Nearly 60% of tech firms to keep remote work: TechBehemoths survey

BERLIN, GERMANY — Almost 60% of tech companies indicate they plan to continue allowing remote work in the future, according to a survey conducted by B2B tech platform TechBehemoths.
The study gathered insights from 756 professionals across 26 countries between April 30 to May 15, 2024. It sheds light on the current state of remote work in the tech industry and its potential long-term impact.
Remote work adoption and challenges in the tech sector
The survey reveals that 46.1% of tech companies have fully embraced remote work, with employee preferences being the primary driving force behind this shift, and 59.6% anticipate continuing with remote work arrangements.
Notably, 32.6% of companies report a significant increase in employee productivity when working from home.
Despite the positive trends, the survey also highlights some challenges associated with remote work.
Communication issues remain a concern for 52.8% of employees working remotely. To address this, 86.5% of tech companies provide video conferencing tools to their remote workers, with many relying on free apps like Google Meet and Gmail for connectivity.
In terms of performance management, task and project milestones have emerged as the primary KPIs for measuring productivity in remote settings. This shift away from traditional time-based metrics reflects the evolving nature of work in the digital age.
The survey also reveals that 31.4% of tech companies have experienced significant cost savings due to remote work, primarily from reduced office-related expenses. However, new costs have emerged, with some companies covering internet expenses and remote work training for their employees.
“Companies are not only adapting to but thriving with remote work setups, leveraging digital tools, and evolving policies to meet the demands of a distributed workforce. The challenges identified also provide a roadmap for continuous improvement and innovation in remote work practices,” said Marcel Sobieski, founder of TechBehemoths.
Technological adoption and the future of remote work
The rise in remote work has also boosted the use of digital communication and productivity tools, with platforms like Google Meet (66.3%), Zoom (47.2%), and Slack (43.8%) seeing significant increases in user numbers since 2020.
As the tech industry continues to adapt to this new normal, the survey suggests that remote work is here to stay. With the ongoing evolution of AI and digital tools, tech companies will likely continue to embrace and refine their remote work practices in the years to come.
In fact, the tech industry had the highest share of remote workers at 69%, despite work-from-home levels in the U.S. dropping to their lowest point since the spring of 2020, according to WFH Research.