Are You Considering a Virtual Office?

It’s been said that following “tradition” is just succumbing to peer pressure from dead people. What do you think? Consider, for example, the traditional office environment; doing your 9-5 in a little cubicle lit with flickering fluorescent tubes. But what is the alternative?

The virtual office, of course.

The virtual office is a far cry from “the way it’s always been done” and is a concept that’s been heartily embraced by millennials and forward-thinking businesses.

Is a virtual office feasible for your business? What factors would you need to consider before embracing the concept?

What is a Virtual Office?

Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, let’s define a virtual office. A virtual office is not so much a what as a where.

A virtual office is a structure which allows business owners and their employees to work remotely. A system is set up whereby the internet serves to connect each person and each device and grants them the freedom to perform their various functions from anywhere in the world.

Further to this, virtual offices are sprouting up around the globe which are, essentially, a presence in a desirable location. In this instance, a brick and mortar building, often with the services of a receptionist, serves as your official office address and is fit for meetings, as a postal delivery service and phone answering services. However, you are only likely to visit there periodically as you most often work from home or you’re on the road a great deal.

What Are the Benefits of a Virtual Office?

Cost savings

Virtual offices are a brilliant way of cutting costs on expensive commercial space. Office rentals can be prohibitively expensive and for most businesses, buying commercial space is out of the question.

Add to this the cost of desks, chairs and other office furniture, utilities, security, cleaning staff, and your IT and phone infrastructure, and the numbers mount even further.

Happy & Productive Staff

Statistics on remote working are interesting with one source saying, “It’s hard to dispute: companies and at-home employees alike say remote work is a boon to productivity. Distractions like water cooler gossip, impromptu meetings, and loud colleagues are a non-issue, according to an infographic based on data from SurePayroll, a web-based payroll provider for small businesses. Eighty-six percent of those surveyed said they preferred to work alone to “hit maximum productivity.” What’s more, two-thirds of managers say employees who work remotely increase their overall productivity.

This same article comments further on remote workers enjoy lower stress levels and higher morale than their office-bound counterparts.

Access to Quality Staff

The rise of remote working has granted a place in the world for nomadic workers; skilled professionals who demand a better work/life balance and choose to work remotely on their own terms. Are they productive and engaged? Certainly, and their skills can be utilised by companies around the globe.

What Does a Virtual Office Require?

If you’re thinking of going virtual then a little planning is in order.

Are you setting up an office which serves as a hub for your company but is essentially a bookmark? If so, then you’ll want – no, need – a stable and consistent internet connection.  This serves as the solid backbone for all other systems.

A cloud PBX system running on your fast and secure connection can link up your employees’ phones providing a seamless interaction between team members and customers.

Data backup and storage, as well as access to cloud-based apps also relies heavily on an always-up connectivity solution.

Cloud-based project management tools or CRM software will likely be necessary to keep track of team tasks and responsibilities, and which will also need a stable connection.

Network and data security are critical points for any business, and within a virtual office environment, it is no less important.

Do You Want To Get Connected?

If you’re considering a virtual office in any of its iterations, then you will certainly benefit from a conversation with the Huge Connect team.

We connect our customers and keep them connected – no matter where they are in the country.

Let’s connect.