Three Main Advantages of Remote Work Systems
In the age of globalization, working remotely is no longer a luxury, reserved to a select few professionals. On the contrary: as industries become increasingly competitive under the pressure of an uncertain economic climate, business owners and managers are coming to the conclusion that their best shot at getting an edge over their competitors is to hire efficient staff. And the best staff can be located right in your city, or, more realistically speaking, a couple thousand miles away, in a completely different country, or perhaps even on a different continent. As such, remote solutions, virtualization and mobile access to company resources has become an imperative. We recently sat down with top virtualisation software experts and asked them what they thought the main advantages of remote work systems were. This is what they had to say.
Afford the Best
Back in the day, when the nine-to-five work schedule was the only one imaginable by staff and management alike, companies often found themselves in the frustrating position of not being able to hire top professionals in their industry, due to their high value and implicit high salary demands. As the labor market has been gradually opening up to accommodate global workers and global values, the issue of salaries has become relative. You now stand great chances at identifying affordable experts in your industry and hire them, even if they’re based in Pakistan, Kenya or Paris. Working remotely, provided your software system is efficient and properly set up, will allow you to maintain a constant flow of communication with your overseas staff, while also allowing them instant access to whatever resources you place at their disposal.
Transparent Monitoring of Work Processes
Monitoring the work process of one’s employees has long since been regarded as a delicate issue. It is a Catch-22 type scenario, in which the employer has to strike that delicate balance between supervising their staff, yet without making them feel watched or shoved against a wall. Remote work system eliminate this controversy, between the employee’s and the employer’s point of view. By working remotely, your staff essentially agrees that, in exchange for mobility, they will be trading in their ‘privacy’ (although privacy in the workplace is a grey area type of issue to say the least). Many remote work solutions allow you to agree on daily or weekly work goals for your staff, and then watch as they are implemented in a timely manner.
Inherent Back-up
Another great fact about allowing at least some of your staff to work from a remote location is that virtual workplaces are often external-server based. As such, any exchange of data and information between your company and your employee is automatically stored on that server. Remote work software can be set up to perform regular back-ups or to store any documents and files you are being delivered. If you are outsourcing some of your departments and have others in-house you need to make sure efficient communication is taking place between the two ‘sides of the fence’ with respect to back-up and storage. Of course, security comes into question here, but external servers are becoming increasingly secure. Alternatively, you can implement a solution on an internal server, if you believe this is the best way to protect your data.
Read MoreRules For Reclaiming Your Home Study!
Being able to work from home is a luxury — until you realize exactly how much equipment you’ll need! Once your study or den starts to look more like a cramped office then a chic place to work, it can seem like you’ve made the wrong decision. However, don’t fret. By making use of some great tools, you can ensure you’ll have access to everything you’ll need at home, without it taking over your house.
Ensure You Have Good Equipment
First, make sure you have a good quality keyboard and mouse, with the proper supports. You might think this will simply take up more room on your desk, however, you’ll be much more productive if you are comfortable, and it will prevent problems such as repetitive strain injury which could keep you out of work for weeks, and in pain for much longer!
Get a Second Line
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Speak to your phone provider about having a double line installed. This can sometimes incur an extra charge, but your workplace may be happy to pay this for you, and it’ll save you the hassle of having two phones. Set a different ring for work and home calls, and make sure your phone has all the features you’ll need, such as call waiting and voice mail.
Sort Your Contacts
Make a list of important contacts. This includes phone numbers you might need to call, or give to callers and email addresses. In the case of a computer failure or electric blackout, you’ll be so glad you have important contact information!
Make Use Of Apps!
Utilize your mobile phone. You may be surprised at the number of great apps and features that are available. Online fax services, for example, can give you a personal fax number without needing a fax machine, which will both save on space and allow you to access your faxes anywhere you like, from your home office to in the car or at the supermarket.
Keep a Schedule
Photo via Flickr
Keep set hours as much as possible. You don’t want to feel like you are living in your study. Have a calendar and a clock, and live by them. Check your emails while your working, and just before you finish, and then leave them for the night. Set up an auto-reply for when you aren’t working, stating your working hours, or just rest assured that everyone needs a break, and no one will expect instant replies all the time!
Invest In Timesaving Equipment!
Finally, spend a little on things that will both save you time and make you happy. Whether its high-quality writing paper, having your mail collected every day or the latest version of Microsoft Office — if it’ll make your life easier and your job less stressful, it’s worth the investment!
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