GoTo: How can tech help SMBs build resilience and connections?

In the lead up to Web Summit, we sat down with Joe Walsh of GoTo to discuss working-from-home trends, and what’s needed for companies to build key connections and thrive in an uncertain business environment.

Covid-19 transformed working trends. But why are some companies ignoring this, even when flexible working technology seems to be increasing productivity and staff satisfaction?

According to GoTo, there are two key elements differentiating the top businesses of today from the rest: embracing best practices of working from anywhere, and creating better connections with employees and customers.

We spoke with Joe Walsh, head of marketing for UCC at GoTo, to find out more.

Hi, Joe! What’s the through-line between fostering connections among people and companies, business resilience, and remote-working tech?

As companies have adapted to changing needs and technologies in recent years, they’ve still found ways to connect to what is most important: employees and customers. Many enterprise leaders know that, despite the number of distracting elements and the economic uncertainty in the business world, building and maintaining essential connections is a non-negotiable for survival.

How businesses adopt and use technology for collaboration, communication, processing information, and more, should be framed with building connections at the heart.

GoTo recently produced a report on remote working trends that shed light on how SMBs can use tech to face economic uncertainty. Can you share some insights with us?

Perceptions of the economic downturn are clear. A study commissioned by GoTo and conducted by OnePoll extracted data from 3,700 small to medium business founders. The outcome? Nearly 70 percent believe a recession is likely in the next six months.

So how does remote working play into this? Further data from GoTo had a story to tell about how it can help build resilience and foster connections.

For a start, remote working does appear to be working. Survey results show 81 percent of respondents currently operate under a full-remote or hybrid working model. And, while Covid-19 may have foisted this change upon a lot of businesses, the decision to maintain an element of flexible working is supported by an increase in productivity and staff satisfaction.

Joe Walsh, head of marketing for GoTo. Image: GoTo

A huge 78 percent of respondents found employee productivity was higher or somewhat higher in 2021 than 2020. Half perceived a hybrid working model as decisive to maximising this productivity.

Additionally, 77 percent of employees reported an increase, at least partly, in satisfaction with their role from 2020 to 2021. This led to 56 percent of SMBs allowing staff to choose their work model as a means of improving satisfaction levels.

The results are clear: ignore the opportunity of remote working at your organisation’s peril.

A young person working remotely. Image: fizkes/Shutterstock

How can businesses overcome a ‘presenteeism’ mindset to embrace hybrid work?

If the spike in numbers of people working from home taught us one thing, it’s that your employees will be more successful if they have flexibility in how and where they work.

But what’s needed alongside that is a belief that staff can work from home without needing to be monitored. Trust your workforce to get the job done, and build a culture where they feel comfortable taking breaks and defining their own way of balancing work and home life.

Both internally and externally, GoTo believes that as long as work gets done, the particulars of the where, when and how of it all is up to the individual. Employees want the choice, and they’ll thank you for it through an increased quality of work and decreased employment turnover.

Do you have any general tips to help SMBs remain resilient and build their essential connections in the coming months?

Spend your money wisely

Get your tools from one vendor to get a better price per user. Consolidating your tech stack can help cut costs and be more efficient with less onboarding and procurement.

Improve your digital security measures

By prioritising your security systems, you are avoiding unnecessary work and stress on the IT team. Invest in the best tools designed with security in mind.

Help your employees work from anywhere

All employees should have the tools and freedom to choose where they work. Part of this is understanding the evolving needs of employees. Your business will be more successful when staff are happy, and retention is more cost-effective than hiring and re-training replacements.

Engage with customers where they are

Customers are looking for ways to buy efficiently. By having the tools to engage with customers across various platforms, you set up your business to reach new markets.

Ensure your business continuity through tech

Future-proof your business and have business continuity by building agility and digital connections through tools that are tailored to your enterprise needs.

Joe Walsh of GoTo speaking to Web Summit about the state of play in remote working

What do business owners need to know when looking for new tools to prepare for more and better remote working?

Organisations should look to consume more from fewer vendors.

When Covid-19 struck, there was a scramble to ensure teams had everything needed to work remotely, but many of those tools overlap in functionality. With business costs and subscription fees increasing across the board, consolidating your tech stack will help to future-proof operations.

Another point to remember is that more tools mean more management and onboarding. Consolidate your tech stack and try to communicate with customers and staff on one platform. Without reliable communication, information will get lost, equating to a loss of revenue.

Our data shows that nearly half of those surveyed indicated they would quit their job over issues with inadequate technology. The tools you adopt should be simple to use and onboard, but provide everything your business needs seamlessly.

GoTo offers SMBs video conferencing, chat, and cloud phone systems, as well as a secure, IT management solution – all in one unified enterprise application.

To learn more about GoTo’s offerings, you can discover the company’scollaboration and communication tools and remote access and support tools. Meet the friendly GoTo team at booth E102 (Pavilion 1) or, if you need to get work done, check out the dedicated GoTo Flex Work Lounge at booth E541 (Pavilion 5).

Main image of a someone typing on a laptop: Elena_P88/Shutterstock