Here at Alliance Virtual Offices, we’re well aware of the importance of the virtual office in our modern working era. As an alternative workplace concept, it’s fast moving into the mainstream – and research continues to highlight the benefits of flexible working, virtual office style.

Recent research from the UK shows some quite staggering results. In March, Microsoft stated that the adoption of a more flexible ‘anywhere working’ approach could benefit businesses by a whopping £4.5 billion (approx. $6.9 billion) in productivity. Their findings show that it could also reduce absenteeism, thus saving a further £3.2bn (approx. $4.9) every year.

One word: Wow.

Daniel Langdon, Microsoft’s SME business marketing manager in the UK, hit the nail on the head when he said: “Ten years ago anywhere working seemed to be something only big businesses were interested in doing. Today, it’s another tool in a company’s armoury to be as flexible and cost effective as possible,” he said.

Intel: A case study

We’ve always known that the case for a virtual office is a convincing one – and these multi-billion dollar figures serve as a real wake-up call for businesses operating within traditional bricks and mortar. For those who still need a little convincing, check out this case study on the Intel Corporation.

Back in the 1990s, Intel made the decision to move to a more virtual office style of working – that is, adopting a more flexible approach for staff by switching to mobile technology. Back then, conventional offices and cubicle farms were the norm, and the Internet was still young. Very young.

So it was quite a brave shift. Intel monitored the move closely, and even in the early days, discovered that a more mobile environment improved productivity by over 5%. This spurred the company on, and Intel embarked on a huge desktop-to-mobile transition. Now, around 80% of Intel employees rely on mobile technology as their primary working device.

The upshot? The transition delivered a return on investment of $26 million (NPV). Through greater flexibility, employees became more connected and collaboration improved. Mobile working is now considered a “norm” at Intel, and over the years, IT and connectivity has helped to drive down the company’s ownership costs by a massive 67%.

It just goes to show that companies of all shapes and sizes, from modest start-ups to multi-national corporations, can make the transition to a virtual office. And it could help save a small fortune, too.

Find out more about virtual offices at www.alliancevirtualoffices.com.

“The average American worker has fifty interruptions a day, of which seventy percent have nothing to do with work.”

So says the late, great William Edwards Deming – American statistician, professor, author, lecturer, consultant and all-round business brain.

Here’s another statistic that’ll grab your attention: Around 50% of American office workers say they work for just 15 minutes before getting distracted, while 53% feel that an hour or more is wasted every single day because of disruptions.

Are you easily distracted at work? Can’t stop browsing Facebook? Time for another gaze out the window? You’re not alone – in fact, it turns out that quite a few of us are plagued by distractions that keep us from reaching our productivity potential. From constant background chatter and phone calls to feeling tired or frustrated, there are plenty of reasons to stop you from getting on with the job.

So how do you deal with distractions at work?

Step one: Go virtual. At Alliance Virtual Offices, we can vouch for the disruption-busting benefits of a virtual office, and how flexible working methods like telecommuting and working from home can cut down on distractions, and boost productivity too.

Think about it. When you use a virtual office, you’re not tied to a physical office. So instead of working in an open-plan office and listening to inane background chatter about last night’s TV or tomorrow’s game, you can fill the gap with actual work. You know, the type that impresses your boss or brings in revenue for your business.

Step two: Hire a virtual assistant. At Alliance Virtual we have a team of professional live receptionists who can take over your call handling duties. They’ll receive calls, take messages and pass them on – making your day easier, less cluttered and ultimately more productive.

Step three: Identify your distractions:

• If you get tired easily, go to bed earlier. And remember to take little breaks during the day.
• If you can’t stop looking in the fridge, eat a better breakfast, stock up on your five-a-day and consult a nutritionist.
• If it’s the Internet or emails that are bugging you, work offline for a while.
• If you’re feeling stressed, you could be taking on too much work, or overdoing the multi-tasking. Try to focus on specific tasks – and make sure you finish one thing at a sensible point before moving on to another.
• If you’re bored of a specific task, work to a specific time then reward yourself by moving on to something else.

On the subject of rewards, this can be a valuable part of the working day. Habit-changing author Charles Duhigg says that instead of struggling with distractions, you can actually make them part of your working day. If for instance, you can’t stop going on Facebook or you feel constantly distracted by Twitter, set yourself a target and then reward yourself with 5 minutes of social media time. Accommodate that need and build it into your schedule.

After all, rewards provide motivation – and a little motivation can reap huge rewards for your business.

Find out more about virtual offices and live receptionist services online at www.AllianceVirtualOffices.com. In the meantime, what other tips can you recommend for beating distractions at work?

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In the aftermath of the horrific Boston Marathon bombings, much of the world has their eyes on this beloved, passionate and tight-knit city. In our own, very small way, we at Alliance Virtual would like to “tip our hats” and sing the praises of Beantown and encourage all of you busy mobile business-goers out there to make it the location of your next business meeting, service or virtual office. We can assure you that you, your clients and your colleagues will have a wicked good time.

So, from a business standpoint, why Boston? Well, for starters, our serviced and Boston virtual office location sits pretty from its perch on the 26th floor of the lovely One Boston Place building (the city’s third tallest), and is as good as a Boston business address gets. What a way to jazz up your business card! Offering panoramic views of the city with floor-to-ceiling windows, this spot gives fantastic views of the Financial District, the Harbor Islands, the Zakim Bridge, and the Boston Common. From your private office desk, you can enjoy the sunset just beyond the Charles River as it winds toward the foothills of the Berkshires …

With a flexible and professional location as picture perfect as this, you’ll be fully satisfied with your officing experience – of this we’re quite sure. But what about your post-meeting to-do list? We’ve got you covered there too. If you (or your clients) need a few ideas for fun things to do outside of the office when you’re in town, check out Time’s quintessential list of Boston must-dos.

Here’s to you, Boston!

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Put this date in your calendar: Monday April 22nd 2013. It’s Earth Day – a global movement that raises awareness of environmental concerns, activating people and businesses all over the world to do more to protect the planet we live in.

The first Earth Day took place on April 22nd 1970, when 20 million Americans helped to kick-start the movement we know today as the Earth Day Network (EDN). More than 1 billion people worldwide now actively take part in Earth Day activities every year, and its message continues to reach billions more.

Earth Day has a wide and unlimited responsibility. Its central role is to reach and educate people so we can help work towards a cleaner, greener and more sustainable environment – and make a healthier future for our children. From greening schools to lobbying political agendas, promoting green policies to fundraising, creating ‘green’ jobs to reducing pollution, the Earth Day Network spreads far and wide.

There are many ways you can do your bit – and a virtual office is one of them.

If you already use a virtual office, kudos to you. You’re helping to promote a healthier lifestyle not just for yourself, but for everyone else too. Here’s why:

Greener Travel: Why travel to an office if you don’t need to? Virtual offices promote working from home and local environments, which cuts down on pollution through commuter travel.

Greener Jobs: By advocating virtual offices, you are one of a growing army of flexible workers. This in turn helps to promote the concept of remote and flexible work practices to the wider world, which is ultimately a more eco-friendly way to work. It’s proven to boost productivity too, so it’s a win-win situation.

Greener Space: Large buildings with a desk-per-employee ratio promote wasted space. Why heat and power a building, and generate excessive amount of carbon, when you could reduce space and save energy in the process? Flexible working advocates less space for more workers, who share desks and require smaller office spaces. It’s a greener and more affordable way to work.

Virtual offices are part of the solution for Earth Day and for the promotion of a more environmentally way of working. Show your support on Monday 22nd April 2013 by waving your virtual office flag – and showing others the benefits of walking a cleaner, greener path to work.

Find out more about Earth Day at www.earthday.org.

Sure, the idea of working in your pajamas has a nice little ring to it. What with your slippers on, fuzzy bathrobe at the ready, and bottomless cups of coffee in that favorite weathered mug you snagged at the gift shop during your last family vacation … ahhhh bliss.

Or is it?

While working from the privacy and comfort of your own home does have its appeal, there is also something to be said for having a professional address, office and meeting space at the ready when necessary. Sure, your kitchen table is probably a lovely place to dine with friends and family, but perhaps a more impressive business setting would be appropriate for a client meeting? Alliance Virtual Offices is your one stop shop for all things professional and impressive when it comes to on-demand office space. While they may not be your home, it just so happens that our offices are also private AND comfortable, making them the ideal substitute when necessary.

Whether you need a meeting room on the fly, a more brag-worthy downtown address on your business card, or perhaps even just a more professionally stimulating environment in which to work than your kitchen table/home office – Alliance has a ridiculously deep selection of locations around the globe that will be sure to give you just what you need, and right when you need it, too.

For another take on why working from home sometimes isn’t “all it’s cracked up to be,” check out Anne D’Innocenzio’s article on Salon.com:

“There are the parents who have had to juggle conference calls while kids scream in the background. Families that have fought for days over the use of a single home computer. And execs who have had to conduct business with the only device they have with reliable Internet access: their smart phone … About one-third of Americans typically work from home … and many have learned it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

So you’ve finally done it. You’ve officially joined the virtual officing club and ditched your old, tired traditional office space in favor of something a bit more modern and flexible.

Now that you’re adjusting to your newfound freedom and the perks that the world of the virtual office has to offer, you may be wondering what happens next. How do you market yourself and your business? Do you need to change any of your tactics and promotional strategies to reflect your new way of working, or should you even bother broadcasting to the greater business community that you are now a card-carrying member of team virtual?

The question of how to develop the best communications strategy for your new virtual business is a hot topic as of late – one that we’ve been talking a lot about at Alliance. For those of you who work via a virtual office (or are planning to do so in the near future), how do you frame your business setup to clients? Do you keep it under wraps or do you brag about your savvy workspace choices? Do you use your flashy business address to impress clients, and if so, what kinds of responses have you gotten?

Does it even matter?

We will soon hear from Corporate Communications and PR Consultant, Aileen Abella, who will give her thoughts on the matter. But for now, we just wanted to whet your palate and get the conversation started. We want to hear from YOU! At Alliance, we’re eternally interested and invested in the myriad ways in which our clients project (or do not project) their virtual images to THEIR own clients and we’re dying to hear your stories, advice and tips. That being the case, feel free to share! There’s more where this came from …

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“The so-called American Dream revolves around ownership. Owning a house, owning a car, owning that picket fence surrounding 2.5 children and a four-legged pet. But Gen Y, that pesky generation of 79 million 16-to-34-year-olds, might be redefining that dream … Coupled with the meteoric rise of sites for sharing everything from recipes (Pinterest) to music (Spotify) to cars (ZipCar) to craft projects (okay, Pinterest again), we have to wonder: is this more than a current fad?” (www.learnvest.com)

In essence, is sharing the way of the new economy? Of the changing times? It sure seems like it is. Upon reading this article, I found myself contemplating just how much sharing I do in my daily life, and it’s really quite a lot. From sharing my music and recipes, as noted above, to sharing nannies, carpool duty, books and designer dresses, I can definitively say that I play an active role in this new “sharing economy” that is beginning to dominate the way we, as a modern society, seem to be going about our business, literally. Affordable, convenient, satisfying and downright fun, sharing just may be the new black.

So, speaking of business, it would seem that sharing can find a comfy home in the way today’s mobile workers are getting the job done. Gone is the notion that we all need to go through the dreaded traffic-filled, cubicle-tainted, cookie cutter grind that so depresses many an office goer. Why deal with all of that rigmarole when you can set up shop at a trendy, convivial coworking space such as those offered by Alliance Virtual and do things more on your terms, surrounded by like-minded pros?

Nope, I can’t think of a reason either.

Businesses that use a virtual office have plenty to smile about. They cut out the daily commute, save money on office space, can enjoy an über-cool business address, and have an arsenal of fantastic services at their disposal including top-notch receptionist services. Sounds great doesn’t it?

Sometimes though, for virtual office users that work from home, even the most focused of business owners or freelancers has difficulty adjusting to the tranquility of a home office. As ever, Alliance Virtual Offices is here to help – and we’ve brought you three of our favorite tips on how to enjoy those office watercooler moments, without the need for an actual office.

Watercooler Win #1: Visit your Virtual Office
Don’t forget that your virtual office is also a real building. So why not make the most of your bricks and mortar by going along for a visit? Your best excuse is to schedule a meeting at your virtual office address and show off the swanky meeting rooms to your clients. You could go the whole hog and organise catering, or just pop along for a quick catch-up and some face-to-face time with a client or colleague.

Of course if you need an alternative location, you can book meeting rooms in hundreds of locations right across the U.S. and the world by checking out Alliance Virtual’s online meeting room booking service.

Watercooler Win #2: Pop into a Coworking Space
If you’re craving human company, you could go and work in a cafe for a few hours and enjoy delicious lattes, free Wi-Fi and some cheerful hustle and bustle. Or, for something a bit more professional (and for some networking opportunities) why not try out a coworking space? There’s a growing list of coworking and shared office locations all over the world, offering everything from a spare desk to a buzzing shared workplace with like-minded professionals. Watercooler moments galore.

Watercooler Win #3: Dive into Social Media
Social media is a great way to enjoy some virtual company. When loneliness strikes, hop onto your favorite social media channel for a few minutes to see what’s going on. You might notice some quirky trends too. For instance on Twitter, using the hashtag #watercoolermoment is a great way to ‘chat’ to people. There’s even a #watercoolermoment ‘break’ at different times of the day – perfect for keeping solitude at bay.

What are your top tips on staying productive at home? How do you recoup those precious office watercooler moments?

Thanks to Oval Business Solutions for the image.

Got road rage? It’s no surprise. New stats show that commuters in key U.S. cities waste several days each and every year by sitting in gridlocked traffic.

Picture this: In Washington, commuters spend a whopping 67 hours in traffic every year, followed closely by New York City, Newark and San Francisco. Boston and Houston commuters waste a miserable 54 and 53 hours every year, while in Atlanta, the annual commuter delay is 51 hours.

Surely you can think of better things to do than staring at someone else’s bumper? If all those rear taillights have got you seeing red, don’t panic – Alliance Virtual Offices is here to ease the pain and help you choose a better road to business success. It might just save your sanity too.

Here’s the scoop. Rather than commuting to an office and wasting time – and money – by sitting in your car, you could be settling down in your home office or a local coworking space and using your time much more productively. Just imagine what you could do with an extra 50 or 60 hours per year. That could be a key sales pitch, a new client won, or more time spent with your family.

With Alliance Virtual Offices you have a whole world of virtual office solutions at your feet. Choose from professional business addresses at some of the most prestigious and recognizable office buildings in the U.S., or further afield, and add key business support solutions such as professional call answering services, or inclusive meeting room usage, to really get your business in the fast lane to success.

Whether you choose a virtual office in Atlanta, a savvy New York virtual office, a business address in Houston or even the use of meeting rooms in Washington, you can really move your business up a gear.

So next time you’re sat in traffic, consider turning to Alliance Virtual Offices. We’ll help you hit the gas – not the brake – and motor to better business productivity.

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Traditional office space got you down? Thanks to Alliance’s incredible office and meeting room locations, things are really looking up. Because when it comes to premium office space, the sky is no longer the limit.

Literally.

Alliance is proud to offer a huge variety of office spaces and meeting rooms all over the world, and we’re confident that we’ve got something out there for everyone. For those of you who favor a bit more drama in your office space location, we’ve got you covered as well.

Enter the skyscraper. With incredible office choices in some of the world’s most formidable architectural structures, Alliance gives you the unique ability to house your office in the sky. How much more impressive can it get?

From Lexington, Third and Madison Avenues in NYC and Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles to Tokyo’s Cerulean Tower, the AIA Tower in Hong Kong and Taiwan’s Taipei 101 Tower, we’ve got lofty office choices in some of the world’s most impressive – and tall – locations.

There’s just something about a skyscraper, no? Oozing with professionalism, the looming glass and steel structures have long stood as a symbol of business, commerce and status. So we encourage you to inject a bit more impressiveness into your office location by setting up shop or hosting a meeting in a skyscraper.

Going up?