Remote work: the bee’s knees of adulting. The pinnacle of career perks. Finding a company that doesn’t just tolerate remote work but fully embraces it is rare—and something we at Vertech take pride in. It’s part of our secret sauce for attracting top-tier global talent. But what does it really mean when your system integration team isn’t all under one roof? Let’s explore how remote work has reshaped collaboration and innovation in our industry and how we foster a world-class team and culture.
Taking on the Collaboration Challenge
Without the classic “pop your head into someone’s office” moments or water-cooler brainstorming, knowledge silos and relationship-building can be a real concern. But the challenge of creating a collaborative culture or passing on the knowledge of key technical team members isn’t new. It just takes a new form.
Building a solid remote work environment requires thoughtful planning, the right tools, and the flexibility to make changes down the road. First, let’s talk tools.
The Tools of the Trade
Embracing the Video Call
We’ve all felt personally attacked by the Teams ringtone, “Do Do Do-whoop Dee Do Do…” (Okay, I’ll stop.) And we know about Zoom fatigue. Video calling has been the new normal for years and isn’t going anywhere.
But before you hit mute, hear me out. Video calls have the potential to not only be efficient but also to actually foster connection and collaboration! A few quick tips:
- Yep, you’ll need a camera (and good lighting!). And yes, you’ll have to train your brain to look at others instead of yourself. But once you’ve mastered those, remote meetings become a chance to connect with others while showing a bit of your personality. Family photos, artwork, or even a guitar in the background can make interactions more engaging and personal.
- Lean into interactive screen sharing. This tool has revolutionized collaboration. It’s hard to imagine working without it, whether reviewing files, demonstrating features to clients, or troubleshooting in real time. Gone are the days of static slide decks. Now, interactive discussions drive decision-making.
- Record your meetings. This is another game-changer. Instead of frantic note-taking, you can focus on the conversation, knowing you can revisit details later. Built-in transcripts and AI summaries are like having your own personal assistant!
Go “Borderless” with Virtual Whiteboards
Collaboration doesn’t need to be tied to a physical space. At Vertech, we use tools like Lucidchart and Microsoft Whiteboard in Teams to facilitate brainstorming and planning. Unlike scattered paper notes, virtual whiteboards provide a centralized hub for ideas, accessible across time zones and work schedules.
These digital spaces help teams refine concepts, track progress, and ensure alignment, whether working synchronously or asynchronously.
Knowledge Sharing & Management
With remote work, transparency is critical. Teams need visibility into project files, workflows, and schedules. That’s where platforms like Tettra and SharePoint come in, housing SOPs, internal documentation, and knowledge bases that keep everyone informed. Tettra is a search-based, AI-powered knowledge management platform we use to help teams create, organize, and share internal documentation.
DevOps for Clear Agile Workflows
For our software development teams, we’ve leaned heavily into adopting the industry best practice of delivering core business value first and then iterating from there. This means our teams need to have clear goals and communication to be able to deliver new features at a rapid pace.
DevOps is a key tool that enables us to track project progress from contract to completion. By breaking down projects into manageable tasks, assigning ownership, and tracking updates, we keep everything moving. Sprint meetings every week or two help assess progress and define next steps, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
Even better, these workflows become reference points for future projects. Whether refining processes that didn’t work or replicating successes, our teams can leverage this resource to improve continuously.
Cloud-Based Development
Industrial automation relies on a plethora of platforms, software, and licensing. Making these accessible to a worldwide team is much easier with cloud-based solutions.
Take Docker, for example. It allows you to create containerized development environments that multiple team members can access simultaneously. You can scale resources, simulate logic, and collaborate in real time from a central hub. And all that’s needed is a solid internet connection.
Establishing a Plan for Remote Success
1. Team Building and Mentorship
Remote work requires intentional mentorship. This means pairing junior employees with experienced staff and creating structured learning opportunities.
At Vertech, we organize engineers into teams based on industry focus or into smaller “pods” that always work together. This builds familiarity, trust, and a shared way of working, reducing friction and improving any project handoffs.
We have code reviews, which help teams grow their skills, stay aligned, and maintain high-quality work. But we also have optional VerCode challenges, which are sent out regularly and are open to everyone. These coding challenges are a light-hearted way to brush up on key fundamentals, improve efficiency, and connect with the team.
To encourage more knowledge sharing, we also have regular “Programmer’s Pints” on Friday afternoons, where a team member will present an area of expertise to anyone interested in the topic.
2. Top Tier Security
It’s no secret that constant advancements in tech and web-based development bring new potential vulnerabilities. IT and OT security are a top priority. Training, multi-layered authentication, and strict access controls are essential for all team roles.
For our OT team, we have ongoing training programs that cover the latest cybersecurity threats, technologies, and best practices. Team members are encouraged to obtain industry-recognized certifications like CISSP, CISM, or GICSP. We also conduct cybersecurity simulations and drills to prepare for real-world scenarios.
3. Trust & Communication
Remote work amplifies the need for professionalism, dependability, and clear communication. Not that these aren’t important traits in hiring to begin with, but when you throw remote work into the mix, they’re even more critical. These traits don’t just apply to the employees but to each team and the company itself. When your team can trust that their company won’t be micromanaging them (*cough* mouse click trackers *cough*) and the company trusts their staff are professional and dependable... beautiful things happen. While it might be a little harder to look for these traits in the hiring process, the company becomes stronger as a result.
Wrapping It Up
Remote work isn’t just changing where we work—it’s changing how we work. It’s redefining collaboration, streamlining processes, and unlocking new efficiencies. It’s enabling global connections, giving people back time, and driving innovation in system integration.
And if done right, it’s not just a perk—it’s a competitive advantage.
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