With modern technologies such as VOIP telephone systems and business telephone systems and other business software, the need for a physical office is becoming redundant. This article takes a no nonsense look at these issues.

Many businesses spend much of their costs on expensive offices. While telecommuting is very real and very viable, there are still many companies that are not taking full advantage of this kind of set up. For example, modern IP based business phone systems can let you communicate with anyone, anywhere, face-to-face, for many times less than a standard phone call. Your business could potentially grow much faster, have happier employees, and doing a lot to benefit the environment, by using technologies to allow your people to stay and at home and get their job done. In this article, we are looking at some of the situations that normally take place in an office, and a look at the technologies that can make them still possible at a distance.

• Sitting at Your Work Station. Is sitting at home really any different? You have a laptop, an internet connection, a network, and a phone. All of these are possible even at remote locations. Some business software and applications will operate over the internet to integrate anyone, anywhere. This is no different than having a network in your office, it is just over the internet. The networks are secure because they are highly encrypted. Not only are you integrating your people with these types of packages, you are integrating every task that they do. Different departments will see what each other is doing, and all of your documents will fit together smoothly. Someone does a task, for example, and that is immediately integrated into your website for client viewing, the product price was updated, and accounting is informed and future invoices are now automatically adjusted. The possibilities are endless.
• Conversations Face-to-Face. VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phone systems mean you can communicate at anytime at high speeds over the internet. It is best to have a provider that can give you high-speed servers, but at the same time these costs are microscopic compared with standard telephone costs. The communication costs are ridiculously negligible. Professional services include speeds where the moving images that you see are in high definition. Is there any difference compared with talking with someone in the office? Don’t many people use online chat to talk with each other anyway?
• Group Meetings. Conference calling and joining a video call is no more difficult than clicking a button. Everyone will see and hear everyone else. Anyone can come and go as they please. There is no time wasted in getting everyone into the meeting room and sitting, down for a start. When people are fixed at their desk, they have their hands free, and they are on your screen, you know everyone is paying attention.

The benefits for workers and companies by switching to telecommuting practices are enormous. Your company could be saving many thousands of dollars a year. The office stationery costs will be enough to buy you a new BMW! Any business owner will appreciate what I was just talking about there. Your people will save so many hours a day polluting our environment as they travel to and from work. The potential for speedy and efficient growth is staring you in the face.

Author Bio:

Tim Millett is an Australian freelance writer and journalist. He writes extensively in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the US. He’s published more than 500 articles about various topics including business phone systems.