Covid 19 has impacted most, if not all industries across South Africa and the world at large. Workers have been faced with a multiplicity of challenges since the start of the pandemic. Work from home has become a new norm during Covid-19 and workers have been slowly but surely adapting to the model. 

Since a significant amount of staff members now work from home, premises are left hollow requiring strict management in the process. Managing the workforce that keeps these premises safe and protected can be a challenge as more scrutiny is required from the workers(security guards) and managers. 

Finding a security measure that is cost efficient can be a hussle. Considering that Covid-19 has reduced most of the revenues of many SMMEs in South Africa, mainly due to the lockdown conditions.

Regardless of the cost factor, monitoring your workforce remains a strategic necessity. Therefore using workforce management systems that are tried and tested is more important than ever.

Considering we are in the digital age, it is incumbent upon your business to employ a digital system that uses high quality software and hardware to manage employees. 

How will businesses manage their workforce beyond Covid-19? 

The management of the workforce has changed rapidly during Covid-19. Monitoring workers activity has now become increasingly online using different applications. The rise of apps like Zoom has made virtual meetings popular during the pandemic and will likely continue beyond the pandemic

The future of workforce management is virtual and companies will need to adapt to this new normal. The use of software or mobile applications like Instacom Locate to track workers’ movements will become a common practice.

Nearly all manual accounting and management will migrate to digital. This is due to the fact that digital systems are more efficient and effective as data or information can be accessed in real-time. 

A more forward thinking and proactive approach in preparation for the future is the adoption of IoT solutions in workforce management. 

Creating a new culture for the employees 

A new culture will need to be created in many instances as a switch to new technology and management systems will take place. This is to ensure that the new technology and systems blend well with the current workforce. For example, those that are working from home will need to develop even better time management skills to get things done beforehand. 

Therefore, new code of conduct will need to be designed. Things such as openness and transparency won't be written slogans but will now have to be put into practice so that results can be achieved at the highest level. However, this is industry based and some industries may require less or more codes to function properly. 

What considerations can be made about workforce management during and beyond Covid-19? 
There are a number of considerations that businesses need to make when it comes to workforce management. A choice has to be made on which system best fits your business when it comes to monitoring employees. 

Employees that work from home will also have to be monitored. Work from home employees may also not work from home beyond Covid-19 so considerations need to be made on how they will be integrated into the company's reporting system later on. 

When managing your workforce you will also need to boost their morale for productivity's sake. Implementing a good support system can make them feel wanted and boost their morale. Rewarding and challenging employees will encourage them, however, this should be implemented in a healthy way. 

Wrap up 

Workforce management has been seen as a job for those in power within a company but with the growth of technology workforce management has become decentralised. Workers now push each other to work even harder to ensure that tasks are complete and delegated accordingly. 

Covid-19 has made workforce management a sphere of interest to owners and managers. New ways of managing workers have been put to test and many have been seen to work efficiently. Covid-19 has encouraged businesses to use new technology to manage their workforce. 

Moving forward we see an increase in the use of technology with digital technology becoming the new norm.