A Virtual Office?

If your business is not online, you do not exist. The search for any business has changed thanks to technology and now, digital media are positioned above all the "traditional" one. Today, prior to contact, customers will look your website to know your work, your social networks to find your reputation through your ratings and reviews and probably also consult the competition... all these activities just a few clicks away.

The way to make transactions has also changed thanks to the Internet. Each company can decide how much to commit to virtual businesses however is not recommended to stay out of them. Department stores around the world have opened their retail sales through their websites, reducing operational costs allowing them to keep most attractive selling prices than in physical and giving customers the option to purchase without time limit or leaving home.

Virtual offices have also become more common. Professionals and service providers have found that no facilities open to the public to work are required, finally when someone goes by the street through an architecture office don’t crave for a home or a remodel as if it were food or clothing; the service is even more personalized when the companies move towards their audience and give customers the possibility to close agreements and contracts in environments where they feel safe and confident.

Prosecutors requirements are no different, these offices are as serious as the offices of the past and customers have access to their information through government and partnerships websites, ensuring adequate staffing and proper credentials. The freedom offered by these establishments has favored their explosion; both owners and workers can carry out their activities at the times that suit them without passing certain number of hours behind a desk and does not require a specific environment, which benefits the attitude towards work and increases creativity especially in artistic and design areas.

In 9 years I have worked as director of my own design firm, half of which I was established in an office with the intention to serve the public. During that time, only three customers agreed to hold meetings in our facilities and we never close a deal in them; I worked restrictive schedules and often spent hours in my social networks just for being there, keeping an absurd office hours which also generated double charging to have internet, phone, mobile and other services both there and at home.

From 2010, I decided to open the office virtually.  Now I enjoy more my job and it gave me the option to commute more easily what has greatly increased the radius of influence and the number of clients I can attend. My team is also more efficient and working each from different places, can get on their personal activities and family responsibilities without any problems. We can take a vacation without worrying about "closing" an establishment and even choose from where to work according to our tastes and needs. Does anyone despise work a day from the beach?

Despite resistance than traditional generations have on these businesses, large corporations have moved towards the path of reducing their offices through the scheme of "home office" or virtual work, in which employees do not require report to work at their facilities but with a laptop and an Internet connection can perform their responsibilities from where they prefer. Oracle, Procter & Gamble and Unilever, are examples of companies that have established this work successfully, making their employees better fulfill their obligations and increase their quality of life, significantly reducing operating costs and providing less traffic to the cities resulting in a considerable reduction in pollution.

While the intention of this scheme is able to work from anywhere, experts recommend to enable home a special area where all tools and equipment be on hand plus the necessary tranquility are taken to perform our functions. A sufficient size desk, a comfortable chair, adequate lighting and ventilation and an attractive sight behind our screen, will surely make the difference between the work of our dreams and the terror offices with identical and impersonalized cubicles. Have you heard of virtual offices? Leave your comments and remember that you can contact us at the time you want to start your own at home, there's always a good excuse to enhance that special place.

JPV