The Future of Remote Work
This blog post is a bit different from what I usually post - I want to contemplate a bit about the future of remote work and how it could look like from my point of view.
I’ve also researched some of the top trends in the remote working space and also included some of my own thoughts and views when I look at my own work but also my friend’s work and their opinions on remote working.
Let’s dive in 🌊
Current Landscape of Remote Working
At the time of writing (2025), it seems a lot of remote working is being rolled back by many companies, after having introduced it during Covid times.
Even though there is loads of evidence that remote work is beneficial for most people and that it actually improves productivity in most cases, a lot of corporates have started rolling back their remote work policies and ordering their employees back.
There is also a different side of the coin, in that there are also plenty of (mostly tech) companies that are fully embracing the remote working lifestyle and are totally convinced about the perks. I myself work for such a company, and there are plenty of other companies that operate on a fully remote model.
I can also see a divide in the type of people. Some of my friends are happy working in a hybrid model, and that they can go to the office a few times a week. I do believe it takes a certain kind of person to be able to work remotely. You need to be able to work on your own, be highly skilled in planning and organisational skills and have a proactive mindset when it comes to your work.
Remote Work Trends
There are a few key trends that are emerging when it comes to remote working,
One is emphasis on the hybrid model. Many companies have shifted to this model, because they believe that employees still need to meet face to face in order to stimulate collaboration. So while these companies allow their workers to work from home a certain amount of time per week, they still need to go to the office a one or twice a week. Meaning, that while there is more flexibility, there is not freedom in traveling and ‘working from anywhere’, even though some companies do allow that a certain weeks a year, but that also seems to depend a lot on the team and the individual manager.
Another trend is effectively working asynchronously. When working remotely it’s more important than ever to be able to communicate effectively, also in writing. When you have colleagues working in other time zones, sometimes jumping on a call is not feasible. Being able to communicate efficiently and clearly via writing and using the right tools is more important than ever. Additionally, being able to plan and organise meetings in an efficient way, so that
The Digital Nomad Factor
Another shift that is occurring worldwide is the emergence of the ‘Digital Nomad Visa’ to cater to the rise of people becoming digital nomads or just moving to another country as a remote worker.
Many countries are offering or starting to offer so-called “Digital Nomad Visa’s” to attract remote workers, who often have more spending power. I believe in the coming years we’ll see more of these kinds of visas appearing, especially for countries that could benefit from an influx of such workers.
I myself first worked in Spain remotely and now in Bangkok. The freedom to work from anywhere is not just about being location independent - it’s about working on your own terms, when you feel the most productive and not ‘sticking’ to the standardised working hours from 9-5. The opportunity to discover new countries and cultures is something that many people would like to experience.
Now, there are a few challenges here because of the influx of people with a higher spending power, the prices start to rise and locals are often out priced. This has happened in Portugal, but is also happening in other places. The future of remote working and digital nomadism required governments to better anticipate these challenges and make sure that appropriate measures and policies are put into place to counteract the rising costs, housing shortage or more socio-economic issues that might arise.
Workplace Technology in the near future
There are lots of exciting technological innovations happening in a multitude of industries.
For remote working, maybe one of the most exciting things is the emergence of VR technology for team collaboration and meetings. You can feel like you’re in the same workspace as your remote colleagues and work together. This would solve the arguments against remote working that there is no in-person collaboration.
There will also be more and more software and virtual tools that will enable remote working collaboration - online tools like Miro (virtual whiteboard), Slack (communication) and Basecamp (project management).
Another big thing of course is AI. New AI tools are emerging that are making (remote) working much more efficient. Some examples include automated meeting transcripts and summaries as well as suggested follow-up actions. Notion AI connects all your apps seamlessly and let’s you find anything you need across multiple source with one simple command.
Challenges that need to be solved
Like with everything in life, there is always something that could be improved. In the case of remote working, a big challenge is the inequality that exists between remote and in-office workers in hybrid setups. Some people that work remotely are still able to go to the office, simply because they live close by. However, because they are able to ‘show their face’ more often, this often means that they are more likely to get promotions and pay rises, simply because they are more often at the office.
Another challenge is that the salaries that companies pay are often based on location and not experience. While I understand that businesses would take advantage of the the lower wages and salaries in some countries, I find it really weird that a person who does the same exact job in Switzerland would get a 3 or 4 times higher salary than a person living in Portugal who does the same job with the same level of experience. It’s not entirely fair and while I do understand why companies would take advantage of this, it leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
Predictions for the next 5-10 years
Remote-first companies are becoming and will become the norm in certain industries, especially software/tech and digital marketing, such as agencies and consultancies. They will continue to believe in remote working and will be fine tuning how their employees can be more efficient, productive and more collaborative in a remote setting. This is not to say that they would never meet in person - it’s just that the in-person gatherings are designed with purpose and intent - not just relying on people have random ideas at coffee machines in the office.
Remote work will also more and more be seen as a competitive advantage for talent retention. I believe smart, skilled workers will ultimately demand remote working and will onky work for companies that offer this way of working. Meaning, that there is a fair chance that companies who do offer remote work will start to outperform those companies that don’t offer it -
Then, as also mentioned above, there’s the rise of AI and VR tech and tools that will help shape the way we work (remotely) as well. These are exciting times ahead, with novel ideas creating new opportunities, especially when it comes to remote working.
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I hope you enjoyed this article! If you have any questions or comments related to the future of remote working, please do let me know in the comments below!
✨ Useful resources for remote workers digital nomads
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