The UK is facing a growing issue of talent deficit and productivity lag. Small to medium business owners have expressed great anxiety, with about 33% of them identifying that this shortage would be a major impediment to the expansion of their businesses. One of the solutions identified to solve this problem is the scouting of global talent and relying greatly on the help of information technology services to boost collaboration and productivity. Fear not, it has been done before. Many international companies have realised the need for global talent and have opened more remote positions in their businesses. In doing this, they have gained many skilled workers that are filling the gaps in the demand for specific expertise and skills that are not available locally as a strategy to promote their business growth. One IT giant worth mentioning is Microsoft. Microsoft provides all the IT support London businesses need to equip their businesses for the onboarding and sustenance of global talent working for them remotely.
Global talent gives your business distinct viewpoints and knowledge that brings about creative ideas and better decision-making. Businesses may better understand their clients, create new products, and adjust to the evolving market situations, thanks to the diversity that comes with global talent. To top it all off, international talent hiring provides small to medium businesses with a competitive edge in the global market. Having employees with diverse cultures and languages can help businesses in the UK effectively capture a much larger customer base internationally. The multitude of cultural experiences in the UK business and workplace could become more dynamic and inclusive, resulting in better teamwork and employee satisfaction.
As a small to medium business owner looking to cut down on expenses and increase profits, you might want to consider hiring international employees for how cost-effective it may be. Hiring individuals in regions with a lower cost of living allows you to enjoy lower labour costs. For example, you might consider hiring someone who lives in South Africa. You get to benefit from decreased expenses on salaries, and they benefit from the strength of the 5th strongest currency in the world and therefore might earn more than they would with the South African currency doing the same job. Remote work is also beneficial for reducing overheads, so instead of having to pay rent, utilities, equipment, and maintenance for equipment in a physical office, by leveraging managed IT services London businesses can rather make use of virtual workspaces.
Microsoft has all the tools to host this kind of workspace for your business. Here are some of the ways you can start using Microsoft tools and services to accommodate remote work and international workers, making it easier for your businesses to collaborate effectively with them. It is recommended that, should you, as a business owner, be interested in making use of these tools and services, that you consult with Microsoft 365 consultants. They are equipped to advise on which tools would be most effective to achieve optimised collaboration and productivity in your business. With the help of Microsoft Teams, you can create a space for real-time communication, including video conferencing for meetings. Microsoft SharePoint creates a space for collaboration on managing documents, sharing them, and facilitating seamless teamwork across different time zones and locations. With Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, and Microsoft OneNote, it is easier to manage, organize and track projects. To enhance productivity, Microsoft 365 has a suite of productivity apps appropriate for the remote workspace. It contains Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and the list could go on. Many of these you might have heard of before or might already use them, as they are well known for how easy they make collaboration on documents and overall productivity.
Microsoft provides IT services such as Microsoft Remote Desktop, allowing for access to Windows desktops and apps remotely, and Azure Active Director to provide a cloud-based identity and access management to secure access to all apps and data. This enhances security and compliance in the business. Microsoft Viva is a platform that promotes worker wellbeing and engagement by providing resources where they can interact with their colleagues, build connections, and learn, cultivating a positive remote work experience and a strong company culture. It is clear to see that the move going forward for small to medium businesses is prioritising global talent and a remote workspace environment. And to do so, these businesses must also embrace using IT to their advantage. This is what will bring about real growth for your business.
