Daniel J. Clarke, April 24, 2012

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The workplace dynamic is rapidly changing. Many companies have started to realize the benefits of allowing employees to work from home. Some of these benefits include:

• Cost savings—The fewer employees you have in your office, the fewer desks you need. That means you need less space, which translates into less money spent on renting your office. That also means less money spent on things like electric bills, office supplies, heating and cooling costs, and other related facility costs.
• Reduced environmental impact—Just think of the environmental benefits that come with allowing your employees to work from home. Your employees won’t have to drive to work, waste gas, and pollute the environment 5 days a week. Telecommuting is a great way to go green!
• Improved employee morale—What employee wouldn’t love the opportunity to work from home? Telecommuting makes employees happier, period. They get to avoid the stress of sitting in traffic, staying late at the office away from their family, waking up early to get ready for work, etc.
• Increased productivity—One study after another has found that employees who work from home are actually more productive. Telecommuters are also willing to work more overtime, and they’re more loyal.

Of course, making a smooth transfer to a telecommuting working environment requires careful planning and smart usage of your technological resources. Here’s a look at some of the ways you can use technology to empower telecommuters.

• Software-as-a-service—Rather than making all of your telecommuters install the various software they need on their computers, use software-as-a-service to let employees virtually access the software they need for work. From word processors to sales software, any type of software can be accessed securely online with software-as-a-service.
• Cloud communications—With cloud communications, your telecommuters can take their phone systems wherever they go. Your voice and data system will be networked, allowing employees to access their business phone on multiple devices, so they can check email, voicemail, and faxes in one place.
• Remote data backup—Did you know many telecommuters don’t back up their data? This makes them highly vulnerable to data loss when their computers crash. You can use cloud computing as a tool to help telecommuters securely backup their data online.

Is a telecommuting working environment right for every company? Of course not, but for many companies, telecommuting offers far more benefits than risks. It just might help your company become leaner and meaner, too.

What’s your opinion on letting employees telecommute? Share it by leaving a comment below.