By now, we have all had experience at working from home remotely and accept that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our way of working. Things will probably never go back to the “business normal” we once knew. For most of us who are still working from home due to lockdown, we are embracing a “new normal” – one which involves remote working, i.e. working from home online, and brings with it a couple of interesting challenges which we quickly need to overcome.
As companies look at additional cost-saving methods to buffer the financial losses that they incurred during the pandemic, working from home appears to becoming long-term, or even permanent for some of us. In South Africa, this has further implications in terms of the inevitable load-shedding and load reductions from Eskom, so we have provided some information on two of the most important working from home tips for you.
What is needed to work productively from home?
- Internet Connectivity
Besides a laptop or desktop, fast and reliable internet connectivity is vital to working productively from home. As more people are working from home, the use of video calls for meetings and social gatherings, as well as online streaming of music and movies, has grown significantly. This type of use has an impact on your internet speed – especially if additional family members are all using it at the same time.
Changing from the older ADSL (copper) networks to a fibre network, if you haven’t already done so, will provide you with a much faster internet speed. When streaming videos, it is not always necessary to stream in High Definition (HD), which uses up a lot of bandwidth, and this can be switched off in your settings. Check that your router is placed in an optimal position and use a Wi-Fi booster to cover areas in your home that don’t receive a good signal. You can also check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) if you can upgrade to a faster broadband service, but bear in mind that this will have a cost implication.
- Business Continuity
As mentioned, South Africa is prone to electricity cuts thanks to load-shedding. In times like these, it is essential for anyone working from home to purchase an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). This is a device which continues to provide power in the form of a battery backup system, during blackouts, load-shedding or load reduction. UPS devices also protect your connected devices, such as laptops, routers, etc. against power surges once power is restored. Different specifications of UPS’s are available, depending on your requirements and budget.
Westech is one of South Africa’s leading Managed Service Providers, with a proven track record of outstanding service levels and cutting-edge technologies. Besides being able to create a unique IT solution for your business, they also offer various UPS devices to ensure that your business can continue even when the electricity cannot.
Contact one of their experts today for a tailored solution.
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