Nothing has influenced the workplace quite like the rise of the remote worker. As more and more companies realize the advantages of a remote or hybrid work model, some interesting benefits of a dispersed workforce have become apparent.
Here are 6 reasons why distributed teams may be the future of software development.
Access to a Global Talent Pool
Many large corporations, like Google, have made the shift to a hybrid work model. It allows them to tap into a global talent pool that would otherwise not be available to them. This increases their success and makes them an even more attractive company to want to work for.
But while you’re wondering how to get a job at Google, consider how and why remote workers are improving their talent pool. And why tech giants like this have embraced the idea of the hybrid work model.
A distributed team of remote and hybrid workers increases the odds of bringing candidates with the software development skills a company needs into the fold.
Geographical proximity is no longer an obstacle to attracting the right applicants and securing the best new hires.
Increased Productivity
Software development isn’t all about computer skills, mathematical ability, and cold logic. It entails a fair amount of creativity, too. A combination of all of these is what makes software developers excel.
Recent research suggests that remote and hybrid workers are more productive than traditional in-house teams. This may be due to the reduced workplace stress that remote work offers or the greater freedom that flexible work hours allow.
Because your remote workers can work from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection, they’ll be able to tap into higher levels of creativity, too.
And higher productivity plus higher creativity means greater success in the software development space.
Reduced Costs
There is no doubt that a distributed workforce will save the company money. And reduced costs in one area mean increased resources in another. It allows more funds to be allocated to recruitment, training, and tech hardware and therefore aids in new product development.
Companies that have less in-house staff can make do with smaller premises, they spend less on utilities, and there’s less wear and tear on office furniture.
Virtually every expense goes down the less office-bound staff you have.
But most of all, fewer people online in-office means less downtime. A fault with your company server won’t bring the entire team’s schedule crashing to a halt. Those that work remotely will be able to continue working on their own time and submit their work when things are up and running again.
Flexibility and Work-Life Balance
Software development companies, and technology companies in general, are extremely competitive. They’re constantly losing staff to one another in a race for the biggest and brightest talent pool.
At best, the loss of just one brilliant mind could seriously impede your efforts to reach a deadline. At worst, it could compromise sensitive data and that would spell doom for your business.
So every effort should be made to reduce staff turnover, and distributed teams may be the answer.
It’s not always about more competitive salaries or career advancement. An understanding of what prompts your best software developers to head to the competition may reveal an interesting reason.
One of the top reasons why good employees leave is an unhealthy work-life balance.
A remote or hybrid work situation can address this issue, without losing your top talent. Many software giants, Microsoft, for example, have realized the benefits of offering remote work positions.
Follow their example, and you’ll offer the flexibility and freedom your staff craves.
Improved Collaboration
While it may seem counter-intuitive, teams often collaborate more effectively in a hybrid or remote situation, than a conventional in-office one. And improved collaboration is the key to creating innovative software development.
Perhaps this is because in-house teams are reliant on staff that are geographically available, whereas distributed teams are not. Collaboration with far-flung team members that wouldn’t ordinarily be available, adds to the variety of tech skills they bring to the table.
Whatever the reasons, the fact is that distributed teams allow people from all over the world to contribute their tech kills. And the more skills your team can access, the greater the collaboration on products in development will be.
Advances in Technology that Enable Distributed Teams
In the past, a distributed workforce was just not feasible. Project collaboration was almost impossible, and communication, in general, was stilted.
Advances in technology have dissolved these barriers and have made serious strides in the area of employee engagement, too.
In-house teams rely more on face-to-face communication and collaboration, and this certainly can be productive. But their reliance on old-school methods can keep them stuck in a rut, which doesn’t do much for their creativity when developing new software.
Distributed teams must constantly rise to the challenges they face, overcoming obstacles despite distances.
Collaboration tools like video conferencing, virtual meetings, webinars, and instant messaging, bring software development teams together where they feel most in sync – in the digital world.
