Streamlining workload balancing for superior results with remote work.
Company Profile: A small Title Abstractor operating in a multi-state geography, managing internal team members and vendors with limited resources doing remote work.
The Challenge
Team members were scattered about the multi-state area, and often had to return to their home office to complete assignments, despite doing remote work. It was difficult to balance workload amongst the team, and vendors, without visibility to assignments and due dates. It became especially difficult when someone had to leave work early or take a sick day, it was almost as if work completely stopped and the administrative tasks stacked up. No one could pick up where another User left off and run with the order, especially if it required assignment to a vendor.
The Solution
By switching to RDS, the Abstractor could not only see all work but to whom it was distributed, all from the dashboard and without multiple clicks or “drilldowns”. The Owner and VP of Operations, knew at a glance not only number of orders, but order statuses, past due, and vendor orders ready to review. With 24/7 access and real-time visibility, RDS became the go-to hub the entire team had been waiting for.
At order entry, it was easy to see all the available vendors, their cost and number of active orders. No guesswork. If anyone had to take off work, the RDS platform enabled order reassignment with a click, and the new assignees were auto-notified via email of their order. The platform’s intuitive interface required minimal training, allowing for immediate implementation.
The Outcome
- Visibility, Transparency: Workload balancing was no longer a burden, and it enabled the team to better collaborate, especially when vacation or sick days occurred and when working remotely.
- Speed, Agility: Clients were shielded from the internal workflow challenges, and saw consistent turnaround times, even when workload balancing was a challenge.
- Scalability: The Abstractor, now removed from the tedium of administrative tasks, could reallocate bandwidth to take on additional clients, increasing revenue.
Other interesting articles on this topic:
- Cal Newport: “On Productivity and Remote Work” – In this piece, Cal Newport discusses research indicating that while remote work can lead to longer working hours, it doesn’t necessarily translate to increased productivity. He emphasizes the importance of intentional tool selection and minimizing digital distractions to enhance efficiency.
- Gleb Tsipursky: “The Surprising Truth About Remote Work Productivity” – Gleb Tsipursky analyzes studies showing that remote workers can be more productive than their in-office counterparts. He attributes this to better work-life balance and the strategic use of digital tools, emphasizing the need for organizations to support remote employees with the right resources.