The ‘virtual’ office
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REMOTE working is becoming a major requirement within businesses, especially in industries that require travel such as the oil and gas sector.
Aberdeen is a hub, with many local businesses setting up offices in Norway, Perth, Singapore, London, Baku, Kuala Lumpur and Houston.
This is driving the need for employees to travel daily while being able to keep in touch or run their business when they are away from the office.
We have seen a huge leap in our clients investing in technologies such as the Blackberry, Citrix, hosted videoconferencing, increased security using VPNs (virtual private networks) and smart devices such as the iPhone.
Sales of smart phones are expected to overtake those of laptops in the next 12-18 months as the mobile phone completes its transition from voice communications device to multimedia computer.
Because of these developments, 2008 is definitely the year of remote working, with the highlight of this year possibly being the iPhone.
It has great user interaction and functionality for working remotely and, at the moment, its only downside is being restricted to the 02 network.
However, it has been said that a 3G version should be coming out by the second quarter of this year which will resolve current speed issues the device has when not connecting to the internet via a wi-fi hotspot.
The iPhone was introduced last year and, by listening to the market, the maker has already released software to fix any issues.
With this in mind, we are now awaiting the June launch of the next update of the software which promises to have Microsoft Exchange and Cisco integration, and even a tool to remote-wipe the device should it get lost or stolen.
Apple has already released a free development tool which is allowing users to create business-focused applications. It really is “the internet in your hand” which is going to allow professional people to stay in contact and work while on the move. The next stage will be for businesses to start developing their own applications for this type of technology. This could allow links into core systems for sharing data and give users control on what they place importance on for their business functions. Soon, we can expect the same online experience we have on our desktop PCs on our mobile phones. These technologies don’t just help those on the move – the wide range of factors driving today’s remote or home-working revolution is well documented, with many people seeking a much better work-life balance, more time with their families and less commuting-related stress.
Employers are benefiting, too, with increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and associated office costs lowered.
Remote working has now grown into more than simply working from home – a “virtual” office is now in the palm of your hand.
Robin Parkinson is a director of Escape Business Technologies in Aberdeen
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