Forget LED lights and cubicles—the modern office now comes with ocean views, coffee shop ambiance, and a never-ending hunt for the perfect WiFi. Welcome to digital nomadism, where working from “home” could mean a hammock in Bali today and a ski lodge in Switzerland tomorrow.
It’s the new reality for millions who’ve swapped desks for destinations. As long as there’s an outlet and a strong internet signal, the world is their office.
According to the World Economic Forum, approximately 73 million individuals now have jobs with remote work options. That number will reach 92 million by 2030. And, with remote onboarding on the rise, consider that your new hire could be any one of these 92 million talented people.
But this transition has its growing pains.
Here’s a quick formula:
Access to sensitive company information + public locations = heightened risk.
The Shift: Embracing a Nomadic Workforce
For companies used to traditional office setups, transitioning to a nomadic workforce can be like asking a fish to climb a tree. The increase in digital nomads represents not just a shift in how work is done, but also in where and when, and with what IT equipment.
Employers must now constantly support a mobile workforce that’s on the go—literally.
With an ever-expanding pool of digital nomads, companies face the challenge of providing seamless IT asset management (ITAM) and support to employees scattered across multiple time zones.
The Challenges of Digital Nomadism
Supporting a digital nomad workforce requires an overhaul of the entire IT infrastructure. As companies have started to find, it’s not just giving each employee a laptop (somehow) and hoping for the best. Below are some of the top challenges companies face when onboarding remote employees and managing their workforce:
Data Security Concerns
Here’s a quick formula:
Access to sensitive company information + public locations = heightened risk.
As every airport, café, and AirBnB becomes a new “office,” ensuring the security of IT equipment becomes a logistical headache. Without the right IT asset management solution, tracking company devices and data can turn into a high-stakes game of hide and seek. And if something goes wrong, the headache quickly becomes a migraine.
Reliable Connectivity
A steady internet connection can make or break the workday for digital nomads. According to recent data, 52% of digital nomads struggle with finding reliable internet. Sure, they may be emailing from a mountain lodge in Switzerland, but if the connection drops, productivity drops.
Communication Barriers
Clear and effective communication is essential, especially when your team is spread across the globe. However, remote work can make it difficult to exchange critical information quickly.
While video conferencing tools help bridge the gap, some workers still feel the anxiety of hopping on a call, longing for the days when a quick chat over the cubicle wall sufficed. And, yes, tools like Slack have features such as Huddle, but it’s not quite the same. Keep it in mind when supporting your remote workforce.
Performance Monitoring
Without a traditional office environment, employers need to set up new metrics and feedback processes to monitor productivity. It’s not as simple as walking by someone’s desk to see what they’re working on. Instead, companies must establish clear expectations and provide tools for efficient monitoring.
Device Tracking Madness
Ever played “Where’s Waldo?” In this case, Waldo is your company laptop (and the picture is the globe). As digital nomads explore cities, the only thing that should go AWOL is their ability to speak the local language, not company-provided devices. But you can never completely eliminate their chance of losing laptops, tablets, and phones.
This is where comprehensive mobile device management (MDM) procedures take the spotlight; without them, proprietary information, software, and equipment can disappear (or fall into the wrong hands).
Logistical Complexities
Moving key documents to the cloud becomes a necessity, as shared drives on company servers aren’t practical in remote environments. IT teams must reevaluate existing logistics processes, identifying which parts of the supply chain struggle to adapt to remote work.
Managing IT inventory and remotely setting up IT equipment isn’t straightforward, especially when employees are constantly on the move.
ITAM Has You Covered: Solutions for a Digital Nomad Workforce
Managing a team of globe-trotting employees might sound about as easy as herding cats, but you can use an ITAM approach to simplify the process.
Think of it as a safety net helping you keep everything running smoothly regardless of where your employees decide to set up shop for the day.
- Seamless IT inventory management: Whether employees are in the Alps or the Amazon, IT asset management software ensures all devices are tracked, updated, and secure. No more playing guessing games with lost laptops or trying to recall where that elusive tablet was last seen.
- Efficient onboarding of remote employees: Hiring employees who work from different locations shouldn’t be an obstacle, and can open the door to bringing great talent to your company. With the right tools and systems in place, a systematic approach to asset management makes onboarding remote employees as smooth as settling into a cozy coworking space.
- Enhanced data security measures: By offering solutions designed to protect sensitive information no matter where it’s accessed, ITAM ensures that every makeshift “office” meets the highest security standards.
- Streamlined logistics for a mobile workforce: IT asset management solutions go beyond just software. The company helps reevaluate logistics processes to accommodate remote work, providing tools and insights to optimize your supply chain for the digital age.
Embrace the Future of Work
Digital nomadism is both a trend and lifestyle that’s shaping the future of work. If you want your company to evolve to accommodate this new reality, you can start building a systematic approach for a workforce too mobile for your HR and IT teams to handle.
This doesn’t have to be daunting. Dots ITAM is here to simplify the logistics, protect your data, and keep your team connected no matter where they are.
Ready to support your digital nomad workforce? Book a demo with us to learn more about IT asset management software and prepare your organization for the future of work in a borderless world.
