A virtual office offers entrepreneurs an awful lot of flexibility and (financial) benefits. Want to read more about that? If so, please refer to this page.
Indeed, in this article, we look at key trends in the future of business and the role of a virtual office.
Thanks to these trends, a virtual office becomes even more important
We highlight three trends that are already relevant now and will become even more important in the future.
Flexible working thanks to a virtual office
The shift to flexible working and the increase in remote working have created a need for business services that do not tie you to a physical location.
With this, the nature of work has also changed: business travel, international work connections and temporary work (on a project basis), strengthen the demand for temporary workspaces and meeting rooms available on demand (Social Cultural Planning Bureau, 2021). This fuels the need for more flexibility.
Operational resilience with a virtual office
Covid-19 was a lesson in the importance of an alternative workplace during emergencies or unexpected events (Kossek, 2022). The experience of the pandemic showed how important it is to be able to ensure business continuity even during unexpected circumstances. The goal is operational resilience. This involves not only economic resilience, but also the mental resilience of employees. Connection, collaboration, agility and clarity are key values and a driving force behind this trend.
World Wide Talent
Cloud-based technologies, digital communication platforms and mobile apps have changed business practices and communication forever (Current and future trends in remote work – Businessnewsdaily.com, z.d). Among other things, this has led to the rise of *the gig economy resulting in more freelancers and self-employed professionals, further increasing the demand for flexible business solutions (Young, 2023).
For a global talent pool, a virtual office allows you to easily and cost-effectively realise a network of flexible work and meeting spaces, for when shared workspaces and real-life meetings do become a requirement. A workplace should preferably emanate innovation, creativity and inclusiveness. Workplace experience is decisive when choosing a space.
Are these trends relevant to your business or the sector you work in?
Then schedule a no-obligation consultation and find out what a virtual office can do for you.
*The term the gig economy refers to a flexible way of working. In this case, it is temporary work, short-term projects and assignments or ‘gigs’ (Young, 2023).
Our sources:
Huidige en toekomstige trends in werk op afstand – Businessnewsdaily.com. (z.d.). Business News Daily. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/8156-future-of-remote-work.html
Kossek, E. E. (2022, 8 November). The future of flexibility at work. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/09/the-future-of-flexibility-at-work
Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau. (2021). Platformisering en de kwaliteit van werk. https://www.scp.nl/binaries/scp/documenten/publicaties/2021/01/15/platformisering-en-de-kwaliteit-van-werk/Platformisering+en+de+kwaliteit+van+werk_def.pdf
Young, H. (2023). Compliance problemen in de gig economy. ZiPconomy. https://www.zipconomy.nl/2023/01/compliance-problemen-in-de-gig-economy/
