With the advent of COVID-19, tons of people were left to work remotely. According to a study by FlexJobs: “In the U.S., remote work grew by 159% from 2005 to 2017 “, with the pandemic boosting those numbers even further. As a result, businesses were faced with the need to come up with innovative ways to manage remote employees.
This is where GPS tracking technology comes in – one of the key instruments to help raise productivity above all while guaranteeing the safety of your data and work.
So, how exactly does GPS tracking change the entire ball game of remote work? For one thing, it became a sizeable challenge to keep track of everybody’s work hours. By linking GPS tracking systems to time tracking software, you can tell the exact time each of the employees started, as well as when they got off and had a break.
GPS tracking can really up your task management game. Managers can assign tasks based on where employees are, which is super handy for jobs that involve travel, like service techs or sales reps. By giving out tasks that are close by, companies can cut down on travel time and boost productivity.
With real-time GPS tracking, managers can easily monitor task and project progress. By looking at location data, managers can easily spot patterns, streamline workflows, and offer support for employees where it is needed. As a result, this helps keep productivity up and address any issues quickly.
Another key moment for remote work to run as it should is keeping company devices secure. Laptops, smartphones, vehicles, bikes, or whatever equipment a business use – GPS tracking can monitor their whereabouts. If they get lost or stolen, the GPS can help to find protects the device and any data on it.
Geofencing is one more useful future that lets businesses draw virtual boundaries. When an employee or a device leaves or enters these boundaries, the system sends an alert. This can ensure that employees remain within a designated work area, or it can alert a manager, for example, that a device has left a secure area.
Modern GPS tracking systems come with strong encryption and security features to block unauthorized access. Keeping location data secure is crucial for protecting confidentiality and data integrity.
GPS tracking boosts transparency between employers and employees. When employees know their work patterns are being monitored, they’re more likely to stick to their schedules. This helps build trust and accountability within the team.
Understanding where your team is can help optimize resource allocation. This is useful for planning meetings, assigning tasks, and managing logistics more effectively, leading to better efficiency overall.
Insights into work patterns from GPS tracking can help employees manage their time better, promoting a healthier work-life balance. Managers can spot if employees are overworking and take steps to prevent burnout.
When businesses start using GPS tracking, naturally, there will be concerns among employees about privacy. The best way to go about it is by creating clear privacy policies about the usage of location data and guaranteeing transparency for your employees. Managers must make sure to have consent from the employees as this is the only ethical way to enforce GPS tracking on them.
What about employee morale with all this tracking? One might ask. Sure, excessive GPS tracking can lead to some volatility and complaints among employees, but there is a need to explain that "this is all for your own sake".
As more and more businesses realize the importance and real life benefits of employee well-being, real-time GPS tracking tools will be designed to support not just productivity but also the mental and physical health of remote workers. Features that promote work and life balance and prevent burnout will become more important.
So, summa summarum – what did we learn here?
Top benefits for business:
- Easier time tracking and attendance logging.
- Improved task management with real-time location data.
- Enhanced security for company devices.
- Valuable geofencing features for better compliance.
- Strong data security with encryption.
Challenges to keep in mind:
- Privacy concerns among employees.
- Compliance with legal regulations.
- Potential mistrust and moral issues.
- Need for open communication and employee involvement.
- Balancing monitoring with respect for privacy.
From increased productivity to improved security, GPS tech provides companies with the means to combat remote work challenges. Privacy issues must be resolved, and a compromise between monitoring and trust must be found to make the remote work experience as pleasant and efficient as possible.