12 Virtual Team Trends for 2024: Top Forecasts To Watch Out For

You’ve undoubtedly heard it before: remote work is the future. If that is the case, then the future is now.

Over the last several years, many companies and professionals have been venturing into telecommuting and remote work. But as we entered 2020, the benefits of this revolutionary work setup just became even more pronounced than ever—thanks but no thanks to the COVID-19 lockdowns.

While it’s unfortunate that it took a pandemic for the majority to appreciate the advantages of remote work, this is simply what our reality looks like right now. If you’re new to the idea of allowing your team to work from home, you can start on the right foot by learning about the essentials, including the current and future virtual team trends below.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have been shifting toward remote work. During the pandemic, however, around 80% of global corporate remote work policies had shifted to virtual and mixed forms of team collaboration (SocArXiv, 2020). With the onslaught of worldwide lockdowns, remote work has gone beyond being but a perk given to select employees—it has become a necessity, a survival absolute.

Not only that: 64% of organizations believe that virtual team setups are going to be a permanent fixture of businesses everywhere. With the advent of software solutions in every aspect of business operations, the migration is proceeding at a pace, even considering the hiccups experienced by companies that had to rush deployment because of the imminent mandatory lockdowns.

Currently, over 25% of global teams are operating under a 100% virtual team organization, with workers spanning multiple time zones.

Thanks to early pioneers of remote work, virtual teams are no longer an entirely novel idea. As remote work software solutions are easily available now, the road is made easier for those who want to go this route.

Specifically, the availability of online collaboration tools, project management software, time tracking programs, and other related systems has made it easier for many companies to adopt telecommuting.

With the uncertainty brought about by COVID-19, you need to take measures to adapt and survive. If you’re seeing your team going virtual for the time being (or permanently even), then knowing the best practices in virtual team trends can help you immensely.

1. Faster Digital Transformation: Increased IT Workloads

COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation. In the tech industry, around 78% of employees felt that their companies sped up digital transformation because of the pandemic (Twilio, 2020). About 77% from the energy sector and 77% from the healthcare sector did the same.

As remote work becomes the norm, according to 2020/2021 remote work statistics , IT workloads have been increased. The shift can be seen especially in the use of public cloud (+5%), private cloud (+5%), and hybrid cloud (+20%). At the same time, IT on-premise workload dropped a significant -13 percentage points. This indicates that more companies are trusting cloud-based deployments.

Since significant remote work and virtual team activities will stay after the pandemic, IT workload will likely continue above pre-COVID levels. This translates to more digital transformation investments not only limited to tools but also training. So, expect companies to place more investments in technology and technology use.

2. More Fully-Remote and Hybrid Companies

Over the years, telecommuting has become virtual work. Then we started using remote work. Later on, a much simpler and relatable term, working from home (WFH), became the norm. As remote work becomes more prevalent, thanks to the pandemic, there will be different work configurations available.

Similarly, companies are now also categorized based on how much telecommuting they allow their teams.

• Fully-Remote or Distributed Companies – are organizations that have entirely virtual teams. They typically do not have a physical headquarters and, as a result, can operate with talents located anywhere in the world.
• Hybrid Companies – are organizations that offer both in-office and remote work options. They have a headquarters or main office, with some also having a satellite or overseas office. They may allow their employees to work from home from time to time. These organizations also hire people under a remote worker contract.

In the next coming years, we expect more organizations to go fully remote or more hybrid. In fact, the trend already started in 2020 (Build Remote, 2021).

Companies like Quora and Basecamp are going fully remote, which means that they will not have any physical locations. Others like Okta and Pinterest are going ‘remote first,’ which means the company primarily relies on processes that can be done remotely. On-premise processes only come second. Moreover, other businesses are making remote work optional and others made it partial.

3. The Increase in Virtual Workers

The number of people working remotely has been steadily growing since 2005 (FlexJobs, 2019). In fact, in one study by McKinsey, it was found that 20% to 25% of workers in advanced economies could perform their jobs remotely 3+ days a week (McKinsey, 2021). Some of these remote workers function independently as contractors or professionals, while others are part of virtual teams.

The COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt accelerated remote work arrangements and the use of virtual teams. Because of this, companies have further realized that making some (if not all) of their employees work remotely has benefits. Thus, many plan to extend remote work setups even after the pandemic.

Moreover, larger trends also drive the increase. These include the continued rise of ecommerce and the push for more AI and automation.

Trends that fuel virtual work increase

Ecommerce is growing stronger and stronger. In fact, in the United States, 20% of total retail sales were made via ecommerce. And, from 2019 to 2020, ecommerce sales have increased 4.6 percentage points over the annual average of 1.4 percentage points increase from 2015 to 2019. This uptick is set to continue in the coming years.

This, for many retail businesses, can mean that they can move various functions remotely. Or, at the least, have some employees work remotely some of the time. In fact, researchers found that 70% of the time can be used working remotely in a computer-based office work arena without losing effectiveness. This is applicable to business functions like customer service, marketing, finance, and IT.

Moreover, the job market is also undergoing a shift. A 2021 study projects that almost all labor demand growth leading up to 2030 could be in high-wage jobs. A  24% demand growth for STEM workers is expected. Many of these jobs could be in IT, analytics, Big Data, and AI. And, jobs of these types lend well to remote work.

4. Factors Fueling Remote Work Increase

If your company has not allowed remote work before, you might find it a bit odd why owners and managers would want their teams to work from anywhere they choose even before COVID-19 started to shake the world. Let these virtual team trends and numbers help you understand the ways to leverage it.

Here are the top reasons why remote work continues to increase:

• The ability to work from home attracts and retains people
• Remote work can make your people happy
• Remote work improves productivity
• Virtual teams help companies and workers save money

Reason #1: The ability to work from home attracts and retains people

The rise in the number of remote workers can be taken to mean that more people prefer to work remotely. According to global research by the International Workplace Group (IWG), 80% of US workers would choose a job that offered remote working options over another that didn’t (IWG, 2019). Furthermore, a third of them would prioritize flexible arrangements over a prestigious position.

Moreover, in terms of employee retention, another report showed that remote workers are likely to stay with their current companies for the next five years compared to onsite employees.

This is even way before the COVID-19 outbreak. Now, that most have tried working remotely and effectively, the pull of remote work will only strengthen.

Reason #2: Remote work promotes better well-being

It isn’t only employees that report an improvement in their well-being due to working remotely. Seven in 10 executives have claimed that remote work had a positive impact (Deloitte, 2020). And, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the best parts of working from home.

The best part, across generations in the US, has been more time they spent with their families. Around 43% of Gen Zers, 39% of Millennials, 33% of Gen Xers, and 22% of Baby Boomers claimed this to be true. The second best part is that there is no commute. Other reasons include a flexible schedule, savings, increased productivity, and having to deal with fewer office politics.

These contribute to better worker well-being. And, improving employee well-being is a top priority according to workers when it comes to the current and future transformation of work setups.

Reason #3: Remote work improves productivity

Tip: a happy employee is a productive one. In a recent 2020 study by  Flexjobs, it was found that remote workers are 35% to 40% more productive than their counterparts in the office (FlexJobs, 2020). This is because, for people (around 86%), working remotely is less stressful (FlexJobs, 2018). There are also other reasons why productivity can increase.

One big reason is that working away from co-workers can help lessen non-work-related interactions and conversations about non-work topics. In fact, a study showed that on-site workers talk to each other about non-work topics on an average of 66 minutes per day (Airtasker, 2020). Remote workers, on the other hand, only spend 29 minutes on this.

Less commuting time also helps. Workers won’t spend a long time preparing to go to work. In all reality, they can just roll over their bed and start working in the morning.

Reason #4: Virtual teams help companies and workers save money

When companies shift to a remote setup and allow their teams to work virtually on a full- or part-time basis, they can save on office space and utility costs. For small to medium businesses, these savings may be significant. Furthermore, the employees themselves can also save on transport, clothing, and food expenses.

As everyone is still easing into the crisis-induced shift to telecommuting, we have yet to see more detailed reports showing the relationship between the COVID-19 lockdowns and virtual teams. However, it’s difficult to dismiss the idea that this global health crisis can cause a permanent shift toward remote work, at least for certain industries. Sooner or later, it won’t be surprising to see a dramatic increase in remote work, and with the COVID-19 crisis listed as the top reason why companies made the transition.

5. Executives Favoring Remote Work

Data shows it clear enough: remote work is indeed increasing. But did you know that executives and professionals are part of the growth as well? Current data shows that 78% of CEOs believe that remote collaboration will stay for the long term (PwC, 2020).

Moreover, even before the pandemic, it was found that 18%  more executives work remotely than onsite. Furthermore, 70% of professionals all over the globe work remotely in one way or another. Over 60% work outside the office at least once a week, with more than half of them working remotely two to three times a week.

And, 81% of employees are aligned with the idea that increasing remote work time will be the future (Owl Labs, 2020). They believe that their companies will support remote work setup even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, if you are a manager who’s considering letting your team telecommute, you can most definitely do it, too!

6. Determinants of Remote Work

It’s normal to have some concerns as you think of ways to work remotely from home and transition to a virtual team. One of the questions you probably have in mind is whether remote work is recommended for your team in the first place. It’s quite easy to determine if your team can work from home. Simply answer these questions with a yes or no:

• Do you and your team sit down in front of a computer for most of the workday?
• Do you rely on the Internet to accomplish tasks?
• Do you use online or cloud tools?
• Does your staff have a computer that they can use at home? If not, can you provide that for them?
• Does your staff have a stable Internet connection at home? If not, can you provide that for them?

If you answer “yes” to those basic questions, then you can potentially make remote work for you!

Furthermore, if you belong to the technology, Internet, financial services, education, customer support, sales, marketing, and design industry or department, your team is a good telecommuting candidate.

Even in normal times, technology/Internet is one of the industries with the highest number of remote workers. Meanwhile, departments with the biggest telecommuting participation include IT at 18%, customer support at 14%, and sales at 13%.

7. Remote Work and Coworking Spaces

The terms remote work, virtual work, and telecommuting are widely used interchangeably with work from home. However, although most remote workers do work from home often, digital nomads are also out to alter the status quo.

An intercompany study found that only 24% of the respondents considered themselves as digital nomads in the pre-pandemic era (AND CO, 2020). Most remote workers still prefer the work from home setup. However, before the pandemic, only about 84% of the respondents work from home, while 8% work out of coworking spaces, and 4% do their tasks at coffee shops (Buffer, 2019).

Virtual teams, in essence, can work anywhere they want. This is provided that these places offer them the amenities they need. In the coming years, we expect that virtual teams working remotely will not only station themselves in their homes but also in shared working environments like coworking places.

Statistics show that coworking places will become more popular. Basing on data from 2018 and before, a pre-COVID forecast pegged that in 2020, there will be 26,300 coworking spaces operating worldwide (Dropbox, 2019). That is around 7,000 more coworking spaces from 2018 (at 18, 700. That’s more than 10x the number of these businesses back in 2012 at about 2,070 worldwide.

8. Cybersecurity Is a Crucial Factor

Many businesses and professionals are familiar with different types of cybersecurity tools being used in their premises. However, it is one thing to have these tools installed and applied on devices used in offices; but it’s another to make sure that their virtual teams have the right security tools in their respective off-site locations and devices.

With the prevalence of BYOD remote work setups, security is not standardized. And, working from the premise that it will be easier for hackers to hit an individual than a company, data will be easier to steal or manipulate, especially when virtual teams handle sensitive information.

Thus, creating better security protocols and providing virtual teams with security tools are very crucial moving forward. This is because, historically, the percentage of data breaches caused by hacking has been increasing.

This is prevalent in the healthcare industry. In 2014, only 12% of data breaches were due to hacking. Fast forward to 2019 and 2020, this shot up to 61% and 69%, respectively. To counter these threats, organizations around the world have been heavily investing in cybersecurity. In 2017, spending was only at $34 billion.  This increased to $40.8 billion in 2019. In July 2020, the end-of-year projected value, adjusted for COVID-19, spending stands at $41.9 billion (Statista, 2020).

If you haven’t performed the work needed to make the data your virtual team handles more secure, you need to make the move now. In one pre-COVID study, it was found that a company can lose as much as $200,000 from a cyberattack (CNBC, 2019). You don’t want this to be your company.

9. Virtual Water Coolers to Encourage Camaraderie

When you switch from being a colocated team to a virtual one, you can expect to handle some friction and challenges. When team members cannot see each other, the isolation may make some of them feel like they’re not part of the team. In fact, a 2020 survey found that the biggest struggles for virtual teams are loneliness (20%) and collaboration (20%).

Especially with the community quarantine guidelines in place these days, there’s no guarantee when it’s safe for your team to meet physically again.

This is where creating a virtual water cooler comes in. If you are looking for ideas to maintain harmony between your virtual team, you can turn to digital collaboration tools. Consider the essentials apps for collaboration: communication, task management, time tracking, file sharing, and video conferencing. With these tools, you cannot only establish a shared workspace but also camaraderie when you set up non-work-related channels or meetings.

Most Popular Remote Work Software

1. Slack. An all-in-one platform for virtual communication, Slack also supports file sharing, searching, and archiving. It can be integrated with a number of online apps as well. Learn more about its features in our Slack review.
2. Zoom. A powerful video conferencing software, Zoom is the ultimate tool for video calling, virtual meetings, and screen sharing. Check out our Zoom review to know how it can improve your virtual team’s collaboration.
3. Asana. A robust task management software, Asana has everything you need to assign, track, and organize tasks. Read our detailed Asana review to know more about its functionalities.
4. Time Doctor. As a cloud-based time tracking software, Time Doctor effectively helps promote productivity and accountability among virtual teams. See our comprehensive Time Doctor review to learn more about its benefits.
5. PandaDoc. An efficient web-based file sharing and document management solution, PandaDoc lets you send various kinds of files quickly and securely. Know more about its features and benefits in our PandaDoc review.

10. Remote Workers Render Longer Hours

In 2020, researchers found that on-site workers spend 37 unproductive minutes on average. For remote workers, it is 10 minutes less. Moreover, virtual teams tend to work 1.4 more days per month than their on-site counterparts (Airtasker, 2020). That is three additional weeks of work per year.

And, when remote teams are more enthusiastic about their jobs and projects, they will tend to spend more time working. In a study done before the pandemic, it was found that 73% of employees work outside their designated work hours as they find themselves more productive during these times (Fuze, n.d.).

It is easier for remote workers to work beyond the usual 40 hours per week as they have more time to burn. Those who enjoy their jobs may willingly work extra hours while being productive the entire time.

However, some remote workers may find it a challenge to separate work from their personal life and responsibilities at home. As a result, it takes them longer to finish tasks.

Now, if you want to help your virtual team ensure that every minute they spend on work is accounted for, consider utilizing time tracking software, such as Time Doctor or Hubstaff. Time trackers are among the remote work essentials that can help your team develop a habit of making efficient use of their time. These tools also let you monitor and evaluate your distributed team’s productivity.

11. Remote Work in the Real Estate Industry

The rise of remote work in 2020 was coupled with the rise of homeownership according to real estate trends. Last year, homeownership increased not only because of people wanting to move out of highly-populated areas, but also because of low mortgages. And, because of health concerns and protocols, remote work became the new normal for many people.

This brings other things in tow. New housing preferences emerged. These include the demand for larger spaces and outdoor amenities. Moreover, this also increased the demand for more home offices (National Association of Realtors, 2021).

People who are expecting to work at home in the foreseeable future (and to a good extent after the pandemic) now want extra rooms that can be fitted with office equipment. The multifamily homes sector will likely add home offices and even co-working spaces to their list of attractive amenities. Outdoor areas and good wifi connection will also be more popular among professionals.

In fact, multi-bedroom apartments are now being advertised as one-bedroom apartments with remote learning spaces and home offices (Rental Housing Journal, 2020). The trend is likely to continue in the future.

12. Virtual Team Trends Predictions: What Can We Expect Ahead?

By looking at these emerging trends, we can deduce several predictions that can help you plan more effectively for what’s ahead.

As more companies are expected to adopt the virtual work culture, it’s easy to see the entire remote work industry entering a new era. The growth we’ve seen in the last decade may double, if not triple, drastically this year forward. 

How remote workers do their work and where they work may also change. With community quarantines being enforced in many countries as of this writing, your virtual team doesn’t have much of a choice but work from their homes. After all, many establishments are under limited operations until further notice these days.

Furthermore, with online collaboration and cybersecurity taking the spotlight as more teams go virtual, there will most likely be an increase in the demand for related tools and programs. We may begin to see new players in the field. Meanwhile, the veterans will likely move toward improving their products and services further. Both scenarios can benefit your team as long as you choose systems to use carefully.

How can companies support mental health in virtual teams?

With the rise of remote work, employee mental health has become an increasingly critical area of focus. Working in isolation can lead to loneliness, burnout, and reduced morale, making it essential for organizations to proactively support their virtual teams’ well-being. Here are strategies companies can use to foster a positive mental health environment for remote employees:

• Regular Mental Health Check-ins: Managers can schedule one-on-one or team meetings focused on well-being, providing a space for employees to share challenges they may be facing. This creates a culture of openness and support.
• Encourage Flexible Working Hours: Allowing employees to set flexible hours can help reduce stress, especially for those juggling personal responsibilities. Flexible schedules can improve work-life balance, contributing to overall well-being.
• Provide Access to Mental Health Resources: Offering access to resources like virtual counseling services, wellness programs, or meditation apps can equip employees with tools to manage stress and maintain mental health.
• Promote Physical Activity: Encourage breaks that include physical activity, such as walking meetings or short workout sessions. Physical health and mental health are interconnected, and regular movement can boost mood and energy.
• Implement “No Meeting” Days: Designating certain days as “no meeting” days can give employees uninterrupted time to focus on work or personal tasks, reducing the stress associated with back-to-back virtual meetings.
• Create Social Engagement Opportunities: Virtual team-building activities, such as online games or themed coffee breaks, can help reduce feelings of isolation by fostering camaraderie and personal connections among team members.
• Encourage Time Off: Promoting a healthy work-life balance by encouraging regular breaks and using vacation days can help employees recharge and avoid burnout.
• Offer Training on Mental Health Awareness: Educating managers and employees on mental health issues, such as stress management and burnout prevention, can create a more understanding and supportive work culture.

Remote Work Is Here, and It’s Here to Stay

As a business owner or team manager who needs to act and make decisions quickly in this time of economic uncertainty, familiarizing yourself with remote work trends is an inevitable step. These trends and numbers can help you get started and manage your expectations as you take your team to a new environment.

The numbers say it all: remote work is here, and it’s here to stay. And the COVID-19 pandemic just highlighted the advantages of having flexible and remote working options in place. Even before the invisible threat made its rounds across the globe, it has already been predicted that at least 70% of global organizations will have virtual teams by 2028 (Upwork, 2019). With the way things are going right now, that figure may still increase. And regardless of whether COVID-19 is wiped out sooner rather than later, it will be a wise move to start welcoming and adopting remote work sooner rather than later.

Key Insights

• Acceleration of Digital Transformation: The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly increased digital transformation efforts, particularly in IT workloads shifting to cloud-based solutions.
• Rise of Fully-Remote and Hybrid Companies: More companies are adopting fully-remote or hybrid work models, with some going entirely virtual and others offering a mix of in-office and remote work options.
• Increase in Virtual Workers: The number of remote workers has been steadily growing and accelerated by the pandemic, with a significant portion of the workforce capable of performing their jobs remotely.
• Attraction and Retention of Talent: Remote work is highly attractive to employees, with many preferring jobs that offer remote work options and reporting increased job satisfaction and retention.
• Productivity Boost: Remote work has been found to improve productivity, with remote workers often working longer hours and finding it less stressful.
• Cost Savings: Both companies and employees save money with remote work, reducing expenses related to office space, utilities, transportation, and more.
• Cybersecurity Challenges: As remote work becomes more common, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures is crucial to protect sensitive data from breaches.
• New Housing Preferences: The rise in remote work has influenced housing trends, with increased demand for home offices and larger living spaces.
• Importance of Collaboration Tools: Effective remote work relies heavily on digital collaboration tools for communication, task management, time tracking, and file sharing.
• Sustained Remote Work Adoption: Remote work is expected to remain a significant part of the work landscape even after the pandemic, with ongoing investments in technology and remote work infrastructure.

FAQ

1. What are the main drivers behind the increase in remote work?
   The main drivers include the attraction and retention of talent, improved employee well-being, increased productivity, and cost savings for both companies and employees.
2. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted remote work trends?
   The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work, with many companies transitioning to virtual or hybrid models to adapt to lockdowns and social distancing measures.
3. What are the benefits of remote work for employees?
   Benefits include better work-life balance, reduced commuting time, increased flexibility, and improved job satisfaction and well-being.
4. What challenges do companies face with remote work?
   Challenges include ensuring robust cybersecurity, maintaining effective communication and collaboration, managing remote teams, and addressing employee isolation and engagement.
5. How can companies ensure cybersecurity for remote workers?
   Companies can ensure cybersecurity by implementing strong security protocols, providing necessary security tools, and regularly training employees on best practices for data protection.
6. What types of jobs are well-suited for remote work?
   Jobs in technology, finance, education, customer support, sales, marketing, and design are particularly well-suited for remote work due to their reliance on digital tools and online communication.
7. How does remote work impact productivity?
   Remote work can boost productivity by reducing stress, minimizing non-work-related interactions, and allowing employees to work during their most productive hours.
8. What are the trends in housing preferences due to remote work?
   There is an increased demand for larger living spaces, home offices, and outdoor amenities as more people work from home and seek to create a comfortable and functional work environment.
9. What tools are essential for effective remote work?
   Essential tools include communication platforms (e.g., Slack), video conferencing software (e.g., Zoom), task management systems (e.g., Asana), time tracking tools (e.g., Time Doctor), and file sharing solutions (e.g., PandaDoc).
10. Will remote work continue after the pandemic?
    Yes, remote work is expected to remain a significant part of the work landscape, with many companies planning to continue offering remote or hybrid work options even after the pandemic.

References:

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By James Anthony

A senior FinancesOnline writer on SaaS and B2B topics, James Anthony passion is keeping abreast of the industry’s cutting-edge practices (other than writing personal blog posts on why Firefly needs to be renewed). He has written extensively on these two subjects, being a firm believer in SaaS to PaaS migration and how this inevitable transition would impact economies of scale. With reviews and analyses spanning a breadth of topics from software to learning models, James is one of FinancesOnline’s most creative resources on and off the office.