Top 10 Must-Have Hardware for Remote Work

Employees working remotely will need more than just the right software; all the right hardware and equipment can make the world of difference to an employee’s productivity, health and job satisfaction.

Providers need to think about a variety of aspects when they offer office spaces for colleagues, such as tilting chairs and desks that are good for one’s back and help memorising and concentrating, reliable Internet that keeps business alive without downtime, and cams that employees can use to video conference without any delay.

Laptop

Given the nature of some remote work jobs, it is essential for the employers of such jobs to equip their employees with laptop computers that meet the requirements of their jobs in terms of functionality and security. This move ensures quality results at all times as the computer resources will be available throughout without any hindrances. Secondly, the advent of various alternatives such as ergonomic keyboards and mice contribute to preventance of wrist and/or carpal tunnel strain. Thirdly, noise-cancelling headphones can be a great tool in barring out distractions. Lastly, laptop stands, which can be utilised to elevate screens to eye level to obviate straining necks while in front of computer.

Monitor

It’s true that working from home is advantageous in many ways, but it is necessary that remote employees should get all the equipment if they want to work with the same level of efficiency as people who work in an office.
First of all, this person definitely needs a desktop computer with a monitor and the keyboard/ mouse combo appended. Other necessities are the printer, mobile phone, the special software and various other materials that one may or may not need eventually.
It is definitely a good idea to start with the most basic necessities and gradually add other things that someone who works from home might need. With cloud-based file manage­ment tools, work gets done when dispersed teams can keep documents centralised and organised, but in a fashion that allows for granular permissioning to keep sensitive data secure, allowing products to be shipped faster, or products to ship at all.

Keyboard

An ergonomic keyboard and mouse which keeps the wrists at a natural angle during long days at a remote workstation is a time saver in the long run too, while a mechanical keyboard may even come preset with hotkeys that can perform specific functions and tasks, faster and more efficiently than their cheaper alternatives. Take screenshots, record your screen and make GIFs with CloudApp and share them through an easy-to-remember link almost instantly.

Mouse

Remote offices, as well as dedicated home offices, will become more prevalent than ever in the coming year. And one of the easiest and best ways to maximise comfort for employees who work from home is with the inclusion of ergonomic accessories such as keyboards and mice. Such devices enable hands and wrists to stay in proper alignment throughout the work day, increasing productivity and reducing the occurrence of repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Try to find wireless devices to reduce the types of cords that could constrain movement throughout the office, especially for employees who might need to be mobile for Zoom meetings or presentations. This could be helpful with Zoom meetings that require mobility for Zoom meetings.

Webcam

In order for workers to avoid working remote and in odd working hours, a good webcam is is a meeting, the colleagues need to see each other properly from distance thanks to a good webcam. Purchasing necessary software and platforms is essential, such as those needed for communication, file sharing, project management and time-tracking. Notion, for example, is a useful wiki software for centralising key documents and resources that are easy to access while you are working remotely.

Microphone

Ensuring your distributed teams have the digital tools they need for remote work is a powerful best practice for maintaining productivity and engagement, especially remote project management and collaboration tools that support high performance from distance. Microsoft Teams improves productivity of workers by providing them with immediate contact with colleagues and running video conferences among other things. The same function can be seen in Google Hangouts.

Bluetooth

It is important for productivity and long-term health to ensure remote workers have the modern technologies available. In order for home workers to meet their productivity goals while working from home, they must use a designated work space – whatever that space may be, including a nook, a work station or a spare room. Provide employees with cutting-edge tech devices including, among others, laptops; and, most importantly, make real-time and easy video conferencing a reality. In short, it’s imperative that home workers have a work space (whether nook, a workspace or a spare room) in which to be productive.

Wi-Fi

If their data channel is reliable – if there is no switching, traffic management or other interventions between the employee’s browsing or collaboration software and the internet – then remote workers can be confident that video calls will be stable and collaboration work will go smoothly. At the same time, this hardware increases productivity by reducing network congestion and ensuring data is where it needs to be. Having a VPN and a firewall have now become an integral part of cybersecurity solutions for those working remotely, protecting corporate and private cyberspaces as well as complying with compliance standards. Moreover, ergonomic keyboards and mice are needed not to make employees suffer from health problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. I found this cord organizer shaped like an adorable caterpillar: It truly made the office more pleasant to see it.

Cloud Storage

Once outfitted with the proper tools, your work-from-home employees can remain productive and also protect themselves from long-term health hazards: instant messaging services, collaborative suites, even secure online storage – the best remote tools allow virtual teams to function efficiently at home. The right project management software will help keep distributed teams focused on the same goals and ultimately on the path to shipping features and achieving broader business objectives. Features to look for include task assignment, tracking of milestones and progress reporting.