5 Tips For Staying Motivated While Working From Home

Efficient Ways For Increasing Working From Home Productivity

Working from home is no longer a strange concept for many workers in the modern era. Especially when everything is held at a distance after Covid. It has changed many people's thoughts on an ideal workplace, since it gives you more freedom and less formality than the office. If you work from home, you need to find ways to stay productive so you can stay on top of your work and keep yourself motivated. You can maintain your focus throughout the day, even when domestic conveniences pose a temptation, by making a few changes and establishing some new, easy habits. Read our post to know more efficient ways for increasing working from home productivity. The impact of working from home on employee productivity Company opinion and policy toward WFH is the first factor affecting worker output. When workers believe their company cares about them and is committed to their success, they are more likely to put in the time and effort necessary to complete projects successfully and on schedule. When workers don't have to waste time, money, and energy commuting between home and the office, they're able to put that saved time and energy toward getting more work done. Working from home has both positive and bad effects on productivity. Staff performance can be boosted if they have access to modern resources like computers and other office equipment, as well as technical and logistical help. However, research suggests that workplace efficiency may suffer when employees are unable to interact in person with their coworkers. Other elements rely on employees' attitudes and conditions, flexibility can boost productivity if individuals have self-discipline, planning skills, and a desire to work remotely. The impact of Working from Home on employee productivity Although it's possible that working from home has slowed down productivity in the near term, the trend is growing in popularity. Working from home has been shown to increase output in the long run. Remote work management may be improved, and managerial support can boost working from home productivity. Ways to increase employees working from home productivity More user-friendly IT systems Bad user experiences happen to everyone. Whether it's an app that won't work, a website that doesn't provide the information we need, or a form that's nearly hard to fill out. Unusable or unfriendly software might be the cause that reduces productivity. Selecting business software should prioritize usability. User-friendly software works faster than sophisticated solutions that require months to learn. Provide more user-friendly software Access to IT solution if problem arises Some technologies have unquestionably aided in making people more productive in the workplace. Applications that simplify and streamline otherwise laborious procedures are used by many thriving companies. They're equipped with features that make completing everyday activities faster and easier. Flexible working hours When employees are given more flexibility in determining when they get their work done, they are better able to balance their professional and personal lives and spend more time with their loved ones. Which in turn increases their working from home productivity. Work schedules that are flexible Allow certain employees into offices if remote working is a challenge Although telecommuting has been around for some time now, many people still find the system to be unfamiliar and difficult to adjust to. Those who are not provided with adequate tools and time to complete their work will be unable to meet expectations. As a result, businesses with a WFH policy should accept employees' requests to return to office. Assistance with data & Internet Technical factors can affect productivity, as working from home is highly dependent on technology and technical equipment. Telecommuting is the only option for remote workers to maintain contact with their employers. To be able to do work from home, one needs access to consistent power and an Internet connection. Encourage video call meetings When employees have the option to work from home, they are more likely to get their work done since they are not as likely to be stopped or distracted by their coworkers. However, being socially and professionally isolated at home for an extended period of time has a negative impact on productivity. To maintain constant communication and collaboration, video meetings are more crucial than ever. Video conferencing gets people to talk to each other, which boosts morale and makes your employees happier, therefore increasing working from home productivity. Maintain constant communication with video calls Supervise progress regularly Schedule regular, formal one-on-one meetings with your remote team members so that you may discuss their progress, goals, and other relevant topics. The best method of communication for your group's meetings is the one that is most convenient for everyone involved. Establish and stick to a regular schedule for staff meetings by utilizing technology applications (Meet, Skype, Zoom, etc.). Constantly updating the team with short status reports is an option to consider. Checking with your team Make available resources & equipment Not everyone has the ability to invest in themselves a fully equipped office. Many employees only have a standard laptop, not to mention some might not own a personal laptop. Some businesses have permitted workers to take home essentials like computers and seating so that they may remain productive while working remotely. More access to software & documents After the Covid event, when most businesses had to operate remotely, many companies had to constantly find ways to stay productive. One of the many effective ways that will boost working from home productivity without spending so much is to provide access to a wide variety of software and documents. Provide adequate support systems It is also suggested that establishing a reliable support system as a means to enhance the benefits of working from home. When employees are not provided with support and have problems adjusting to working remotely, it can lead to a significant increase in inefficiencies. For employees to be able to carry out their work at home to the highest possible standard, adequate resources are required. We recommend implementing Today.ly - a virtual office space where you could see your coworkers signing in daily and working as a unit, in real-time, just like in a physical office. Provide adequate support systems Employer must consider challenges with working remotely Remote workers benefit from more adaptable schedules, but their employers face different problems. The challenges of poor communication and poor management are not easily overcome. Employers can seek help from a variety of useful resources and methods to promote higher levels of interaction and communication inside their organizations. Questions-to-ask to improve employee's WFH productivity Want to increase productivity work from home? Here are some questions to ask to better understand your employees' needs. What are your thoughts on working from home?What can I do to improve your remote working experience?Is there anyone on the team who has been particularly supportive of your WFH transition?Are the WFH policies clear and concise?Are your daily work objectives clear? Every week?Do you think your teammates and team leaders communicate effectively?Is it easy to contact your teammates and team leaders when you need them?Do you think your team leader supports and trusts you?Do you have all of the necessary equipment and remote tools to complete your work to the best of your ability? If not, what do you require?What is your most difficult WFH challenge?What can leadership do to help you work while you're at home? Conclusion Remote performance management is different from office performance management, but that's fine. As long as you take the time to figure out what works best for you and your team, have the correct thinking, methods, and goals, you may enhance performance without coming across as a bossy leader. Which will in turn make you feel pleased, less worried, motivated, and more capable of achieving your goals. SupremeTech have shared some tips with you in the hopes that they would increase your team working from home productivity. Keep up with us for more insightful and entertaining information.

Productivity App Features That Resonate With Remote Workers

Even as the pandemic fades into the past, remote and hybrid work have remained widely practiced. One of the main factors underpinning this trend is the emergence of remote working productivity apps that enable teams to perform highly, irrespective of individual members' locations. Many of these apps were already used in workplaces before the pandemic, but some gained more acceptance amongst remote workers. That said, let’s discuss the standout features of productivity apps for remote work: eLearning Capabilities One of the trickier aspects of remote work has been how to get recruits up to speed. Training can be hard to conduct when physical in-person meetings aren’t an option. You must figure out how to transition smoothly from face-to-face conversations to presentations and walkthroughs. Then, there’s the distribution of learning materials. As always, you eventually have to assess the trainee to determine their readiness for specific tasks. This is where virtual classroom software has won the hearts of many. In this case, the ideal tools should enable the trainer to create courses, stock libraries, and deliver exams. Top-notch learning management systems also provide ingenious features like surveys and quizzes that keep trainees more engaged during learning and assessment. To promote flexibility, such tools also facilitate self-paced learning while providing detailed reports and analyses for each trainee. Some popular solutions encapsulating eLearning capabilities include TalentLMS, AbsorbLMS, Trainual, ProProfs LMS, and more. Team Building When an entire team is in the same physical workspace, it's easier to organize and hold fun activities outside their work assignments to strengthen bonds and get everyone into a single mission. However, once everyone is scattered across different locations, all this becomes harder. In fact, productivity may decrease as some team members feel less heard and spend more time figuring out how to assert themselves. Others may get caught up in a vicious cycle of second-guessing their ideas and decisions as they feel they have limited guidance. On that note, team leaders need to dedicate time to team building, and they can do it using apps that provide features like scavenger hunts, puzzles, and other games that bring people closer. Common virtual team-building apps include Playmeo, Scavify, Kahoot!, Good & Co Teamwork, Heads Up! and RallyBright. Remember that not all these tools are about playing games. Some deliver quizzes you can use to profile each team member and see how best they can work together based on their individual strengths and weaknesses. Multimedia Communication While email has massively evolved over the years, it still feels like a formal letter. Moreover, the attachment feature doesn’t fully support the wide range of variations in how remote workers interact. For example, a team member overseas may want to share a video feed of their surroundings since they are near a revered landmark or monument. Another team member may receive a work-related message at a party where texting or calling may be inconvenient, but a quick voice note can work. In essence, remote teams need to communicate in a manner that prioritizes their work but also channels the vibe in their respective remote workspaces. This is best achieved with a strategic mix of video conferencing, file sharing, notifications and reminders, text messaging and group chat, postcards and more. To minimize the cold and ultra-serious atmosphere typically associated with work emails, you can try a solution like Today.ly. What’s unique about such a tool is that its interface emulates a real work environment and offers all the typical communication channels. You can see groups meeting in conference rooms and follow how individuals come and go in real time. The app lets you view availability and instantly start a conversation with a teammate by clicking on their avatar. Thus, instead of having back-and-forth emails for sending meeting links and updating the times on invitations, you can simply click on their avatar. Task and Process Automation For many remote workers, their schedules are constantly in flux. They aren't considerably detached from other aspects of their lives, like childcare and home management, in the same way that office workers are. Secondly, remote teams often include members in different time zones, so some work needs to be ready and submitted when the person working on it is sleeping. This can involve transferring figures from survey forms into a report, sending out newsletters, populating tables, sending reminders, and more. For the lucky ones, it’s one simple task. But in other cases, the work involves more elaborate processes demanding contributions and approvals from various personnel. Accordingly, task management and process automation tools are the best way to tackle this challenge. But before you start, you need to ascertain the different levels at which automation takes place. Firstly, there's the lower level, where you need automation tools for specific tasks. A good example is marketing automation tools like ActiveCampaign, MailChimp, HubSpot and Klaviyo for emailing customers. Above this level, you’re creating end-to-end workflows involving multiple tasks. Consequently, you’ll need tools like Integrify, ClickUp, Wrike, Kissflow, Smartsheet, Zapier and Adobe Workfront. With such tools, you should look out for those that come with pre-built templates and drag-and-drop builders or an equivalent that requires as little code as possible (preferably no code). This way, anyone in the organization can easily create and edit automation without involving IT. The bigger picture As you can see, the remote work toolset can quickly expand depending on an organization's size and diversity. From accounting to HR, legal, IT, and marketing, plenty of work could use a digital solution or two. Therefore, when shopping for Work From Home (WFH) tools for your teams, you should pay close attention to their integrations. You don’t want to end up with many tools that can't link to each other. This will leave you with more work, constantly transferring data between different software and increasing the likelihood of errors. Lastly, it helps to choose tools with reliable customer support. It's even better if the support agents are available 24/7 since problems could come in from team members in various time zones. Wrapping Up WFH productivity apps can benefit an organization on various fronts, like increasing efficiency, improving team morale, and reducing operational costs. That’s why you should think broadly when choosing them. For professional assistance in selecting and managing these tools, contact us for a free consultation.

Anh Duong – A Journey of Rising Above to Shine Bright

At SupremeTech, we often meet during meetings, rush through deadlines together, and celebrate when our products are released. But behind those intense work hours, there are powerful stories of personal transformation & growth that we don’t always get to hear. ST is not only a witness to these journeys but also a part of them. In May, during our ST WOW section—a time where we honor people who make others say “WOW,” not only in work but also in life—we recognized Anh Duong. Duong has been with SupremeTech for four years and has gone through an impressive personal transformation. Let’s explore his story together! From a Shy Boy to the Confident Anh Duong Today Just over two years ago, Duong often felt insecure, especially about his appearance. He was skinny and had trouble even carrying water bottles around the office. He often felt tired and weak due to poor health. These little moments slowly pushed him to make a change, not to impress others, but to take control of his life. He started going to the gym in April 2023. At first, it was just something to try out. When the numbers on the scale didn’t move, he felt discouraged. But instead of giving up, that became a turning point. He chose discipline. He chose daily habits. He set long-term goals. Day by day, these choices built into something bigger—not just in how he looked, but in how he felt. No Trainer, No Showing Off – Just Self-Understanding Duong didn’t have a personal trainer. There was no magic solution. He studied on his own to learn what worked for his body—what foods, exercises, and routines suited him best. He designed his own meals, workouts, and rest schedule. Not to meet someone else’s standards, but to fit what he truly needed. Now that he’s “in shape,” his training is no longer a challenge—it’s just part of a healthy lifestyle. Success Measured by Spirit, Not Muscles After one year, Duong said his energy had improved significantly. He rarely feels drained now. People around him notice he’s more cheerful and full of life. And after two years? He says it’s a turning point—he truly feels proud of what he has achieved with his body. Now, he’s more confident. He’s in a relationship. His family is proud. And most importantly, he inspires others who once felt the same way. “You won’t know until you try. Don’t work out to show off—do it to change yourself.”Nguyen Van Anh Duong That’s Duong's message to anyone who feels unsure, insecure, or not strong enough to start. At ST, we’re proud to have people like Anh Duong—not just skilled at work, but also strong in their personal lives. We believe going far takes not only skills but also willpower. It’s not just about working together, but also living and growing together. Thank you, Anh Duong, for your personal transformation effort and for being a warm and strong light in our ST family. Related articles: From Unpaid Trial to the Top: The Inspiring Rise to Vice PresidentFrom Seeking The Path to Leading The Way: Phuoc’s Journey at SupremeTech

Philippines Business Trip Report: Seminars and School Visits for BA Recruitment

This time, SupremeTech embarked on our very first BA business trip to the Philippines! We visited two cities: Baguio, known for its high altitude, cool climate, and popularity as a study-abroad destination, and Cebu, a well-known tourist spot. Our itinerary consisted of four days in Baguio and three days in Cebu, totaling one week. The primary purposes of this BA business trip were: Visiting language schools for our recruitment of Japanese Business Analysts (BA).Hosting a career seminar for Japanese students interested in working abroad. Through direct conversations with language school staff and students, we gained valuable insights into their genuine concerns and aspirations. It was a truly eye-opening and enriching experience for us. Currently, many students return to Japan for domestic employment after studying abroad, often unable to fully leverage their global mindset. Additionally, when people consider working abroad, they usually look to English-speaking countries, such as Australia or Canada, while opportunities in ASEAN countries—especially emerging economies like Vietnam—remain relatively underexplored. During this BA business trip, our goal was to introduce “working in ASEAN” as a viable career option to language school students and staff, and to encourage them to view their time abroad not just as a study period, but as a stepping stone to a global career. We hope this BA business trip served as a meaningful first step toward expanding their future possibilities. Introducing SupremeTech and the Role of Business Analysts (BA) SupremeTech is a technology company based in Da Nang, Vietnam, specializing in web service development and AI applications. Our core business revolves around offshore development, connecting Japanese clients with talented Vietnamese engineering teams. Among our team, the role of a Japanese BA is especially crucial. BA does more than just translate language; they carefully listen to clients’ needs, organize those requirements into clear specifications, and communicate them effectively to the development team. In essence, they act as a vital bridge between clients and engineers. This role requires not only language skills but also strong logical thinking, cross-cultural understanding, and flexible communication abilities. Many of the Japanese BA thriving at SupremeTech have studied English at language schools in the Philippines. They leverage the skills they gained during their language studies to tackle challenges and build careers in Vietnam. However, it’s also common for language students to return to Japan after their studies and choose domestic employment instead. The international mindset and valuable experience gained through studying abroad in the Philippines can be put to even better use, and our company offers a field where those strengths truly shine. Bringing “Working Abroad” Closer to Everyone The key message we wanted to convey in our seminar was that working overseas in IT companies is not just for a special few—it’s something anyone can pursue. We heard many concerns from both school staff and students, such as: “I’m worried whether my English skills are good enough.”“Can I take on this challenge even without prior industry experience?” What we truly value is not how much skill or experience you have right now, but whether we can grow together moving forward. Nobody is perfect.At the same time, emerging countries like Vietnam offer an environment that allows you to take on new challenges flexibly.We strongly believe that those who are willing to try have the most excellent chances. During the seminar, we shared genuine stories from Japanese people currently working on-site, detailed explanations of the work itself, and the skills required. We hope this helped make the idea of working abroad feel a little more realistic and achievable. Studying abroad is not the goal—it’s just the beginning.We look forward to continuing to explore the career possibilities beyond language study, together. Insights from Our Conversations with Students Through our interactions with language school staff and students who attended our seminar, we came to realize the following: Many people are interested in working abroad, but find it challenging to take the first realistic step.There is a lack of information and opportunities to trigger action.Many of them are seriously focused on their future, and we felt great potential in each one of them. For those who are thinking, “I want to change something” or “I want to take a step forward,”We sincerely hope that this seminar and these conversations have helped give them a little push in the right direction. There is nothing more rewarding than that for us. Why Vietnam? – From the Frontlines of Offshore Development You might be wondering, “Why Vietnam?” or “What’s it like to do offshore development there?” Here are the three main reasons why we have chosen Vietnam as our base: A Practical Solution for Global IT Talent ShortagesWith Japan facing a serious shortage of IT professionals, offshore development with Asian countries has been expanding rapidly. Among them, Vietnam stands out due to its strong compatibility with Japanese business culture, offering a great balance of technical skills, cost efficiency, and talent availability.A Market Full of Opportunities for Young Professionals Vietnam has a relatively young population, with approximately 60% of its population under the age of 35. Its rapidly growing IT market provides many opportunities for young talent to gain hands-on experience early in their careers.Comfort and Cultural Familiarity Vietnam is just two hours ahead of Japan, making communication and coordination easier. The cost of living is relatively affordable, and the culture is friendly and welcoming to Japanese people. Our base city, Da Nang, is renowned for its tranquil environment, surrounded by mountains and the sea, offering a perfect balance between work and personal life. Conclusion This BA business trip and seminar were a significant challenge for us as well. By visiting language schools on-site and directly engaging with students, we gained valuable insights, new learnings, and important connections. We plan to leverage this valuable experience in our future recruitment efforts and continue to nurture strong relationships with language schools. Our key messages remain:“Working overseas isn’t just for special people — anyone can give it a try.” “Opportunities to take on new challenges are often closer than you think.” We will continue to share these messages and deepen our collaboration with schools. We also look forward to future visits and new challenges. We hope to visit the Philippines and interact directly with language school staff and students once again. Above all, we sincerely wish that the connections made during this BA business trip will become a new stepping stone for someone’s career journey. Through these activities, we hope more people will engage with our company and, in the future, become our colleagues. If you are interested in the role of BA or an overseas career, please check out [our recruitment information here].If you'd like to learn more or discuss whether this path is right for you, we also offer casual online meetings. We’re cheering you on as you take on new challenges. Gallery Bagauio API BECI (EOP campus) Our first visit was to API BECI, located on a lush, green hillside. We were impressed by the campus’s clean and well-maintained facilities, which beautifully blend the open, relaxing atmosphere of a resort with a focused, structured learning environment. We discussed the possibility of future collaboration with the student manager. JIC (Premium campus） We had the opportunity to visit JIC’s Premium Campus, nestled in a peaceful, green environment. The campus is spacious and well-equipped with convenient facilities such as a café, gym, and convenience store. The cafeteria, in particular, offered a spacious and open atmosphere with an excellent view. We also enjoyed a buffet-style meal there, which exceeded our expectations in both taste and quantity. Amidst this resort-like comfort, students were highly focused on their studies. JIC offers a variety of unique programs tailored to different levels, goals, and budgets at each of its campuses, and is known for its original curriculum and materials. During our visit, we also had positive discussions with the local team about the possibility of future collaboration on an English × IT learning program, and we’re excited about the potential opportunities that lie ahead. PINES (main campus) Our final stop in Baguio was PINES, one of the well-known language schools. Founded in 2001, the school relocated to a new campus in 2018, providing an even more comfortable and study-friendly environment. The campus is about a 10-minute drive from SM City Baguio, the city’s largest shopping mall, and is surrounded by nature, with lush parks just a short walk away. The school offers a fully integrated environment where classrooms and dormitories are housed in the same building, eliminating the need for commuting. It also features well-equipped shared spaces such as a gym and student lounge, ensuring a comfortable living experience. What stood out to us during the visit was the calm, focused atmosphere throughout the campus. It’s designed for serious learning. Many students are working professionals or individuals preparing for a career change, and we were particularly impressed by their strong sense of purpose and career motivation. CEBU B CEBU Our final visit was to B’Cebu, a language school newly established in 2023 on Mactan Island, Cebu. This promising new campus was founded as a sister school to API BECI, a well-established school with over 20 years of experience in Baguio. Upon arrival, we were immediately struck by the open and refreshing resort-like atmosphere of the campus! The clean and modern school buildings and dormitories are complemented by a full range of lifestyle facilities, including a gym, café, and convenience store, creating an uplifting environment just by being there. In contrast to the calm and focused study atmosphere in Baguio, B’Cebu offers a unique style of study abroad that perfectly blends the relaxed resort vibe, engaging activities, and language learning. A fascinating discovery was the chance to speak directly with the Korean owner. We learned that B’Cebu is part of a group that also operates B’Hoian in Hoi An, Vietnam. Given its geographical proximity to Danang, where our company is based, this connection opens up promising opportunities for future collaboration. Remarkably, the campus even features a dedicated diving pool! Students can obtain diving certification if they want, providing a unique combination of English language learning and resort experience. Meals are served buffet-style, offering a rich variety of options catering to the diverse international students. We had the chance to try the dish ourselves and found it delicious, so much so that it was hard not to eat too much! Curious World Academy (CWA） Our last stop was Curious World Academy. Although the visit was planned on short notice, we had a productive meeting with the manager and toured the school. We got a clear idea of the school’s atmosphere. The school is still relatively new, but it has already gained popularity due to its modern facilities and practical programs. The campus feels calm and focused — a great place for students who want to study seriously but also have time to relax. There’s a swimming pool and other nice facilities, which help students stay comfortable and learn well. Many students are young and seem very serious about their future. This visit gave us great hope and some excellent ideas for the future. Seminar - PINES