How Virtual Offices Can Help Business Go Global

The modern world of business is built on agility and adaptability. Suits, ties, smoking indoors, and long-term fixed leases are a thing of the past. Virtual offices have stepped up as the next evolution of business, no matter how big or small your organisation may be.

In fact, virtual offices are the perfect springboard for empowering your company to become a global player, or simply just cutting back on unnecessary expenses. Here are a number of ways virtual offices can benefit your business, as well as a few challenges and drawbacks to consider.

Cost-Effective Expansion

There’s no doubt that establishing a new office will put strain on your business’s cash flow. In fact, other than salaries, leases are one of the biggest expenses you can expect in your balance sheet. Besides the actual cost of the lease or building, you need to consider furniture, renovations, compliance, and utility costs.

With a virtual or serviced office, all of this is included in your membership, alongside a number of other benefits such as high-speed fibre, community engagement, and security. Beside these benefits, you can also expect a predictable cost structure, giving you the space to focus on core business activities.

Access to Global Talent

Research indicates that global talent expects global standards when it comes to how and where they get to work. With a serviced office you gain access to talent from around the world thanks to the nature of the service. Have you identified South Africa as a great place for your next business or investment?

A virtual office gives you the perfect foundation to get the gears turning without the risk of sinking your capital into a property. Virtual offices are fantastic for facilitating satellite teams in key locations, giving your company better collaboration with both clients and partners.

Enhanced Productivity and Work-Life Balance

Serviced offices are about more than providing a space for you and your team to work. They come standard with modern amenities inherently designed to foster productivity and collaboration. Get the most out of your money with shared meeting rooms, open plan workspaces for networking, high-speed, reliable fibre, and a myriad of other benefits.

On-site administrative support in the form of reception services also take the workload off your team so they can focus on their core tasks rather than receiving spam calls or signing off on packages.

Scalability and Flexibility

Much like people, businesses are dynamic entities. On a day-to-day basis its size and structure will fluctuate. Virtual offices go hand in hand with this ebb and flow, whether you’re a startup looking for a humble space or an established company trying to expand their offering.

As an international business looking to dig their heels into South Africa, you could send a flagship team to a virtual office to setup camp and start generating demand for your products and services. Miscalculated the demand? No problem, simply scale up or down your workspace requirements based on your business’s needs.

Environmental Sustainability

Being eco-friendly doesn’t only apply to products you buy from your local grocery store. Top talent is considering the environmental sustainability of businesses they invest their time in and subsequently work for. Co-working spaces may prioritise eco-friendly practices such as making use of LED lighting and water-saving initiatives. Virtual offices also have a lower carbon footprint thanks to the shared nature of their facilities.

24/7 Operations

Following COVID-19, the world of work has evolved beyond a traditional 9-5. Serviced offices give you and your employees more flexibility than traditional offices. This way, those who prefer to work outside of standard office hours have the freedom to so. This flexibility not only benefits your business but also improves staff morale. With a virtual office, you can catch up with international colleagues without worrying about locked doors.

Challenges and Considerations

1. Lack of Personalisation

o  Serviced offices often prioritise a standardised experience. You may want to consider how ‘personal’ or branded you would like your offices to be.

2. Potential Distractions

o  Coworking spaces are often bustling with activity. Although this is great for networking, some teams may find the noise troubling.

3. Community Culture

o  Finding a provider that aligns with your business is as important as one that meets all your requirements. Make sure to research all your options to get a good idea of what is best for your business.

Whether its cost-efficiency or global reach, virtual offices have a myriad of benefits for you and your business to consider. The world has changed rapidly in the last few years with small-business owners and corporations alike realising how adaptable they need to be in order to keep up with employees and global trends. If you’re interested in exploring one of the top virtual offices in South Africa, then Infinity Serviced Offices in Fourways could be what you’re looking for. Book a viewing or contact us directly.

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