Improved communication and collaboration have been shown to increase creativity and overall productivity. As most businesses continue to operate remotely, various tools must be used to provide employees with the best methods to communicate effectively.

There are dozens of options available to optimize remote collaboration. Finding what works best for your business can help you achieve a more robust and efficient virtual work environment.

Here are five recommendations to help improve productivity within your team.

1. Select the perfect platform. The fast back-and-forth nature of instant messaging speeds up communication and allows people to quickly share ideas. If you rely solely on email to communicate ideas between team members, you’re better off operating on a platform where messages can be sent and viewed much faster. Microsoft Teams is an option that allows both instant messaging and video calls. Ensures all options are covered. Those companies looking for updates to the collaboration system should take a look at this platform if they haven’t already.

2. Emphasize speed and connectivity. Remote work can come to a complete halt if the proper speed and connectivity of your Internet connection do not meet your needs. Every team member needs a fast, secure and reliable connection. Workers who are constantly dealing with a slow and unresponsive system can lose confidence in the team’s ability to complete projects on time. Those experiencing a weak signal may need a better router or extender. Others may need to contact their vendor and ensure that the system is capable of operating to company standards.

3. Partner with an IT support team. Once the system is operating at its full potential, it must be maintained to continue operating at peak performance. Companies that lack technical support staff should seek help from a managed service provider. A tech-savvy third party can keep an objective eye on a company’s entire system. They will be able to monitor and maintain your network so that connectivity issues do not become a problem or burden to your business.

Any network problem can hamper your business. Ongoing proactive maintenance can prevent those negative situations.

Four. Improve security. Your communications system must be kept secure to prevent security breaches and data theft. Rival companies have been known to target companies and their communication methods to intercept sensitive information. At the start of the pandemic, the Zoom call bombing phenomenon was making headlines and highlighted the importance of secure calls when communicating virtually.

Some platforms are better than others when it comes to offering security and encryption. A check of your protection measures already in place will help you decide which platform is right for you. Regardless, several precautions must be used to ensure that logins and passwords are secure, such as the use of multi-factor authentication.

5. Provide remote desktop access. This allows employees to retrieve data and files from their office computers, even when they are at home. It is a way to make it possible to be at the office desk, even when it is not physically possible due to company restrictions caused by the pandemic. Remote desktop access is a tool that no company should be without.

Setting up a remote desktop connection doesn’t have to be difficult. Service providers can set it up for you, and from there your team can freely access your vital files and documentation as needed. It makes completing projects and staying on track so much easier. When configured correctly, it’s completely secure and reliable, so you won’t have to worry about any unforeseen issues arising.

Remote communication is of vital importance and cannot be overlooked. It has become a long-standing trend accelerated by the global pandemic and should be used to the fullest.