business doesn’t need that much manual work, which cuts down on errors and saves time.
Plus, because IA is so efficient, you get a better return on investment (ROI), plus your business can grow without overspending.
Conclusion
The key takeaway is this – if your business has remote teams, IA can make your life easier and your business more productive.
Not only is it going to streamline operations, but it will also support the scalability of remote teams and help your business expand without increasing overhead costs.
With its ability to improve efficiency and deliver measurable ROI, intelligent automation is the solution you’re looking for to grow your business and build a better remote work environment.
