The pandemic forced millions of people around the world to work from home. Although working from home allowed some employees to attend to personal matters, it also blurred the boundaries between their personal and professional lives.

For many, this resulted in remote work burnout, or the failure to keep work and personal time separate.

With many companies having shifted to remote work due to the pandemic, the use of video conferencing applications like Zoom, Cisco WebEx, and Microsoft Teams has become nonnegotiable. These apps allow remote workers to perform their tasks as usual, ensuring business continuity.

Whatever business you own, your employees are key to your survival. Without them, no one will be able to sell your products and services, and provide significant customer experience insights. However, they are often neglected or overlooked by companies, and not at all seen as a valued asset.

Remote working has become even more popular these days, as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in the United States. More companies in the San Francisco Bay Area are allowing employees to work from home until 2021 or even permanently. And it’s not surprising why — not only does this mean better cost savings for the companies, but it also allows for more flexible schedules and fewer distractions.

Although COVID-19 cases are surging in California, some businesses are starting to open. This means employees have to report to work again. Not only do they have to face a new normal by following new health and safety protocols, but they also have to experience the usual office stress again.

Many businesses today struggle to make the most of technology. They deploy computers, communication and accounting systems, and cybersecurity solutions, but these are rarely maximized. Sometimes, technology can even prevent business owners from focusing on more important matters, which can result in reduced productivity.