Don't work remotely and come on-site. Technicians on the floor appreciate communicating face to face. There is a strong sense of entitlement from those who work remotely trying to fix difficult issues from home. When I'm on call, I can take most calls remotely. But there are times where I have to come on-site. Usually the case for more difficult/severe breakdowns. Remember to spend additional time after recovery elaborating and training on the issue to reduce the amount of remote calls. Otherwise, you're not doing your part to improve the team capabilities. Remember to respond with a sense of urgency. It is easy to forget when you're at home that there are several people counting on you. Specially if you're the last line of defense.

The virtual job culture is in boom but as far as the hardware industry is concerned, it needs proper monitoring of the tasks assigned. A few modes like online task trackers, frequent scrums, sessional review meetings must be the part of the culture. Also as the Lead, one must not forget that troubles faced by the team members might be unpredictable sometimes so backup management should always be on standby.

We are using Microsoft Teams for team communication, and we have an internal team meeting every two days. Additionally, we are using Azure Boards for work management.

From my experience, bridging the communication gap between remote team members starts with establishing clear communication channels. Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Discord help keep everyone connected in real time. Regularly scheduled virtual meetings ensure everyone stays aligned, and creating shared documents for updates allows transparency. Encouraging open communication helps remote members feel involved. For example, assigning roles and setting clear expectations for each member can reduce misunderstandings. It’s also important to foster a sense of team spirit, like hosting virtual hangouts or celebrations, so remote members feel equally valued and included in the team’s dynamics.

You can schedule frequent check-ins via virtual meetings or calls. Ultimately you establish reasonable expectations of what needs to be communicated, how, and when. Keep it simple.