The Modern Digital Business Era: Work From Home

In 2020, unexpectedly, we were faced with a difficult situation due to the emergence of the Coronavirus or COVID-19. The business world was heavily impacted by the presence of this incredibly small virus.

Both central and local governments instructed companies to arrange for their employees to work from home (WFH).

Public opinion was divided—some demanded that the government enforce a lockdown, while others believed that a lockdown was not the solution because the economy must continue to move. This was evident from the overwhelming crowds lining up for public transportation when restrictions were imposed on Monday, March 16, 2020.

In fact, working from home is not a new concept. Many digital startup companies are likely already familiar with the idea of WFH. The reason many companies adopt this working style is not because of a virus, but because it can be far more efficient and effective when implemented properly. With the current Coronavirus situation, digital solutions have become the answer to many of today’s challenges.

There are many tips on how to avoid COVID-19 by maintaining personal hygiene and living a cleaner lifestyle. However, in this article, I would like to dive deeper into tips for working from home (WFH). I will break them down into several topics below, with the goal of helping us better understand the WFH culture and how to implement it effectively.

Key Performance Indicator

I started my career as a freelancer in 2009 and established a company in 2015. There are quite a number of companies—though not yet the majority—that have already adopted WFH practices. Multinational companies, in particular, measure employee performance based on completed work rather than attendance. This is where the concept of KPI (Key Performance Indicator) comes into play.

Employees are accountable for their work through reports on what has been completed. Therefore, to successfully implement WFH, companies need to shift how they measure performance—not by attendance, but by output. Start developing KPIs for each employee as a reliable performance measurement system.

Project Manager

For every important task that requires collaboration, a Project Manager is needed. Does one person need to handle all projects? Not necessarily—it depends on company policy.

For smaller projects, responsibilities can be distributed among employees, allowing them to learn and adapt to digital collaboration. However, having a dedicated Project Manager is also perfectly fine. In that case, the Project Manager should understand all tasks assigned to team members and ensure that everyone has meaningful work to do, rather than being idle.

Collaboration

To maintain effective collaboration, smooth communication is essential. Start getting used to holding meetings via video calls, such as through Zoom. Explore various digital tools for project management and timeline organization, like Trello.

Don’t be too resistant to English, as most digital tools use it as the default language. Maintain communication through chat groups using platforms like Telegram, which sync easily across mobile and desktop devices.

Paperless

Begin leaving behind the habit of recording documentation on paper or printouts. It is neither efficient nor effective. Instead, store all documentation—administration, payment proofs, and records—in digital form.

Digital files are easier to track, store, and are more environmentally friendly. Use file-sharing tools such as Dropbox or Google Drive to synchronize and manage documents collectively.

Workspace

It’s time to set up a comfortable workspace at home. This could be a sofa with a coffee table or a proper desk. Moving forward, you will likely spend a lot of time in this space for online work, video calls, and communication with colleagues.

Create a workspace that supports your productivity. It is best not to place it in your bedroom, so you can maintain a better work mindset.

Goodbye 9-to-5

Say goodbye to the traditional 9-to-5 working hours. With KPI-based performance measurement, fixed working hours become less relevant.

Be wise in managing your time. This does not mean working late into the night, but rather being flexible with your schedule. Maintaining communication around the clock is not as difficult as it may seem.

Government Regulations

WFH is a form of work efficiency. However, some government regulations—such as requiring a business domicile in a specific area—may conflict with the WFH concept.

If WFH becomes the standard in the future, it would be beneficial for governments to reconsider such regulations. For businesses that require physical operations, like warehouses or product sales, a clear domicile is necessary. But for service or creative industries, it may not be essential—especially in situations where employees are required to work from home.

This raises a valid question: why invest heavily in office rentals that cost tens or even hundreds of millions per month?

Internet Access

Going forward, governments must ensure that internet infrastructure is reliable and affordable, as much of the economy will operate digitally.

Slow internet is like traffic congestion—it disrupts productivity.

Responsibility

WFH will not be effective unless everyone involved has a strong sense of responsibility. While there are many tools to monitor attendance digitally, nothing is more effective than individual accountability in completing assigned tasks.

Everything shared above is based on my personal experience as a Work From Home practitioner. As a digital business owner, I must remain flexible with how and when my team works. I understand that this approach may not apply to all professions, but it can be adapted accordingly.

If you have additional tips that I may have missed, feel free to share them in the comments. Thank you, and happy working from home!