In recent years, the term “virtual work” has surged in popularity. Essentially, it entails a workspace where digital tools are leveraged to perform tasks and collaborate with colleagues. Through a virtual work environment, one can conduct online meetings, engage in virtual collaboration, and utilise project management tools or cloud-based platforms. Virtual work is closely intertwined with remote work, as it enables remote work from any location. In essence, virtual working serves to facilitate and enhance remote working for business owners and company employees.
How Virtual Work Benefits Businesses: Every business must be able to communicate with its remote teams, a need met through virtual working processes. Virtual working facilitates connectivity between remote teams and the company, thereby enhancing overall productivity. Digital platforms such as Zoom have streamlined contact establishment, a major driver behind the growing preference for virtual working and remote teams among businesses. Additionally, virtual work enables business teams to identify the most efficient methods for digital collaboration, thereby improving workflow and productivity.
The relationship between business travel and virtual working: Regarding business travel, virtual working can prove both advantageous and challenging. Virtual working offers business travellers the benefit of avoiding remote work burnout while gaining fresh perspectives. However, with the increasing demand for remote work, employees often experience diminished physical and psychological well-being due to the lack of face-to-face interaction. Monthly or quarterly business trips foster collaboration, expand networks, and provide valuable growth opportunities. Yet, as employees increasingly embrace remote working facilitated by virtual work, enthusiasm for traditional business travel wanes. Consequently, virtual working presents challenges in encouraging employees to engage in company business travel.
Harmonising business travel & virtual working: A significant advantage of virtual working during business travel is the opportunity to interact with peers in a professional yet relaxed environment. This fosters positive emotions among employees, thereby positively impacting business growth. Appropriately tailored, business travel offers boundless potential for both hybrid and remote workers. When augmented with virtual working facilities, every business trip becomes an enriching experience. Employees remain productive and efficient, making better decisions and enhancing performance while enjoying travel. Moreover, business travel coupled with virtual working stimulates innovative ideas and creative thinking.
Embracing virtual working alongside business travel: The decision to embrace virtual working alongside business travel can often hinge on individual preferences and workstyles. Virtual working offers numerous benefits, including opportunities for the improvement of work-life balance during business trips. From fostering a positive mindset to inculcating healthy team dynamics, business travel can be more interactive and productive when supplemented with virtual work. The key is to discern what works best and how to strike a balance between business travel and virtual work.
