Micro Tech News
Virtual Business - Is it right for you and can you pull it off?
November 22, 2008
Without realizing it, we have quickly become a "Virtual Business Community", each of us at different levels.
Rarely do we bring information to others anymore. We used to have to actually hand deliver a message, then we found out that we could mail it without leaving the office. Some of you young guys call it "snail mail".
Then a series of revolutions happened. First, we could actually send a "facsimile" or better known as fax. Did you know you could actually send a check through fax? Second, the world wide web became an accessible and affordable tool for businesses and we began sending information by "email".
These technologies have created what is referred to as the Global Business Community. It is considered global because being virtual, most parties using these communications have never seen nor will ever see each other - unless by webcam video conference.
So far I have been talking about business to business. I want to introduce a growing concept for you to consider for your own business. This concept is called the "Virtual Office". We are all "virtual" in some ways, since many of you work from home sometimes and log into your office system. Sales and support staff go on the road and log in or exchange messages with other staff members.
There are many businesses that are totally "virtual"; they have no physical office space at all. One of the most successful Microsoft Business Solution Partners, a firm based in southern Louisiana, has always been "virtual". Yes, since before Katrina, so I did not call them to see how their offices did, I just needed to check to make sure they had not lost their laptop computers and internet connections.
As you plan your systems and staffing needs for the future, take the time to discuss the "virtual office" concept. We can help you conduct a study of your organization to determine if and how this could save you literally thousands of dollars a month.
In the immortal words of my five year old grandson, "that's cool." |
