A virtual office may be exactly what your business needs. There are many great reasons you might decide on an intelligent virtual office. There are some disadvantages you should be aware of before you jump in completely to a virtual office.
When you opt for a virtual office, you are giving up space. While this may be exactly what you need at the moment to save money, will it work long term? Thanks to the virtual world in which we live, we need less space. Depending on your specific type of business, you may find that you need additional space. As you expand the business, the lack of space may be detrimental to meeting the demand for your product. Keep in mind what your future needs may be for your business and a time when space is a concern. If so, you may want to really consider the upfront costs of a virtual office.
Moving to a virtual office may decrease the connection you have with your co-workers and employees. Employees working in a remote environment may feel isolated or have a reduced feeling of trust. Typical things you do, meetings, happy hours, team building, may be easy to forget when working in a virtual environment, but they become more important. When you do not see the people you work with every day, finding other ways to create bonds and relationships is necessary.
Some people excel while working at home, but others do not. Some people find working from home to be full of distractions, especially if they live with kids or in a space that isn’t’ conducive to work. Sometimes, they simply have a hard time getting work done in the same environment where they live, eat, and sleep. However, others enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with working from home when they live alone. There is a possibility that you may see a decrease in production when you move to virtual office space as some employees aren’t as productive in a home setting. For those employees that require structure, this may be a difficult transition for them. There is a possibility of a decrease in communication. An employee may choose to send an email instead of talking to another employee. There could be a break down in communication if it is only electronic. There may be a misunderstanding of the tasks, and it could take longer to work through when the only communication is electronic.
When considering a virtual office, it is important to understand those that work for you and the environment they need. If your office and work require a large amount of structure, this may not be the best solution for you. It would be best to determine the needs of all involved before you jump into a virtual office space.
