Why Remote Work is the New Normal for Devs

Do software engineers work from home? Many people have started asking this question, particularly as remote work has become more popular as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The short answer is that remote software engineers do exist. As time goes on, this field of remote work may continue to grow.

Remote software developers have become more common in the past couple of years. During the height of the pandemic, software developers, along with countless other employees, were forced to move online. During this time period, companies found that developer work-from-home positions can be effective. 

In fact, a remote working software developer can save company money. If, for example, a company employs all remote engineers, there’s no need exists to pay for a building and the costs of operating that space. Can software engineers work from home even when collaboration is involved? The answer is yes. Virtual platforms have made it possible for colleagues to interact regardless of where they are located.

Software engineer work-from-home positions need support from the company to function effectively. For example, the software company must select a robust platform with the necessary tools for collaboration and efficiency. Companies should also have a resource center set up for employees who encounter challenges during their work days. 

Additionally, owners of such companies have to account for the fact that employees may be in different time zones and ensure that support is accessible for all workers. Establishing a sense of community is another element of an effective remote work situation. Working remotely in software can feel isolating without this element of collaboration. Remote software engineers need to have methods for communicating with one another and for contacting their managers swiftly.

Each company will need to select the remote work platform that is the best fit for their needs. For example, the size of the software company can dictate the platform to use. Owners should look for platforms that are intuitive and navigable. The main portal should not be cluttered. Employees should easily be able to access the necessary information. 

The platform also must allow for collaboration. Some of those collaborative efforts can be real-time interactions. In other cases, colleagues can asynchronously approach tasks in shared spaces.

Trello, Jira and Asana are three platforms that you can use for remote software engineers to complete their tasks. The platform to select depends upon your company's goals and the specific tasks that your employees have to complete. 

Trello and Asana offer simpler designs than Jira; however, Jira is a robust platform with more interactive tools. A side-by-side comparison of the three can help you to determine which is the best for your remote web developer tasks.

Slack, Google and Zoom all offer ways for software developers to interact with one another. A remote work software developer may work on a project with several other team members. Slack is a messaging system that allows team members to communicate back and forth.