Distributed team vs. Remote team: What’s the difference?

The last two years have made something clear: the future of work is not tethered to an office. Since the 2019 pandemic, the terms “remote work” and “distributed work” have inevitably become part of our language. Though the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference to keep in mind.

In this article, we cover the differences between distributed and remote teams.

What is a distributed team?

The distributed work model deprioritizes location as a factor in hiring.

Distributed teams consist of multiple employees who work in a variety of different locations. They can include remote workers located anywhere geographically, but it can also refer to teams where some employees work in a head office and some are remote. It does not necessarily mean that everyone works remotely, and there is often a corporate HQ.

What is a remote team?

The concept of remote work means that there is somewhere to be remote from. Like distributed teams, remote teams are also composed of individuals who work apart from one another but it doesn’t mean that they are distributed worldwide.

The idea is that certain virtual team members work remotely away from the office and other remote team members. Companies might set up their remote teams by hiring employees who live within a close geographical distance that may decide to periodically meet at the office. Remote workers often benefit from some amount of flexibility in their day.

A hybrid remote model is one where some team members work in the office while others work from their respective homes, co-working spaces, or coffee shops.

Be part of our agile team and let’s develop innovative projects together

At Clarika, we live the remote work model. We are a company for professionals that are up to big and fun projects that will develop their careers and human growth.

If you are interested in being part of our Clarika team, don’t hesitate to look at our open positions.