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There is a big shift happening within the global workforce, particularly with American workers taking the lead, and it’s continuing to trend silently.About one day per week, 1 in 10 US workers do their jobs from home. In fact, the number of people who are regularly telecommuting has increased by 66% from 2005 to 2012.
The reason for the uprise is a subtle change in the way we think about our work &endash; As Sarah Brown of Momentum Telecom relays, “work is no longer a destination; it’s an activity.” This has always been the case, but the ability to stay (virtually) connected has allowed this to become a reality. It’s not about getting to work, it’s about doing it.
We have all the technology that will allow us to cut the cubicle-cord.
With people everywhere catching on, there’s no doubt that telecommuting will soon become a corporate standard.
SaaS, the silent catalyst
Along with high-speed WiFi, different software technologies are contributing to remote team collaboration and communication. With the increase in SaaS platforms for business, company information is now located and accessible online. From chat, project discussions, emails, and file sharing, there’s nothing that can’t be shared via the web.
That being the case, it wouldn’t be unfit to speculate that SaaS has contributed to this telecommuting phenomenon.
Google Apps saw tremendous development from 2006-2012, improving the ease of remote working.
What kinds of business software are most conducive to remote work?
Anything web-based will be accessible from any network, and thus the most convenient when it comes to telecommuting. For companies with strict network settings, having a VPN (virtual private network) can sidestep the issue of data privacy.
After gathering insights from the AffinityLive network, many small businesses use a milieu of applications to stay connected, including Skype, Gmail, Outlook, Google Apps, Microsoft Office 365, Dropbox, Yammer, project management systems, CRM software, and online PSA’s.
These trending softwares will eventually fully integrate and automate business processes.
With everything available online, it’s even easier to be location independent.
To read more business management insights and tips, check out the AffinityLive blog.