1. Shift to flexible work arrangements will increase the use of productivity tools.
We predict an increase in flexible work arrangements such as work-from-home set-ups or compressed workweeks. While Zoom and other online communication apps, such as WhatsApp and Viber, came out as winners this year, we see the use of these apps plateauing as employees cut back on virtual meetings. Zoom fatigue will likely happen in 2021.
We instead see a left turn to the use of productivity tools, like our in-house leave scheduling platform, Leavestar. This year, our clients used our platform more times than in previous years to arrange the days off of employees as there were also more unexpected leaves this year.
The challenge in 2021 will be scheduling the work hours, in line with the new work arrangements, on the one hand, and ensuring the achievement of productivity goals, on the other hand. We predict an upsurge in demand for administrative support and human resource services as companies try to create a smoother workflow taking into consideration the inevitable health emergencies that are still bound to happen in 2021, even with the vaccine within our reach.
2. Normalizing remote work will get companies to be more comfortable with outsourcing.
As companies grow more confident in letting their workers do remote work, with the use of online communication tools and productivity software, we predict an increase in outsourcing, especially in support services.
Demand for outsourced services in digital marketing, bookkeeping, and administrative support will increase in 2021. This year we already saw how many businesses jumped into exploring digital marketing to continue to connect with their market. We predict that companies will continue to use digital marketing in 2021 with more focus on email and social media marketing.
We foresee that many companies will report losses, and we see them in 2021 scrimping and saving. Outsourcing will help them get back on track without the accompanying exorbitant costs of hiring in-house employees for work that can be outsourced to other companies who already have the manpower and the tools. We see lean operations making a come-back in 2021, especially for small businesses as they scale back their operating expenses to try to recapture pre-pandemic revenues.
Lessons we learned in 2020
Looking back into the year that was, 2020 was a tragedy to most businesses, and the global health crisis forced most of us to craft creative business solutions to keep going. We hope we learned valuable lessons that will help us cushion the effects of another pandemic.
Outsourced work, coupled with the use of the right productivity tools, will help businesses cope with the losses in 2020 and that, hopefully, will allow us to bounce back to health, both literal and financial.
2. Normalizing remote work will get companies to be more comfortable with outsourcing.
As companies grow more confident in letting their workers do remote work, with the use of online communication tools and productivity software, we predict an increase in outsourcing, especially in support services.
Demand for outsourced services in digital marketing, bookkeeping, and administrative support will increase in 2021. This year we already saw how many businesses jumped into exploring digital marketing to continue to connect with their market. We predict that companies will continue to use digital marketing in 2021 with more focus on email and social media marketing.
We foresee that many companies will report losses, and we see them in 2021 scrimping and saving. Outsourcing will help them get back on track without the accompanying exorbitant costs of hiring in-house employees for work that can be outsourced to other companies who already have the manpower and the tools. We see lean operations making a come-back in 2021, especially for small businesses as they scale back their operating expenses to try to recapture pre-pandemic revenues.
Lessons we learned in 2020
Looking back into the year that was, 2020 was a tragedy to most businesses, and the global health crisis forced most of us to craft creative business solutions to keep going. We hope we learned valuable lessons that will help us cushion the effects of another pandemic.
Outsourced work, coupled with the use of the right productivity tools, will help businesses cope with the losses in 2020 and that, hopefully, will allow us to bounce back to health, both literal and financial.
