Virtual office
Why do you need Virtual Office (The Good & Bad)
Shyam Nagarajan / Reading Time: 9 mins
In March 2020, the world faced one-of-a-kind global lockdowns. It forced people and businesses to adapt to the universal movement of remote work overnight. Every industry, every business began adapting different styles of day-to-day business operations, which is still being experimented at so many levels, and we get to hear a new idea every day.
But amid all of this chaos and rapid change, if there's one thing the world has been incredibly good at, it's adapting, and overcoming adversities by being flexible. Especially, in response to pandemics of this scale that no one was prepared for, the whole world has transformed into digital. Each and every one of us needs to adhere to the newer developments around us.
Let us give ourselves a 'pat on the back' 👏
The economic crisis and the outlook for a sustainable tomorrow have made businesses look for ways to cut costs - Annual / Monthly rent, interest on loans, maintenance, property taxes, insurance, utilities, security and supply costs. Plus, human resources maintaining the property including supervisor, watchman, caretaker, attendants etc. For any office, real estate takes up a large chunk of expenses. So, businesses have started to have work-arounds and find solutions that help them be sustainable in the long-run. They have started to look beyond brick-and-mortar. Companies that can adapt and successfully mitigate hybrid work models and remote work have moved out of their leases, fixed-term rental properties, and are alternatively looking for short-term office solutions or neighborhood workspaces.
Glance this to understand 👉 How your startup can escape The Great Resignation
As we get used to these evolutions, we've come to appreciate the many benefits of working in an online setting. Keeping that in mind, teams have started to explore and adopt – The Virtual Office.
What is Virtual Office?
If you look around us, everything is internet-enabled. Likewise, the way we work. We can travel around the world yet stay connected to work without the need of being present on the office campus.
Yet one key requirement to running a business, is to have a postal address or registration to an address for any business communication. So, without having to deal with any rental or lease agreements or even employees dedicated to an address, a service called Virtual Office can cover that. The Virtual Office service allows companies to use the particulars of the office for all business communications, postal or forwarding services, registrations, coworking desks and meeting rooms at affordable rates.
In other words, a virtual office is the midpoint – A coworking or flexible office space which enables working from anywhere, supports all business forwarding requirements, meets the productivity, and assists designated workspaces at the time of need.
Why do you need Virtual Office?
The pandemic has reshaped the way we work or do business. 9-5 jobs, office campus-based work, standard ways of working are a thing of the past. Telecommuting, remote work, telework, Work from Anywhere, Work from Home, Work from neighborhood space, flexible work, third space, second career, gig economy is the world of today.
💸 You might be a new startup who wants to keep the overheads low; Virtual Office Services can make it easier.
📈 You are a business who wants to scale and explore newer markets but does not want to establish real estate right from the start; Virtual Office Services can assist you in establishing an office in that location.
🚛 You are shifting states or cities or renovating or your lease has ended at a previous location and you are looking for a temporary office; Virtual Office could work to a great advantage. Your teams can limit procrastination and be productive.
📃 Side projects or ecommerce reselling is a multi-billion dollar industry now. eCommerce vendors often work from home or use a spare room or shed as a warehouse. For GST or any taxation purposes you might need a professional address. Obviously you cannot have your bedroom as your address; Virtual office service is a practical solution.
🕸️ Finally, yet importantly, Virtual Offices helps you connect with a great network of fellow members who could be a great community of entrepreneurs, freelancers, marketers etc, who can be of service. Virtual office spaces are usually coworking or flexible providers who also have regular fixtures of events, both offline and online that could help you innovate and strengthen your business strategies.
What services are included in the Virtual Office?
Broadly classified, the following are the services provided under Virtual Office:
- Formal postal address for all business communication
- A reception or phone handling for all secretarial needs
- Coworking Desks and/ or meeting rooms as your workspace
- Video conferencing facilities
Benefits of virtual office
Virtual offices come with a host of benefits simplifying office management. Want to know the benefits before you make the decision?
Here you go.
Absolutely, here are concise and engaging descriptions for each benefit of a virtual office:
Cost Savings: Say goodbye to the hefty office rent and utility bills. Virtual offices let you redirect those funds towards what truly matters, whether it's growing your business, investing in technology, or rewarding your team.
Global Talent Pool: Unlock a world of expertise. With a virtual office, you're not limited by location when hiring. Scout the best talent from different corners of the globe, bringing diverse skills and perspectives to your team.
Flexibility and Freedom: Break free from the 9-to-5 grind. Embrace the power of remote work through a virtual office, allowing you to work when and where you're most productive, all while achieving that coveted work-life balance.
Professional Image: Impress clients and partners with a prestigious business address. Even if you're working from your kitchen table, your virtual office gives you a professional façade, boosting your credibility and leaving a lasting impression.
Certainly, here are the remaining benefit descriptions for your blog's subheadings:
Cut Commuting Stress: Wave goodbye to rush-hour woes. A virtual office liberates you from the daily commute, giving you more time and energy to focus on tasks that truly drive your business forward.
Scale with Ease: Ready to expand? Or downsizing for a leaner approach? Virtual offices adapt to your needs, allowing you to scale up or down without the hassle of moving offices or renegotiating leases.
Global Presence, Local Impact: Plant your flag anywhere on the map. A virtual office lets you establish a footprint in different regions, opening doors to new markets and connecting you with clients and partners around the world.
Stay Agile, Always: Adapt to the unexpected with grace. Virtual offices offer robust business continuity options, ensuring that disruptions like power outages or natural disasters won't derail your operations.
Networking Hub: Step into a world of opportunities. Virtual office providers often offer access to networking events, workshops, and forums, giving you a chance to connect and collaborate with like-minded professionals.
Empower Your Team: Spark productivity and inspire creativity. Virtual offices empower your team to work in environments where they thrive, resulting in happier, more motivated employees who deliver exceptional results.
Eco-Friendly Footprint: Go green without compromise. By reducing the need for physical office space, virtual offices contribute to a greener planet by cutting down on energy consumption, commuting emissions, and waste.
Minimize Office Politics: Foster a drama-free zone. Virtual offices create an environment where the focus is on tasks, not office politics, allowing for smoother collaborations and more meaningful interactions.
24/7 Connectivity: Embrace the world as your office. Virtual offices harness advanced communication tools, ensuring you stay connected with your team, clients, and partners, regardless of time zones or geographical boundaries.
Personalized Solutions: Tailor-made for your success. Virtual office providers offer flexible plans, so you can choose the services that align perfectly with your business needs, ensuring you get the most out of your investment.
Unleash Your Potential: Break barriers and exceed expectations. Virtual offices break down geographical confines, unlocking access to markets, partnerships, and opportunities that you might have thought were out of reach.
Downsides of virtual office
While the virtual world offers a treasure trove of benefits, there's a flip side that demands your attention. Delve into the potential disadvantages to make an informed decision and steer your virtual office journey toward success.
Communication Conundrums: While digital tools empower your connections, the lack of face-to-face interactions can lead to miscommunications and misunderstandings. Clear communication becomes paramount, demanding extra effort to bridge the virtual gap effectively.
Isolation Intricacies: Embracing the solitude of remote work can occasionally lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. The absence of colleagues just a desk away might require intentional efforts to nurture a sense of belonging and maintain your social well-being.
Distraction Dilemma: Home might be where the heart is, but it's also where distractions reside. Overcoming the allure of household chores, family members, and tempting leisure activities while maintaining focus on work can be a juggling act.
Tech Tango: The digital dancefloor isn't always smooth. Technical glitches, connectivity woes, and software hiccups can interrupt your workflow and test your patience. Tech-savviness becomes a survival skill, as you troubleshoot and adapt to ensure seamless operations.
Boundaries Blur: The line between work and personal life can blur in a virtual setting. Striking a balance between signing off for the day and the temptation to check emails during dinner requires discipline and boundary-setting.
Lack of Supervision: With autonomy comes responsibility. The absence of direct supervision necessitates self-motivation and self-discipline to meet deadlines and stay on track.
Collaboration Challenges: Collaborative projects might feel the impact of physical distance. Building team cohesion, brainstorming, and fostering creativity demand innovative approaches to maintain the synergy of in-person interactions.
Cultural Complexities: In a globally connected workspace, diverse cultural nuances can lead to misunderstandings. Sensitivity, open-mindedness, and cross-cultural communication skills are essential for harmonious virtual collaborations.
As you embrace the allure of virtual offices, keep these challenges in mind. They're not roadblocks, but rather signposts guiding you toward strategies to overcome obstacles and maximize the benefits of the virtual frontier. With awareness and proactive planning, you can navigate these potential pitfalls and sculpt a successful virtual work experience that's uniquely yours.
How to find if virtual office is for you?
Before you decide to sign on the dotted line, here are some thoughts to ponder and make the quick decision - to buy or not to buy.
- Flexibility and availability - Depending on your business needs, you may need a monthly, quarterly or annual virtual partner. So before you sign up, check for the duration and availability of the workspace for your agreement.
- Compliance - Each country or state might have different regulations for virtual offices. You may want to check if the provider is compliant with MCA, ROC and GST department terms and conditions. We have a standardized process and documentation that gives you peace of mind.
- Multi-location - When you are scaling, you may want to get your pan-India requirements satisfied in one place. Find a virtual office partner that is a single window to get registrations done across multiple states.
- Customer Support - We might be virtual for all needs, but humans tend to get perplexed if they don't find an instant suggestion or solution for their query. Find Virtual Office partners who are available for chat, email and phone support. One great way to find them is to have great ratings on Google My Business and Google Play pages. Exemplary customer support definitely means customers love the service.
In Summary
Virtual Office is the need of the hour. It enables businesses to have an office address instead of having a physical office space that increases their overheads in today's times of telework.
So, if you are looking to give your business a professional address in India, chat with us right here and set your business where you want.
