Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us have gotten used to working remotely. While conference calls are a regular occurrence, this year the construction industry was forced to go digital. There are plenty of resources available to reach team members to quickly let them know what needs to be done to avoid delays and get projects completed.
ZOOM
One of the biggest beneficiaries of remote working was Zoom. This video application is for virtual meetings. You can share videos, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents and conduct remote meetings. The majority of companies used this application to conduct weekly meetings or interview potential new hires. Your entire computer and desktop can even be shared with the selected audience. All invited participants can add, edit or delete documents if they are provided with remote sharing access. With the embedded microphones and webcams, nearly all computers, laptops and phones can easily use this technology to collaborate on their next meeting. Zoom is a must have resource for working remotely and is free to personal users and meeting invitees.
SLACK
Slack was developed especially for remote working. It can reach your team members wherever they are and whatever they are doing. It replaces emails and text messaging for faster and immediate communication. While chat functions are an excellent tool for communication, slack has the added benefit of organizing and grouping projects together. The Slack application is an essential collaboration tool that connects all of your team members no matter where they are located.
VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK
Another important resource for remote working is the Virtual Private Network, or VPN. This resource provides privacy and can network devices together. Every device that connects to the Internet has an IP address that traces your location and where you have been. A VPN hides the IP address from anyone trying to gain access. It encrypts your computer or any device to protect sensitive documents like contracts and customer data. The VPN service sends all data on your computer to a main center and encrypts it before it gets sent back to anyone. The only downside to using a VPN is that it can slow down your internet speed considerably if you are using heavy, computer intensive applications.
WI-FI ROUTER
A Wi-Fi router or modem makes Internet speeds go faster and allows you to connect numerous devices within the same space. A Wi-Fi router is a small device that allows access to the Internet. It increases the broadband width which allows heavy increased traffic flow. Without a Wi-Fi router, the Zoom meetings would buffer, and the speech would slow down. When you talk to someone in the meeting, they would not hear you speak as you are saying it. Routers allow virtual meetings to go faster and without interruptions.
Technology has significantly improved the ability for almost any business to work remotely. Even large enterprises like Google are reconsidering their need for a physical building. We are at the point where almost everyone will be able to work out of the office. While the actual construction needs to be performed onsite, all of the related planning, coordination and meetings can successfully be done remotely. The changes in the sudden need for technology are bringing more trust and confidence from people who run their businesses remotely. While some businesses are still resisting this trend, by integrating these resources, companies can become more effective and collaborative even when they are not in the same building.
