The 5 Biggest Flaws of Remote Collaboration and How Technology Can Overcome Them

In 2025, 40% of people in the UK are working from home at least some of the time – and this figure is only expected to keep on rising.

Although many workers claim they’re more productive when working from home, 44% of managers say employees are less productive, or at least equally as productive, when working remotely compared to being in the office.

If employees feel like they are working better when remote, why are managers not seeing the outcome of this first-hand?

If technology is not being well utilised within a remote business setting, this can hinder the capabilities of employees, especially where collaboration is concerned.

In this article, we will discuss five of the biggest challenges that come with remote collaboration and provide some solutions that businesses can implement to improve efficiency.

The Top 5 Flaws of Remote Collaboration

Although remote working has come a long way over recent years, there are still a range of teething issues that need to be ironed out.

1. Miscommunications

Since all communications among a remote team happen virtually, it can be much easier for messages to be misinterpreted or missed completely. This can be especially tricky if a team are working to different schedules.

Unlike in an office environment where colleagues can have quick face-to-face chats whenever needed, remote workers need to adapt to a different communication style.

Not being able to collaborate when needed can make remote employees feel isolated and lacking support in their role.

How can technology help?

If people are travelling across sites, have a zero-hours contract, or work part-time, teams need to find ways to collaborate effectively. Having a collaboration tool in place will help manage communication and keep everything recorded centrally.

Using a tool such as Slack or Microsoft Teams will allow colleagues to collaborate both one-on-one and as a group, as well as facilitating the sharing of files. This will keep a record of all conversations so it can be easily referred to at a later date.

2. Differences in time zone

Remote working opens up endless opportunities when hiring since new employees can be recruited across the world.

When it comes to collaboration, the different time zones can make it trickier to work together on a project. Since schedules differ, there are likely to be restraints on when meetings can be held and any messages may experience delays in reply time.

This way of working can make projects slower and delay productivity since employees are not able to collaborate as easily.

How can technology help?

To prevent employees from having to log into meetings at antisocial hours outside of their working day, tools can be used to better bridge the gap between colleagues in different time zones.

Having a shared calendar tool that helps meeting leaders schedule in a time slot that works for all attendees will save endless time trying to find a suitable timeframe and reschedule meeting invites that no longer work.

Calendly is a good example of a tool that can improve remote collaboration. It can integrate with existing collaboration tools and help automate the process of scheduling meetings.

3. Added security risks

From the perspective of a business owner, running an entire company online can come with a big element of risk.

Without having the security of an office-based network that is all managed in one central location, there are a range of security threats that can put personal data at risk of being targeted by unauthorised users.

Especially when employees are working remotely, any phishing attacks or accidental information leaks may not be picked up on straight away, making the issue even more of a threat.

How can technology help?

To keep files stored as securely as possible, a business should be using a reputable cloud-based software that controls access and encrypts data.

Tools such as Google Workspace are a convenient choice for businesses that already use the portfolio of Google apps. They allow users to collaborate on different files while preventing security breaches through the range of built-in security features.

Businesses should also utilise added security measures such as multi-factor authentication on company devices to prevent the data from being easily accessed in the event of theft or loss.

4. Poor project management

For projects that require the input of various employees spread out across different locations, poor project management can lead to stressful mishaps and missed deadlines.

If everyone is not aware of what their role is within the team, there are bound to be overlaps or aspects that are missed completely. These miscommunications can cause a lot of confusion and frustration among workers, as well as losing a lot of time and money for the business.

How can technology help?

To ensure all employees involved in a project are working on the same page and can see updates in real-time, a project management tool should be in place to overcome the challenges of remote working.

Platforms such as Monday and Asana are popular as they break down the project into individual tasks. These tasks can then be assigned to the team member responsible along with a deadline. This process helps employees manage their workload and any potential hold-ups to the project can be identified quickly.

5. Network quality during meetings

Since every employee is responsible for their own network connection, quality is not guaranteed.

This can be particularly noticeable when on video calls – image freezes, crackly audio, and lost connection can all cause disruption to a meeting and waste valuable time.

If people within a team are not able to communicate effectively, this can impact overall business productivity since collaboration abilities are seriously hindered. 

How can technology help?

The most popular video call platforms, such as Google Meet and Zoom, are designed to handle low-bandwidth environments. Depending on the quality of the connection, the video and audio quality will adapt accordingly to prevent as much disruption to the meeting.

Businesses can also help improve the quality of remote meetings by equipping employees with the technology they need. Accessories such as a headset can help improve the quality of output from participants on a call, especially if they are working from louder environments.

Overcoming The Challenges of Remote Collaboration

Now that remote work is becoming a normality for many businesses across the country, businesses need to adapt to the new ways of working and put measures in place to help overcome the challenges that can be faced.

By introducing tools that can help facilitate strong collaboration among remote teams, a business can maintain optimum productivity and prevent delays where possible. 

As well as improving daily operations from a business perspective, utilising technology will also make work much more manageable and enjoyable for employees.