By Ken McDonald / Part 3 of 3-Part Series
As global organizations modify their policies and embrace work from home, they are adding new employee benefits into the mix, including improved work-life balance and reduced stress. Many organizations have adapted workflows to support work from home (WFH) staff by integrating technology to expedite collaboration between remote teams and suppliers.
Leading marketing organizations that have adopted remote working are leveraging technology solutions that deliver integrated workflows, enhanced communication and visibility, and more insight into supplier performance and compliance. These cloud-based toolsets enable marketing teams and service providers to interact at a project level, manage assigned tasks, track costs, and adhere to established compliance policies.
Regulated industries like healthcare, insurance, financial, and others face a significant risk of fines or litigation when they share content via traditional means. Automated workflows enhance
security and reduce the potential for regulatory breaches or associated penalties as they streamline workflow. Compliance teams also rely on technology to retain an audit trail and ensure conformity to regulations for remote workforce transactions.
Introducing a robust marketing execution technology that centralizes campaign management and integration with ERP, CRM, eCommerce, and AP solutions helps boost WFH productivity and improves both cost savings and marketing compliance. These tools are valuable for remote workforces by enabling location-independent access to data, real-time visibility into projects, and better communication among stakeholders, approvers, and suppliers.
Integrating Technology to Optimize Remote Work Teams
Virtually every industry is undergoing historic changes as companies contend with the ramifications of COVID-19, and it is very tempting for them to put compliance controls on the back burner. By adapting policies, educating staff members on changes that impact compliance, and investing in the right technologies, businesses can ensure that they are well equipped to maintain the highest levels of compliance standards and simplified procedures for remote workers.
Marketing organizations and service providers need to think about what additional tools they need to manage remote workers. Do they have the necessary technology to maximize productivity and compliance? Do they have access to essential analytics to guarantee that teams and suppliers are productive and are achieving project goals? As management thinks about the new normal, extra steps may be necessary to further reduce risk and successfully support remote workforces.
Leading marketing execution solutions incorporate single sign-on access with a permission-based roles engine to ensure security across all applications. Coupled with centralized, integrated workflow and detailed reporting, these solutions can significantly improve marketing efficiency and compliance across a distributed workforce. The most capable execution solutions include sourcing controls for remote marketing teams to manage supplier selection, project approvals, and campaign spend while tracking and reporting supplier performance.
Companies that manage most effectively through the pandemic will end up with better systems and processes to withstand future business challenges.
The ability for a company to thrive in these ultra-challenging conditions is quickly becoming a huge competitive differentiator. Working from home enables employees to be healthier and more stress-free. With the help of technology, they can stay connected and productive without increasing risk or compromising compliance.
Ultimately, the COVID-19 pandemic may drive the most significant changes in the way work is done during the history of the modern era. Remote work was previously an obscure plan for some companies. Today it is a necessary reality for all, and tomorrow it could become the global norm.
You can view Part One of this series here and Part Two can be viewed here.
Ken McDonald is the founder of SourceSCM Consulting LLC, dedicated to partnering with businesses to drive cost optimization, accelerate organizational transformation, and execute innovative, customer-focused solutions. A trusted sourcing and supply chain expert with 30 years of Fortune 6 leadership experience, Ken focuses on sourcing, negotiations, contracting, supplier relationship management, risk, compliance, supplier diversity, distribution, and logistics operations in highly regulated industries. He began his career in retail and moved from there into lead roles in manufacturing and distribution. Ken volunteers as a sports coach and with various groups benefiting children’s charities, food banks, and struggling families.