What 2025 taught us about remote work and building distributed teams

"But the biggest learning from 2025 is about the gains companies can still capture by getting better at it. With the right management practices and strategic thinking, moving to distributed teams unlocks significant advantages: lower costs, access to larger talent pools, and the ability to attract and retain top performers who value flexibility. The companies that will succeed in 2026 will be the ones that move past debating where work happens and focus on how to make distributed teams work better for their bottom line."

"Flexibility is now a core expectation for workers, and the companies that stop debating where work happens and start optimizing distributed work will outperform in 2026. Building distributed teams requires intentional management practices, including remote leadership training, clear boundaries, and facilitated social connection. Time zone alignment is emerging as a major advantage for distributed teams. Near's data shows a significant shift from traditional offshore markets to nearshore talent in Latin America, as companies seek real-time collaboration, better communication, and healthier, more sustainable remote work."

Remote and hybrid work are now the baseline, with hybrid participation remaining high despite return-to-office mandates. Flexibility is a core worker expectation and a competitive advantage for employers that optimize distributed teams. Intentional management practices—remote leadership training, clear boundaries, facilitated social connection—are required to build effective distributed teams. Time-zone alignment is becoming a strategic advantage, driving a shift from traditional offshore markets to nearshore talent in Latin America for real-time collaboration and better communication. Companies that prioritize operational practices for distributed work can capture lower costs, wider talent pools, and improved attraction and retention of top performers.

Read at Miami Herald