Figuring out how to manage multiple office locations is a common problem for many business leaders and managers. Even before the pandemic hit and business leaders dealt with more distributed, flexible teams, growing businesses often had to support staff in various environments. The more your company evolves and grows, the more likely it is that you’ll have the talent to schedule, support, and motivate in different locations.
The good news is that dealing with various office environments at once doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems. With new technology to help business leaders track resources, assets, and employees, you can manage your resources like never before. Today, we’re going to cover some of the best strategies you can use to keep multiple office environments running smoothly, regardless of what your business does.
Invest in New Technology
Technology is the ultimate solution for bridging the gaps between teams. The right tools help your staff stay productive wherever they are while ensuring you can keep track of things like productivity, security, and even essential business outcomes.
If you’re managing remote employees in different locations, project management tools make it easier for you to assign tasks to specific members of staff and ensure they’re completed by set deadlines. Artificial intelligence tools can automate tasks like reminding people when a project is coming up. You could even supply staff members with virtual assistants that help them search for crucial information fast.
The right technology for your business will depend heavily on the individual needs of your team. If you’re running a B2B team where you deal with many big clients, a Customer Relationship Management tool that allows sales professionals and service teams to access information about each account quickly will be essential. Such tools are useful in other industries as well.
If you’re running creative projects with staff working in different parts of the country (or world), online collaboration tools with real-time file sharing, presence features, and video conferencing will be indispensable.
Prioritize Good Communication
In an environment where employees are distributed across multiple locations, communication is the key to keeping your entire team aligned. For daily updates and information, you might set up a chat tool where staff can connect with other people in a laid-back setting, check who’s available when they need support, and catch up on business announcements.
Leaders in a business should ensure that no employees feel left behind when it comes to getting information. Everyone should get business updates at the same time, and on the same digital platform, so the entire team feels informed and confident about their managers. Communication policies should also be available to help team members use tools correctly in every scenario. For instance, you might have guidelines that tell your staff when they’ll be best suited to set up a video call with colleagues and when it’s appropriate to just send an email or instant message.
Regular video meetings with people from all over the business can also benefit the overall company culture and make your team members feel more closely connected.
Keep On Top of Assets, Resources, and Information
Finally, if you’re running a company with multiple office locations, the chances are you’ll have various resources distributed between each destination. Keeping track of those assets is essential to ensure that your employees are properly empowered with the right tools. An asset management strategy that enables you to keep track of everything from office equipment to smartphones and devices distributed to field workers is crucial.
Staying on top of the resources your employees have available to them will make it easier to decide when you need to make new investments in essential tools for your teams. You can also help reduce the risk of equipment loss. Aside from simply keeping track of your physical assets, make sure you also have a strategy in place for intellectual resources. You should know where all of your business data will end up and how your employees can access crucial information when they need it.
Managing Multiple Locations
Keeping track of multiple office locations can seem challenging, but with the right strategy and technology, you can avoid any significant issues. Establishing communication standards, tracking your resources, and implementing the right digital tools will keep all the cogs of your business running smoothly.
Author Bio: Joe Peters is a Baltimore-based freelance writer and an ultimate techie. When he is not working his magic as a marketing consultant, this incurable tech junkie devours the news on the latest gadgets and binge-watches his favorite TV shows. Follow him on @bmorepeters.