Above: Photo by Taras Malyarevich/DepositPhotos.

We’re slowly approaching the end of 2020, which has no doubt been a turbulent year for all.

Business Insider suggests that major companies like Google and Indeed are extending their remote policies into next year, which just goes to show that these changes brought about by COVID-19 are likely to persist well into the near future. Because of this, businesses that want to start 2021 off on the right foot will need to be agile and alter their operations to fit the future of the workplace.

So, keep reading below for some workplace trends to anticipate so that you can keep your business competitive.

Remote hiring

The advent of digital work also means that companies have a chance to hire skilled employees from other parts of the world, or at least other parts of the country.

The Next Web notes that increasing workplace diversity and focusing on skills-based hiring will be on the rise within the next few years, which in turn necessitates a need for remote hiring. HR teams will have to find ways to amend the hiring process and make it more accessible, whether it’s through investing in video platforms for interviews or creating digital onboarding resources.

Digital marketing

Internet consumption continues to grow year on year, and will most likely increase faster than expected with everyone staying at home. Increasing digital marketing efforts is therefore necessary with Ayima outlining the importance of SEO and paid media as a way for businesses to improve brand reputation and reach out to new consumers.

Relying on analytics to track digital marketing performance will also be an integral part of the future. International companies are now adopting this strategy, showing how digital marketing is moving past social media.

Flexible work hours

One of the greatest benefits of remote work is its ability to promote a work-life balance among employees, and managers can help this by offering flexible work hours. Depending on the needs of your organization (as well as the physical location of your team), you might need to designate core hours when everyone will be online.

These core hours are essential to ensure that communication flows smoothly, but offering flexible schedules outside these core hours allows your employees to attend to other needs — and, in turn, be more productive and focused once they’re at work.

Communication platforms

Our previous post on TSTT’s current business strategy highlights how communication platforms such as instant messaging and even text messaging are now on the rise. Former TSTT CEO Dr Ronald Walcott cited these platforms in relation to marketing efforts, but it’s also stands to benefit your company’s internal operations.

Having a streamlined communication strategy facilitates smoother collaboration among teams. Giving instantaneous updates via platforms such as Slack can also allow managers to adopt flexible work hours with ease by knowing that important communications are simply a message away.

Businesses all over the world are going to have a hard time adjusting to the post-COVID world, but it is still possible to end Q4 and start 2021 on the right note. These four workplace trends are increasingly important for any company, and it’s in your best interests to address them as soon as possible.

Lucy Boyd

Guest writer Lucy Boyd is a blogger who has been investigating how technology is changing our lifestyles and workplace. She has written about smart roads for TechNewsTT.