Until recently, remote work has not been common in the procurement field. Nonetheless, the history of remote work started in 1560 when the predecessors to the first corporate offices were built. Nowadays, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work across disciplines, including sourcing and procurement.

With the end of the pandemic in sight, many small business owners wonder whether their procurement professionals should continue working from home or return to the office. Although each case is unique, the pandemic has demonstrated that procurement and sourcing can be done effectively from home.

Enterprise companies have a lot to gain by making remote procurement a permanent part of their business strategy. This article explores the five remote employee advantages for a more effective workforce.

1. Increased Productivity

If you want to increase employee productivity, implementing a remote work program and considering several productivity tips at your company is one of the easiest ways to accomplish this goal. Various studies have proven that employees who work from home are more productive than their onsite counterparts. Many employees are willing to go above and beyond for the privilege of working at home.

Employees who work at home are often willing to put in extra hours than if working in the office. Companies have reported gaining the equivalent of an additional workday from employees working from home. There are many reasons employees' productivity increases when working from home, including having a quieter place to work.

Many companies have implemented open workspaces, which many employees find distracting. Working at home allows them to focus on their job uninterrupted while using tools that increase efficiency and help them have better results. Beyond distractions, the primary reason remote work employees are more productive is they work more hours.

The average commute in the U.S. is almost 30 minutes. Telecommuting allows employees to save time, time they often spend working. Remote workers also take fewer sick days and less likely to take unscheduled days off work. Small business owners interested in increasing their employees' productivity should seriously consider letting them work from home.

2. Happier Employees

Increased productivity often goes hand in hand with employee happiness. If you create an environment where your employees are happy, it will pay dividends far into the future. One of the best ways to make your employees happy is by letting them work from home. Remote workers report higher levels of happiness and higher job satisfaction than office workers. 

Work-at-home employees list a better work-life balance as the top benefit from working at home. They also said lower levels of stress, reduced absences, improved morale, and fewer sick days were among the most beneficial aspects of working from home.

In contrast, not having a remote work policy resulted in employee dissatisfaction, most saying they wanted to work from home. Many employees of companies lacking a remote work policy had considered looking for remote work jobs.

Employees who work at home have more time to pursue their hobbies and other interests and spend time with friends and family. All of these things make for happier employees. Implementing a permanent work from home policy will gain your employee's loyalty, improve morale and foster a happy workforce.

3. Lower Attrition

Reducing turnover is a priority for many small businesses because finding talented procurement professionals is often difficult. After onboarding and training employees, the last thing you want is to lose them to the competition. Replacing employees is expensive.

Allowing your employees to work from home is one of the most effective ways to keep them working for your business for many years to come. Since remote workers tend to be happier with their jobs, it makes sense that they would stick around longer than dissatisfied office workers.

Allowing your employees to work from home allows them to live where they want. If they need to relocate to take care of ailing parents, they can continue working for you.  Expectant mothers also benefit from remote work policies, which allow them to keep working longer they could onsite. All of these factors will keep trained staff working for you longer.

4. Save Money

Maintaining procurement and sourcing staff onsite is more expensive than many enterprise companies realize. Allowing your employees to work from home is one of the easiest ways to cut expenses. When employees work at home, businesses save money on real estate costs. There's no need to invest in a costly office space if you maintain a remote workforce.

The savings don't end with real estate. Companies also save on furniture, electricity, furniture, and other overhead costs when their employees work from home, making remote work a boon for small business owners.

Employees also save money when they work from home, including childcare and transportation costs. As gasoline costs and public transportation costs increase, workers are spending a significant amount of money commuting to work. The average remote worker saves about $4,600 on commuting costs when working from home.

Working from home also allows remote workers to live in more affordable areas, allowing them to save even more money. Many workers are willing to accept lower salaries for the convenience of working at home, making it a win-win for employees and employers.

5. Easier to Recruit Top Talent

Embracing a remote workplace makes it easier for companies to attract and retain top talent. Recruiting only in your geographic area significantly limits your access to top talent. Transforming your company into a remote workplace will allow you to recruit the best and brightest from around the world.

We've already discussed how work-from-home policies lower employee attrition. You'll avoid brain drain because talented employees will be more likely to stay with your company longer. Low attrition coupled with recruiting the best talent frees you up to focus on the big picture —generating profits and growing your business. 

Since many workers are looking for employers offering remote work, implementing a work-from-home policy will make your company more attractive to prospective employees.

Final Thoughts

The remote workplace has countless benefits for businesses and procurement and sourcing. With the right digital procurement and sourcing tools, your employees can do their jobs effectively without commuting to the office.

Going remote will increase your employees' productivity, make them happier, create loyalty, save you money and make it easier to attract top talent. As a business owner, allowing your employees to work from home may be the key to taking your business to the next level.