It's okay to (finally) embrace the new way to work
The work of today is drastically different than the work of even a few years ago.
Thanks to the continued reliance on digital platforms, people feel empowered to ditch the classic 9-to-5s for routines they find more productive. The ubiquity of wireless connectivity and powerful devices makes virtually anyplace a workspace. And the availability of on-demand gigs is inspiring a wave of 1099-ers who actively seek projects instead of jobs.
These realities are inspiring a few cultural shifts, even within the bounds of the 'classic' office: employees are native to this new way of working and living, and demand that the devices and platforms at their disposal can support it. They want the customization, reliability, and intuitive interaction that they expect from the apps and platforms they use in their personal lives.
This puts employers in a precarious position—they're responsible for outfitting their workforce with enabling tools, but aren't looking to do it at the expense of productivity and effectiveness. For those conditioned to the old way of working, it's not easy to see how collaboration can exist in a work world without stringent place-and-time guidelines.
Our platform was, in part, designed with the apprehensive project manager in mind. Here are three ways Quip's collaborative structure addresses the realities of the new ways of work.
1. It helps companies embrace working from home.
One of the big changes endowed by these realities is that employees can actually work productively from home—sure, House of Cards is probably going to be on in the background, but that doesn’t mean nothing is getting done. Some of the most effective work is done in environments where people feel comfortable, provided they have the right motivation and equipment. Quip serves as the collaboration enabler for people working from home: team jam sessions can seamlessly take place in a shared document or spreadsheet. So just because someone isn't in, doesn't mean they're out.
2. It ensures that moving around doesn't derail projects.
Optimism notwithstanding, it's incredibly difficult to keep on top of an ongoing project during a business trip or when moving around frequently. It's mostly a matter of attention—specifically, consistent attention. Projects move fast, with inputs, changes, and events frequently reshaping the details. But with Quip, it's easy to stay on top of the changes, and it's very easy to work consistently. The program is intuitive, organized, and tracks changes for easy reference. This is indispensable for part-time employees or freelancers; they can easily keep up with the progress of the project quickly.
3. It's native to all types of devices.
Believe it or not, tablets and mobile phones are for more than gaming, Facebook and Wikipedia—enterprising employees finding ways to use them as powerful work tools. While checking emails or basic messaging apps can easily be used across these devices, teamwork can prove to be cumbersome since many collaborative programs aren't designed to work on mobile devices. Quip, however, functions across many different kinds of devices, meaning it can continue to be the powerful teamwork tool no matter where—or how—it's used.
It's as simple as this: if employees have a connected device and Quip, they're capable of contributing to collaborative projects, no matter whereabouts they find themselves.
