According to a recent Huffington Post article, about 2.8 percent of the workforce works from home, and 50 percent of the workforce has a job that allows for them to work from home at least part-time.* Those numbers have been steadily rising over the past two decades.
And the savings are enormous, both for the employee and the employer. Add the positive impact on the environment from reduced commuting to the mix, and you have a win-win-win situation.
>>> Now, add the novel coronavirus epidemic to the mix, and you have even more reasons to set up your virtual office. There are currently more than 116,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the new coronavirus) worldwide, and more than 4,000 fatalities. In the U.S., the number of confirmed cases is approaching 800. Even if you haven’t been exposed, the CDC and scores of local health agencies are urging people to work from home. But you can’t do that if you don’t have a reliable virtual office.
So, what’s right for you? If you’re in a job that’s compatible with working from home, a virtual office is the right choice for you. That begs the next question: What do I need to set up an optimal virtual office? The simple answer is: You need the kinds of cloud apps and tools that will allow you to work remotely at least as or even more productively than if you were commuting to a brick and mortar office every day.
What’s in Your Ideal Virtual Office? Check out our top 10!
You’re going to need:
Portability, which means either a laptop or a tablet.
Secure, reliable access to company software and files.
A smartphone that will sync to your laptop or tablet.
The ability to seamlessly transition from one device to another.
A fast, reliable internet connection.
A multi-function printer for printing (black and white and color), faxing, and scanning.
Bandwidth sufficient for voice and video calls, online meetings, and conferencing.
A mobile hotspot device.
Cloud-based file storage.
A cloud-based Office suite, such as Microsoft Office 365.
Depending on what type of job you have, optional features for your virtual home office might include:
One or more monitors.
Portable USB chargers.
Wireless phone chargers.
Your own conference calling system, such as FreeConferenceCall.com.
Wireless mouse and keyboard.
Adobe subscription.
Headphones.
Built-in camera.
CAD/CAM subscription.
Landline.
And of course…
You want to be sure that you’re always on the latest and greatest version of everything, so you’re compatible with your “mother” company.
About the Authors
Jon Rivers – Jon has been recognized as a pioneer within the channel as a digital marketing expert for his leadership in helping partners develop social brands, marketing strategies, and content to drive successful marketing campaigns. Before starting Marketing Monarchs, Jon spent many years working in the Microsoft Dynamics ERP ecosystem system. Jon serves on various boards, including Directions North America, IAMCP (International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners), and CMA (Channel Marketing Alliance).
Titu Sarder - Titu Sarder is an American entrepreneur, inventor, investor and philanthropist who is the President & CEO Learning Library TV (LLTV), a Creative Agency & Media Company and MReady 365, a consulting company focus on Microsoft Dynamics solutions. Under his leadership, LLTV & MReady365 has become a multimillion-dollar business. Before starting his current ventures, Titu was the Co-Founder President & CEO of NetCom Learning. In 2008 and 2011, Inc 5000 Magazine listed NetCom Learning as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the USA. Titu is a Board Member of several State and Learning Associations, including the Coalition of New York State Career Schools, Trusted Learning Network, and Florida Association of Veterans Education Specialists. He is the President of New York City Chapter of the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP).
Titu is a member of Microsoft’s Partner Advisory Council (PAC)