It’s no secret that telework and telecommuting have become cornerstones of today’s business world. According to IWG’s 2019 Global Workplace Survey, 50% of employees globally are away from the office roughly 2.5 days per week. With that, 85% of respondents also believe remote work leads to higher productivity. This cultural shift has rapidly taken hold over the past decade. Since telecommuting is ingrained within our corporate DNA, distributed teams are expecting two things: That remote work is offered reliably across departments and seniority levels and that modern collaboration tools can serve their evolving needs.

Thankfully, professionals in engineering, product design, manufacturing, and architectural disciplines are enjoying both of these privileges. Many industries have embraced the digital revolution; software and hardware markets have responded by developing intuitive solutions, which are becoming more affordable as time passes. 

Many teams are unfortunately clinging to outdated tools and antiquated practices designed for face-to-face interaction. In today’s world, flexibility and adaptability are key — after all, 90% of employees claim flexible working arrangements would boost team morale. Many of us can expect quality collaboration platforms to help teams work harmoniously. Capable tools reduce friction, and arming teams with modern technologies is a proven employee retention strategy.

The Ultimate Blueprint for Technical Success

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The value of timely and detailed communication is especially crucial when acting as a manager or technical staffer. Tackling specialized projects quickly becomes tricky when diving into the minutiae behind products and services. 

Product design and engineering teams encounter this problem often. It’s challenging to share a 3D model or technical diagram through traditional video calling. That collaborative conundrum intensifies when multiple team members must get “hands-on.” Whiteboard annotation using strictly peer-to-peer video or screen sharing is impossible. Lowering these barriers to collaboration boosts engagement and efficiency, killing two birds with one stone. 

Accordingly, accessibility helps team members feel more invested in their respective projects. Hassle-free collaboration promotes unity and helps employees swiftly conquer emerging issues, saving tasks from chaotic fragmentation. We know from experience that communication erodes linearly with project complexity; platforms are combating this tendency by making collaboration enjoyable.

One Cloud to Rule them All

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Both software and web-based platforms bring rich functionality to the table, which wasn’t ubiquitous even a handful of years ago. As time goes on, vendors are quickly realizing that development must keep pace with enterprise needs. Technical teams are usually familiar with popular platforms like Jira and Trello — solutions that make project management easier. 

Employees can access these types of programs from anywhere, but the ideal platform will also integrate with others. Having the ability to consolidate features into a unified package is indispensable. Teams are occasionally at the mercy of breaking changes in key applications; removing variables from the productivity equation is beneficial to stability. Remote teams are free to reach milestones instead of adopting inefficient workarounds. 

Accessing documentation and other data is essential when telecommuting. Configuring repositories and project servers makes it easy to view shared resources from anywhere. Requirements, deliverables, and impact assessments are only a few clicks away – whether you’re crafting designs, applications, or reviews. Remote workers no longer need to run to the office to find answers.

Redefining Remote Collaboration with Autodesk

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Autodesk is a leader in transforming team experiences through integrations with AutoCAD®, Maya®, Revit®, and more. Our applications have fueled productivity in the manufacturing, engineering, and entertainment industries, among others. Many Autodesk programs come pre-packaged with mobile and web apps that streamline remote collaboration. These specialized suites have viability across the entire project lifecycle. 

One-dimensional platforms are the enemy of productivity, which is why our programs are ideal for teams that need to incorporate multiple functions within one solution. It can be incredibly useful to blend multiple programs like CAD, CAM, and CAE together, and we accomplish this with Fusion 360 and numerous applications in our portfolio. 

The future of business is remote, and we create solutions primed for this change. An Upwork study of over 1,000 hiring managers revealed that “73% of all teams will have remote workers by 2028.” According to Flex Jobs, 77% of surveyed businesses believe remote work will reduce operating costs. Promoting remote work is the sustainable choice for businesses, and collaboration platforms form the backbone of that movement.

See for yourself how you can eliminate the inefficiencies that disparate tools create when working with your internal and external teams. Collaborate smarter today.