Remote workforce challenges are a key part of the current business picture. The global pandemic has caught many businesses off guard when it comes to remote working. This is particularly true of manufacturing, where the emphasis is still very much based on the nine-to-five, on-site model of work.

As a result, manufacturers have had to become more agile and improvise new methodologies to maintain productivity.

Unfortunately, this is not always a smooth process – and the array of challenges caused by COVID-19 has meant that businesses are constantly responding to new, unforeseen threats that destabilise productivity.

Thankfully, tools provided by your ERP software can help you tackle these threats head-on, get ahead of the game, and begin to be more proactive in your approach.

With that in mind, here are our remote workforce challenges and how to tackle them.

 

Remote working with COVID-19

The key challenge since the pandemic began has been that, while most organisations recognise the need for remote working, not all have the ability to make it happen.

In some cases, this is as simple as lacking basic hardware (such as laptops or webcams) to make the change. In other cases, the deficiencies are even more fundamental and speak to deficiencies in their ERP system, which is often outdated.

Since the need for remote working is likely to increase permanently as a result of the pandemic, many businesses are cautiously looking to invest.

 

Remote workforce challenges and the cloud

One area of interest has been ERP with the cloud.

Many businesses are finding that the cloud is providing easier remote working options to their staff. But the benefit doesn’t stop there. It is also being reported that better scalability, higher productivity and reduced operating costs are a feature of the switch to cloud.

The increased ability to scale with cloud should not be underestimated. Attempting to scale with on-premise ERP is often high in labour costs and risk, not to mention costs. However, the ability of cloud services to be ramped up (or down) at high speed in line with the needs of your business is a key feature of their popularity.

With this in mind, the cloud is looking like a solid step in the direction of easing remote working challenges.

 

Remote workforce challenges and communications

One area that ERP can help with remote workforce challenges is with improved communications between staff. This makes it far simply for the team to carry out routine tasks and keep on top of workloads. It also makes it easier to share skills. The technology also gives them the ability to access information from a centralised sources from anywhere in the world – providing they have an internet connection, of course.

Your ERP system can also make it easier to communicate between departments.  This centralised approach will improve productivity and make collaboration possible in a way that it was not before.

 

 

Remote workforce challenges and better processes 

ERP systems are key in simplifying processes and eliminating unnecessary transactions. Nothing slows business growth like bottlenecks in your operations, but a good ERP system will help your processes grow in line with your business. In turn, your remote workers’ responsibilities are reduced in complexity.

A proper system will help make you more efficient by reducing data-entry errors, helping your navigate complex processes and assisting in how your departments speak to each other. This means each department, including remote staff, will be able to access real-time data with the click of a button.

 

Remote workforce challenges and reduced costs

It’s no surprise that every business wants to cut costs. This need has never been more pressing than during the current pandemic. Thankfully, your ERP system can play a key role in avoiding expensive errors that hold your business back.

Having just one source of accurate information in the form of real-time data goes some way towards achieving this. It allows remote workers to reduce operations and admin costs, allowing you to focus attention elsewhere. In other words, resources can be allocated elsewhere.

Your software can also allow you to reduce delays while being more proactive, preventing data log-jams and allowing staff working from home to make faster decisions.

Getting your software and vendor right can help transform your business by reducing costs – particularly in a time of remote working.

 

Remote working and purchase requests

Using an integrated ERP system can help staff raise and manage fully automated purchase requests based on customer demand – this is a positive move for site and project-based staff. This in turn will reduce paper-based admin, lower costs and improve control and traceability.

Another positive is that purchase request templates can be made to reflect your purchasing processes. Rules can be configured for the data that is captured and the accompanying authorisations

Are you interested in implementing a new ERP system? Perhaps you’d like to upgrade to get more from your current software? If so, you can contact us today and speak to a CBO expert here.

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