Virtual offices are more prevalent but is it the right move for businesses?

The idea of a virtual office is commonplace in today’s business world. Cloud computing, video conferencing and voice over IP (VoIP) services have made it easy for employees in multiple locations to stay connected and enable companies to look into talent pools that may wish not to relocate.

A new article from the Philadelphia Inquirer took a long look into the pros and cons of a virtual work space and how some companies are handling it. Almost every company has some form of a virtual office these days.

With the growth of VoIP services and other unified communication options, the workplace has never been harder to define. More often than not, a meeting today involves looking at a computer screen or dialing into a conference call. A workforce can be spread across cities, states and countries, but still be able to communicate like they are sitting in the same office building.

Even with new technology available, not all business are using the virtual option. Wildbit, a web design firm, started as a sole virtual office for 11 years before doing an about-face and bringing the business to a centralized location. These professionals cited spontaneous brainstorming sessions and a family feel as the main draws to utilizing a physical office.

The choice of virtual or not is completely up to the companies. Businesses that are looking to take advantage of a remote office option would be wise to reach out to a national IT services provider to make sure every branch, even if it’s only one employee, stays connected.

Businesses that are looking to take advantage of a remote office option would be wise to reach out to a national IT services provider to make sure every branch, even if it’s only one employee, stays connected.