Virtual Office Services – The ‘New Normal’
A few centuries ago Hamlet famously asked “To be or not to be, that is the question?” In 2020, we now ask “To work from home or commute to the office, that is the question?” As the curtain closed on 2019 few could have predicted what lay ahead of us as we entered into 2020. Life as we once knew it has changed immeasurably in so many ways this calendar year.The way we socialise, the way we work, the way we run our businesses, almost everything has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. One thing is for sure though, virtual office services are here to stay.
A change in how we work
Like so many others you may be wondering what 2021 has in store for us? As various vaccines start getting rolled out to the public in the new year, we are all starting to think about what future life will be like. Are we going to gradually return to what we previously considered ‘normal’ or are we heading for a ‘new normal’?
In terms of business, there is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic period is going to have a lasting impact on the way we work. Many companies, who previously weren’t receptive to the idea of employees working from home, have been pleasantly surprised by just how effective a largely home-based workforce can be. Some have even moved towards giving up their offices for good. Even the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, in May predicted that 50% of their employees could be working remotely within the next five to 10 years.
The rise of the virtual office
A by-product of the seismic change in the way we work has been the surge in demand for virtual office services in 2020. Such has been the rise of the virtual office in recent months that it wouldn’t be remiss to claim that it will form an important part of the ‘new normal’ for businesses.
So what is a ‘virtual office’? Put simply, a ‘virtual office’ is a service that provides organisations with a range of business functions that allow them to maintain the image of having a physical office in a particular location. For the many companies that have made the decision to work completely remotely and get rid of their office space altogether, either temporarily or permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic, such services have proved an invaluable tool in helping them ensure their business standards aren’t compromised.
If a company appears to have a physical office, where there is an address that mail can be sent to and a receptionist team who can field telephone enquiries, it will portray an established, trustworthy and professional image. Not only will this enhance an organisation’s reputation, it will also help drive results. For those businesses transitioning away from the physical office towards complete remote working, such positives often get forgotten and their reputation will suffer before they can correct it. That’s why a virtual office service is a perfect alternative. You get many of the perks associated with a physical office, without actually owning one! Your company can move to home-working but maintain its professional appearance.
At Officefront we offer a comprehensive virtual office service. These are the key features:
- A business address (or multiple addresses should you need them) where you can register your company or direct your mail to.
- Access to a telephone switchboard and reception service so not business’s phone calls are missed.
- Access to a range of COVID-safe, smart meeting rooms, situated around the country.
- A range of clerical services such as dictating letters, the scanning of documents and emails, small orders and diary management.
- The option of scaling up or down your virtual office depending on your ongoing requirements.
As with every other aspect of life at the moment, business is far from normal. With a large proportion of us still working from home, flexible and remote ways of working are likely to be a permanent fixture in the ‘new normal’. Consequently this means the virtual office is inevitably going to play an increasingly important role. The virtual office is without doubt, here to stay.
At Officefront we offer a comprehensive Virtual Office service package with prices starting at £25 per month. Get in touch by calling 020 7127 0660 or emailing sales@officefront.co.uk to find out how we can help your business ‘go virtual’ in the ‘new normal’.
