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Is it possible to run a 100% virtual office?
With technologies on the Web and cloud computing services, do you think it's possible to run your business - minus the need for a physical office? I just think that doing this is not only great for cost savings, but it's also green. What are your thoughts?
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15 Answers
Absolutely! I've been running my business virtually for four years, and I've worked as a team member with other, larger companies that are also 100% virtual. The key to keeping everything in sync and working smoothly is clear, consistent, comprehensive communication. Even more than with Real World teams, you can never (ever!) make assumptions. Putting the right collaboration tools in place is critical - something that not only has all the features you need, but is EASY to use. Establishing standard protocols (ie - all communication goes through X channel instead of email) will help keep everyone on the same page. Holding regular status meetings ... with an agenda ... helps. Engaging a trained project manager is non-negotiable for larger projects that require the coordination of multiple parties and parts.
AND ... make sure to leave room for teams to have fun with each other - the equivalent of water cooler chat or a Friday night drink after work. Be open to off-topic tangents and shares. Try to create the kind of camaraderie that exists in a physical office.
Personally, I have a great time working with virtual teams ... sometimes, we even share that Friday night drink across the ether!
;)
Absolutely it is. However, here are two things to watch for:
1) As you grow, the traditional model of taking on junior people and training them will be a challenge. Having the self-discipline to work from home is a tall order for someone with little or no work experience and it's hard to go from school to working from home. If you commit to virtual, you are almost certainly committing to a more experienced workforce.
2) It is very hard to catch people doing things right and give positive feedback when virtual. You will naturally gravitate toward outcomes-related compensation and you may overlook strong efforts from others that simply go unseen in the virtual world.
That being said, if you can allow for the above, there are tremendous cost savings and lifestyle pluses for having your home as your office for you and a group of employees. A mix also has it's benefits and is, undoubtedly, the way of the future. I wasted an hour driving in traffic to a client's place of work today. There will be little interaction and I've polluted and wasted my time - while my home sits heated with no one in it. Going more virtual will improve our environment and our economy and I am more than happy to engage in an on-going dialogue about how to make this successful.
The challenges are different by industry, of course. I'm pretty sure it'll be a while before we manufacture automobiles from our homes - but we may need fewer of them as other industries go virtual first.
While we do have physical offices in two locations, one of them being in India. Here's the tools we have been using to be totally virtual in LatAm and Africa:
- GoToMeeting and CiscoWebex: Discuss and collaborate in real time
- Skype: Quick chats and share in real time and via video
- Office365: Discuss and share but not in real time
- Rypple: For goal setting, assignment, monitoring, reviews etc.
- Facebook page for announcements etc
Hope this helps
Atul Vashistha
@avashistha
I agree with Robin and it most certainly is. The technologies today that allow you to collaborate are quite easy to use and make virtual that much more available to organizations. I even know of large tech companies that have a good number of their folks working from their homes and every so often heading into the office.
The key in running virtual is communication among the team and this takes discipline.
Carlos Hidalgo
@cahidalgo
Yes, for sure. I do it and have found no problems that couldn't be resolved. With Skype, web meetings, webinars, collaboration software, global cell phones, laptops w/long life batteries, etc., I have been quite comfortable working 'from afar' or even while traveling internationally. In fact, I love it. By my calculations, I am about 30% more productive when "virtual" than in an office with others.
Bottom line:
Less expenses + 30% higher productivity = bigger profits
Absolutely. My company is purely virtual and we're doing pretty well. This way, all our extra cash goes towards our health insurance.
Given the parameters of your question, technology makes it very possible to "run a 100% virtual office." And you can expect technology advances to continue to deliver even more virtual business capabilities - at an exponential rate. If anything, businesses comprised of virtual offices should have somebody devoted to technology adoption and acquisition - to ensure their business stays on the forefront of the opportunities and advantages these technologies will continually present.
Our earth and society are leading us to tele-working virtually. A problem I encountered was that the people around me at home (e.g.; parents, wife, kids, friends) all saw me as "available" to do this or that, run here for something "quick". It's a perception challenge that needs to change. I believe it will, but for now, beware.
Yes it is! I work from home, and collaborate with people around the world on projects. :)
To spin things a bit: it isn't very easy to *not* have somewhere to work; even if it is the dining room table, it is still somewhere.
I think that virtual offices are the future. This cuts the cost a lot.Working in the net saves the time also. To keep focus on work which should be done with the virtual team.
Easy access to get result immediately, to check the progress at any work.
Yes! We have been running our virtual office for over 4 years now. You need to have the right tools in place and you really need to have video conference calls on a timely bases to see and talk to each other about what you are working on and issues you are having. We offer a VoIP hosted PBX system to companies that gives them reports and even call recording as well as call routing, conference bridge, dial by name directory, voicemail to email etc. Not to plug too much but using VoIP makes a virtual office so much easier. You are all linked and each employee has a VoIP phone that they can take anywhere and it automatically syncs with the main company phone system. Other tools we find helpful are cloud based tools like: CRM, file sharing, Quickbooks online, email and calendar sharing, and video conferencing. It is an excellent option for small businesses and even mid to large enterprises. Employees appreciate being able to work from home and are even more productive overall.
I'd just like to chime in by saying that from a personal perspective I do appreciate all the tools that let me 'open my office' anywhere, but I do need to feel part of a team and nothing for me replaces being with my colleaugues. And I consider myself to be an independent person.
Not if some business insist on still using tree killing, money sucking anti-green FAX machines instead of sending you a more secure digital Fax or Email.
I agree with Carlos. Visiting the office on occasion is socially acceptable and should be regimented (once a month, week, or periodically). I don't feel that 100% provides for the communications for a firm. Working from home, in today's world, is very acceptable.
Dear Shaleen...Great and very necessary issue to exchange views on.
As most of my working life involved some kind of remote, and very often multicultural coordination, either as team leader or team member, and since I currently include sessions on the subject in my Exec MBA lectures and corporate workshops, here is my take:
1 - Very solid input by all...same issues keep coming up in my meetings. Tx for confirming.
2 - Excellent point by Timothy re "being available". Suggestion: Make sure the virtual office is in fact a space with a door. Helps big time.
3 - Globalization dictates that we also become sensitive to cultural differences related to remoteness, local customs / holidays etc.
4 - ..and yes...fully agree that it works, and it will grow as a concept...
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