While remote teams have gained popularity over the last decade, a lot of business owners worry whether such teams will be able to deliver the quality results that an in-house team can offer. However, the latest research has discovered that over 1/3rd (37 %) of companies are currently outsourcing their business processes and more than half (52 %) are planning to outsource their processes in 2019.
In fact, a lot of remote teams are well-equipped, well trained and seasoned in the industry that the offer services. Due to their global exposure, they are often more competent and more productive than an in-house team that you can put together locally.
That said, there are some very concrete ways in which you can structure your reporting so that the remote team you hire is both accountable and productive:
Ensure your vendor tracks working hours
Think track of attendance and working hours can help you understand how the team works and also how your money is being spent. You may also be able to gauge accurately the duration of particular projects and tasks by keeping an eye on working hours through proper reporting.
Established two-way communication
Communication with virtual teams needs happen both ways: you instruct them but also listen to them. If you take the time to listen to team feedback, you may discover areas in which they excel that you may not have been previously aware of. By allowing the team to play to their strengths, not only will your remote employees be more engaged but more productive as well. Such communication will also create a sense of confidence for sharing ideas, suggestions and opinions. Essentially, if you treat a remote team as your own internal team, they will start behaving as if they are part of your organization and picking up the onus for getting things done.
Have weekly reporting meetings
Even if you do not have much to discuss, having weekly meetings can help you and your remote team staying in touch and know about how things are proceeding. This can also prevent unwanted surprises later when you discover that they had been working in a totally different direction and what was intended. For remote teams placed countries or even continents away from yourself, regular video calling can also establish a strong sense of commonality between your internal team and your remote team. When everyone is working towards a common goal, things get done much faster.
Conduct monthly reviews
Monthly reviews should include an examination of the entire roster of tasks completed, pending and in-process for the past month. This will give you a clearer idea of the strengths and weaknesses of your removed team. You will also be able to see which agents are performing well or lagging behind. Monthly reviews also establish a strong sense of accountability in your remote team.
If you’re interested in learning more about how remote teams can help you grow your business, take a quick look at our blogs: http://bit.ly/2YhCBwi