EMBRACING THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE: VCS IS NOW REMOTE-FIRST

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a great many changes to the ways we live, interact, and work. While primarily concerned in making systems safer for each other in the face of a highly-infectious disease, these changes have also accelerated evolutions in global work cultures.

In the early months of the pandemic, scientists determined that people working closely inside enclosed office spaces aided the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Offices all over the world were quick to adapt a work-from-home system that allowed emp

A Future-ready VCS

Vitalstrats Creative Solutions (VCS) Chief Creative Officer Amrei Dizon admits that the company never dreamed of going remote before the pandemic. “We initially thought that it would be impossible to run VCS remotely because we thrive on live interactions and face-to-face brainstorming sessions.”

But a desire to streamline processes and make VCS future-ready had the company adapting digital culture even before the pandemic.

As early as 2012, VCS was migrating its Human Resources, Finance, Project Management, and Content Production systems into the digital realm. In fact, VCS had a trial run of the work-from-home setup when the Taal volcano erupted in January 2020.

“We are lucky to have implemented digital transformation early on,” says Finance and Human Resources Director, Teejai Joson. “When the pandemic happened, we were able to continue with our operations on a work-from-home setup even before the government mandated lockdown.”

Adapting to The New Normal

VCS began its formal work-from-home setup on March 11, 2020. Joson explained how the company delivered workstations to team members’ homes and provided everyone with work-from-home allowance to cover the additional costs of electricity and internet.

“We always look at how we can improve our systems, the way we do things, and the way we create and deliver value,” says Dizon. “Our challenge is to sustain this growth, remain relevant to our clients, and find better ways to solve clients’ problems. Above all, we want to make VCS a good and healthy place to work, where everyone experiences shared growth.”

After nearly two years of working from home, VCS’ management has identified many concrete benefits to being remote-first. This means that the default mode of working for all VCS team members is outside the main work space-- either in their own homes, in a cafe, or anywhere team members feel like working from.

“Being remote-first breaks a lot of growth barriers,” says Dizon. “We are no longer limited to our geography and proximity. We can hire talent from anywhere and work with clients from anywhere. The team doesn’t have to spend time and money commuting to work. They can use the extra time to be with their families or to pursue their personal passions. What we saved on utilities, we converted to work-from-home allowances for the team.”

Dizon also notes that these changes are not limited to workplace cultures, but also affect how consumers and other businesses are proceeding in the New Normal.

“Consumers have shifted to fully adapt digital transactions in touch points and activities that they used to do in-person,” observes Dizon. “To keep thriving, VCS must remain flexible, adaptable, and innovative.”

Opening New Opportunities

VCS has long been proud to be a Quezon City-based Creative Agency-- with the majority of its team members living in nearby areas. It was one of the things that made the company attractive to recruits who balked at the daily traffic of going to Makati or Bonifacio Global City.

With the new remote-first setup, Dizon expects VCS to broaden its recruitment market past potential employees’ proximity to the office. This opens up opportunities for candidates living outside of Metro Manila, candidates with disabilities that may prevent them from physically reporting at work, and allows current teammates to relocate in areas with better living quality.

“Working remote-first is definitely a factor for why I applied to VCS. It was part of my checklist when I was looking for a job,” says Jay Quilanita who lives in San Pedro, Laguna. Quilanita joined TeamVCS as a senior graphic designer this January 2022.

“Apart from safety from exposure to COVID-19, working remote-first contributes to how efficient I am with my tasks,” continues Quilanita. “A big chunk of my time and energy goes to focusing on accomplishing my workloads. No more wasting time and energy for commutes and the like. Plus, working remotely allows me to work how and where I want. It gives me ample freedom to choose what works best for me, so I can focus on complying with the company’s expectations and requirements.”

More than just Space

Another problem that the remote-first setup fortuitously solved was workforce expansion with limited space. “We used to worry that our office space might not fit additional team members,” Dizon says.

Today, VCS is shrinking its floor space in Puno Building, Kalayaan Avenue, without sacrificing the on-boarding of new members. While the company is not saying goodbye to its offices, it is relinquishing 2 of its 3 rooms.

VCS is retaining its very first office unit when the company started in 2004, and is redesigning it to be an open space and studio-in-one, conducive to collaborations. When it is safer to meet in person, the space can hold the occasional meetings, gatherings, and workdays.

“What we will truly miss are the face-to-face brainstorming sessions, chika during lunch, siestas at the couch, the office parties, office pranks, and seeing the faces of our teammates and close friends,” says Dizon. “But TeamVCS is more than just the office space. Our workplace culture is dynamic. We can adapt to the challenges of a virtual work space. What’s important is keeping our human connection strong even when the team isn’t physically together.”

Becoming a remote-first creative agency was not a decision that management took lightly. All members of the VCS team were consulted through meetings and surveys. Majority of the team expressed that working remotely was better for their physical and mental well-being.

“Okay ako sa work-from-home setup ng VCS,” says Albert Dela Cruz, a Multi-media Specialist at VCS, who lives in Malolos, Bulacan. Dela Cruz joined VCS in 2018, and has experienced commuting for an hour and a half to and from the office before VCS enacted the remote-first setup.

“Mabilis nakapag-adjust yung company sa work-from-home,” Dela Cruz observes. “Productive ang VCS, and mas nag-build sa amin yung teamwork and better communication skills online. Malaki din ang naitulong sa akin, for example, the time I spend going to work and pabalik. ‘Yung transportation expenses ko, naitatabi ko at nagiging tulong sa expenses ng family. As part of the Production Team naman, madalas kami mag-render ng overtime. Malaki ang naitulong ng work-from-home lalo na kapag halos gabi na natatapos ang trabaho. Hindi na kami ginagabi pauwi. Super thankful din ako kasi inuna ng VCS yung safety nating lahat against COVID-19.”

Succeeding in a Remote-first Environment

Dizon believes that VCS has the two most important things to make the company succeed in becoming remote-first: excellent systems that allow employees to accomplish their tasks, and a strong company culture that trusts its members to deliver outstanding service and results that meet clients’ expectations.

“Our clients are understanding,” explains Dizon. “For the past two years, the work-from-home system has worked for us because we are able to continue delivering the quality of work that clients expect. We also believe we have become more efficient in our work, since we have cut down on travel time in between meetings. Work instructions are immediately cascaded to the relevant team members, and we are able to deliver our output more efficiently.”

Transitioning to remote-first is not without its sacrifices, however. “Even though it has hurt our revenues, we postponed our physical shoots even when the government, through the IATF, has allowed it,” says Dizon. “We do this because we care for our team’s safety. Our clients have understood this as well, and have adjusted to the alternatives we offered.”

Dizon knows that these changes in VCS’ operations bring with it new directions for growth and responsibility. “Being remote-first enables the team to be more creative and productive,” she says. “We trust TeamVCS to be able to manage their workload, time, and energy. In return, the team is well-rested, they have more personal time, and we have seen the positive impact on their well-being. We want our team to personally grow and to be fulfilled with their work. With what’s going on in the world right now, this is the perfect time to shift our mindset in the way that we work, and to set the tone for how we want VCS to operate into the future.”

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