How to Measure Remote Productivity Using KPI For Remote Employees Method

KPI for remote workers is a very effective remote productivity measurement formula. Managers all around the globe know that managing the productivity of remote workers is vital—without any doubt.
According to a AND CO and Remote Year survey, 55% of the respondents said they 100% work remotely. And 28% said they have worked in the office and at home, but they preferred later on.

Observing the upward curve of remote work, BlueFace has predicted—the remote industry will be a parallel industry by 2025. And TrackOlap seconds too the prediction because we have first hand noted benefits of remote work model in the last few years.

On the top, when BBC publishes an article stating how 13% of work productivity has increased through Employee Time Tracking System, this prediction doesn’t seem far from reality.

Remote work system has enormous benefits—nobody can deny that, but performance management for remote workers is essential. The KPI metrics for remote workers is a way to grow their skills and performance level. And for managers, it is a method to know their team and help them to adopt new conditions without losing their sight. KPI for remote workers and managers is a certified formula to boost productivity.

So, let’s not waste any more time and know what timekeeping for remote employees do?

Why Should You Define KPI?

So, you have been trying various tactics to improve the productivity of your remote employees. But, when you don’t have a reference to measure improvement, your performance management for remote workers has no purpose.
KPIs, aka Key Performance Indicators, work as a reference to measurement improvements. In simpler words, KPI metrics for remote workers are defined by the manager to evaluate their progress.
Therefore, it is essential to establish a neat and analytical measurement system, so that managing remote work productivity becomes a smooth process. One remote productivity KPI should include –

Time tracking milestones
Detailed team information
Objective data for decision making
Simplified performance report
Individual employee’s productivity metrics
SMART KPI for Remote Workers – Traits of a Good KPI

Do you really want the KPI formula to bring the desired outcome? Then, you must ensure to set KPI references to meet your goals.

Imagine, if your goal is to recognize distracted remote workers, you have to use the previous month's productivity data to refer to the present data. Additionally, you need to track minute activities of workers to know what they are doing to feel distracted now.

To set a result-driven KPI, you can follow the SMART KPI formula, which defines something like –

S-Specific – your KPI metrics should be specific to your end goals.

M-Measurable – if your KPI reference can’t be measured, it won’t help in interpreting the results.

A-Achievable – the KPI object has the potential to achieve your goals. Such as you can analyze productive hours based on real-time data—attendance, break, and other time-related data.

R-Relevant – your selected KPI metrics have to be relevant and valuable to your goals.

T-Timely – lastly, KPI has to be time-specific. Regular and real-time data analysis helps in drawing an accurate outcome.

Are you wondering how the TrackOlap solution can help you in achieving SMART KPI objectives? Then, let’s take an example to clear your doubts –

S – to improve remote productivity

M – 50% more productivity

A – reduce absenteeism

R – monitor attendance and leave data

T – one month

According to the above KPI formula, you have set a target to improve 50% of remote productivity in your organization by reducing the absenteeism rate through attendance and leave management within one month. Now, you can easily define your SMART objectives and simplify performance management for remote workers with our tool.

How to Set Remote Productivity KPI Formula – Quick 5 Tips

So, you know how to implement KPI for remote workers? But, knowing how to measure your remote employees' productivity isn’t sufficient anymore.

You need to know a way to boost your employees' productivity based on the measurements. You have your employees' performance report in your hands, but if you don’t know how to use it to improve their performance, there’s no purpose for such a report.

That’s why to drive the desired outcome from KPI metrics for remote workers; you have to adopt the following methods.

Be Transparent with your Team

If you want your remote team to improve their turnaround time, you have to openly discuss it with them. You have to discuss the value of productivity with your team. You have to make them realize that improved productivity won’t only benefit your company, but also employees as they can improve their skills.

“The best way to keep employees engaged is to frequently discuss the value of productivity and getting deep work accomplished through the day. This has helped employees feel like their work was meaningful and have a sense of accomplishment.” - Nathan Olsen, CEO of Best Notes

You can easily create a transparent Remote Team Management environment by sharing automatic generated productivity reports with your employees. When your employees can self learn through the real-time report, they can improve their productivity better.

Be Result-Driven in your Approach

If your timekeeping for remote employees means—longer work hours is equal to more tasks done. That’s a myth.

The productivity cycle for every individual works differently. One person can accomplish a task in one hour, whereas another person only takes a half-hour to complete the same task. Thus, you should not measure productivity based on time.

Instead of rewarding remote employees for longer work hours, you should reward them based on their output. This method will encourage your employees to complete more tasks in less time and help your business grow. Time should be used to compare data, but never to derive it.

For instance, you can set a month timeframe to improve remote employees' productivity by 50%, but you can’t fix a time to analyze individual employee’s productivity. For that, you have to focus on the quality and quantity of work.

Be Expressive with your Feedback

Your productivity tracking is incomplete without your feedback. By sharing periodic performance report with your team, you have given them an overview of their performance. But, this doesn’t tell them how to improve it. You should share your detailed feedback with relevant data so that your employees can improve themselves.

Imagine you have found one of your remote workers being more distracted lately as he spends more working hours on social media platforms. So, you have to write feedback on how social media can affect his overall performance and also share methods to avoid social media distractions.

You should not scold your employees for feedback. On the opposite, you should help provide them pointers to improve their productivity.

Additionally, when your employees follow your feedback and their productivity improves, you should appreciate them. It isn’t your responsibility to criticize your employees—no, you have a responsibility to make them better for your organization.

Be Clear with Deadlines and Goals

Meeting deadlines and chasing goals are the two main employers' requirements from their employees.

Setting a timeframe for tasks is vital to keep your employees productive and run your business smoothly. Timeframes help you to deliver work on time and constantly motivate your team to finish work on time.

Setting clear goals for your remote staff—keep them from being lazy, especially while working from home.

You need to simply define the timeframe and goals related to each task before assigning it to your remote team. Additionally, you should regularly send follow-up alerts and request work completion status throughout the task period. This way, you can help your employees whenever they are struggling to meet deadlines

Be Frequent Tracker

You can’t draw a conclusive KPI formula without constantly monitoring your employees. That because productivity isn’t a fixed variable. A person might be highly productive today, but tomorrow won’t be due to some personal reasons.

On the top, when employees are working remotely, it becomes more difficult for managers to keep tabs on what they are doing. And if you don’t track regularly, you can’t find the reason behind the reduced or improved productivity level.

The time tracking tool or employee monitoring software is very useful to analyze employees' productivity levels throughout the day. This method will always keep you connected with your employees, and you ensure to keep them on the right track.

Be a Good Communicator

Remotely, your employees are alone; they don’t have colleagues to share lunch or talk to during a tea break.

This can result in miscommunication among your employees. The miscommunication can further results in interpersonal conflicts that can disturb your workflow at the end.

Therefore, when you use the centralized communication system to establish smooth communication between your team, this can reduce team conflicts. You can practice virtual team-building exercises to maintain cordial relationships between your team members.

Let’s Define your KPI Metrics

You know how to set KPI metrics and how to achieve your goals with them. Now you just need to create your KPI for remote employees. Based on your business goals, performance management, and other requirements, you have to define your KPI metrics and enhance your remote team's productivity.

If you have any further questions about how to set your KPI using TrackOlap , you can drop us a call or email anytime.