Mobile Workforce
Whether it’s flexible working hours, or conducting business from multiple places, including at home, there is a trend for employees to become more mobile in their working patterns.
Forester Research’s 2013 Mobile Workforce Adoption Trends shows 37% of European and US employees work from multiple locations. Whilst that’s still a minority the trend is only going in one direction.
For both employees and employers, remote working can improve the business environment and boost performance.
Flexible working
The 9am – 5pm daily work-routine is being eroded by flexible working. Colleagues are increasingly able to build a working pattern around their home lives (for example leaving the office at 3pm to pick up school children, then work for two hours from 7pm when the kids are in bed).
For employees the flexibility helps them maintain an effective work / life balance, and employers benefit from a) less staff churn and b) effectively extending the working day – which helps improve customer response times.
Reduce office space
How many desks does an office need? By encouraging remote working, and introducing hot desking, a business can reduce its office headcount considerably. Smaller office spaces mean lower running costs and can even lead to a company moving into a smaller space; keeping rents as low as possible.
Improve efficiency
A mobile workforce means being able to respond from any location. Customer orders, and queries, can be processed without returning to the office. This gives a competitive advantage and increases company efficiency.
Lower business costs
The benefits already outlined add together to lower running costs for an organisation. Fewer desks, smaller offices, less electricity being used all bring down the day-to-day business charges. Added to this are the potential savings from lower travel expenses, which have both financial and environment benefits.
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