With remote work slowly becoming a staple in office life, it is important to understand what virtual offices can provide your business, as well as what steps can be taken to ensure that your business runs smoothly under the help of a virtual office.

What is a Virtual Office?

A virtual office is a service that provides smaller businesses with a professional address and other office related services such as call handling, postal services and meeting room usage which can be used to have videocalls with clients, all while saving on overhead costs that come with having a physical office, such as a high rent. Virtual offices provide employees with the opportunities to work remotely while maintaining a professional image to current and potential clients.

At Metropolitan House’s Gateshead Business Centre, we provide serviced offices as well as meeting room hire. We also provide 4 different virtual offices packages so no matter what your business needs, we are here to help.

Tips for a Successful Business Virtual Office Set-Up

Define your virtual office goals
When establishing a virtual office, it is important to establish what you hope to achieve by working remotely and communicate these goals to your employees.

Cost savings – working through a virtual office can help business save on overhead costs such as rent and utilities.
Flexibility – working remotely will give employees a chance to work from anywhere they please. This also creates the opportunity to higher globally, as location is not a factor.
Productivity – utilise personalised working conditions to enhance the productivity of employees.

Choose the right communication tools
Effective communication between employees is an essential step to a successful virtual office. Without communication, the company is unable to operate to its full potential, so invest in robust communication methods to ensure seamless interactions.

Messaging platforms – invest in platforms such as Slack and Microsoft Teams to give employees a place for messaging and team collaboration.
Video conferencing – although virtual offices provide hireable meeting rooms, virtual meetings will be necessary throughout your day. Establish a platform such as Google or Zoom dedicated to virtual meetings.

Learn from success stories
Reach out to companies that have successfully worked through virtual offices and ask for advice.

Our favourite example is Domus Driveways, a patio and driveway expert in Northumberland, who have been successful at creating a professional and productive office space through virtual offices.

Establish clear policies and procedure
Without being in office, employees may be confused as to what is expected of them. Communicate expectations and policies to ensure a smooth transition to remote work.

Work hours – define standard work hours that are expected, as well as all expectation for availably so there is no confusion between workers.
Communication protocol – communicate all guidelines for communication, such as response times and preferred channels of contact, to ensure seamless exchange.

Foster a Collaborative Culture
Regular meetings – continuous hold team meetings to foster a community environment and keep everyone aligned and engaged.
Team building activities – organise virtual team building activities to strengthen team bonds remotely.
Provide continuous training and development to employees to continue to grow your trade.

Creating a successful virtual office doesn’t just involve technology; it requires planning, communication, and clear, achievable goals for you to accomplish. Get in contact with us here at Metropolitan House to discuss how we can help you transform your business with the power of virtual offices.

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