| Telecommuting technology began as a link between | | | | customer service process that allows cloud computing. |
| satellite or branch offices and the computer mainframe | | | | Cloud computing is a relatively new term that refers to |
| of companies in the early 1970s. Over the years it | | | | the sharing of programs and applications using the |
| expanded to meet the demands of flexi-time or | | | | internet. This means that work-at-home or remote |
| work-at-home jobs that did not require the worker to | | | | workers do not have to buy their own software. All |
| report or travel to the office on a daily basis. Today, | | | | they need to do is log in to their account. This explains |
| the growth of telecommuting technology has improved | | | | why you now have customer service operators who |
| so much so that people are hired on the basis of | | | | do not need to work in a formal office setting. They |
| output and not physical presence. | | | | simply sign in and sign out from their homes. |
| As a result of this kind of job scenario, output and | | | | You may have seen people busy on their laptops in |
| work satisfaction ratings increased tremendously | | | | coffee shops and libraries. These are the |
| because it allowed for people to work in a setting they | | | | telecommuters who are enjoying the convenience of |
| are most comfortable with. With telecommuting, the | | | | working on flexi time, and being able to do other things |
| equipment needed are a computer, phone, and an | | | | during the day instead of being stuck in an office. Of |
| internet connection. | | | | course, the output should be the same as if they were |
| There are now many options in telecommuting | | | | in the office, or they lose their jobs. |
| technology that allows for group meetings, known as | | | | The advantages of this kind of scenario are multiple. |
| video conferencing or conference calling. It is also | | | | There is less stress for the telecommuters because |
| possible to maintain a virtual private network similar to | | | | they don't have to deal with traffic or spending a lot on |
| what you would have in a social networking application. | | | | gas and car maintenance. They are able to become |
| With long distance tools like Voice Over IP (VOIP) and | | | | more productive with their time and accomplish more |
| groupware, a company saves a huge amount with a | | | | because of the decrease in pressure. They also |
| decrease in travel to different branches. Resource | | | | spend less on clothes, food, and socializing after office |
| sharing, as well as client server computing makes it | | | | hours. |
| easier to decentralize operations so that the clients' | | | | On the part of the company, they save on overhead, |
| needs are met instantly. | | | | yet they can operate 24/7. This means that their |
| Before telecommuting technology existed, it took days | | | | bottom line, which is their profit margin, improves and |
| or even weeks before you could get a response | | | | allows them to hire more people. They don't have to |
| regarding a complaint from a customer. It was an | | | | deal with absenteeism, low employee morale, low |
| immense loss of income because of poor | | | | turnover, destructive office back room talk, and even |
| communications between branches to head office, and | | | | opens the door for them to hire people with disabilities. |
| between customer to corporate offices. | | | | Telecommuting technology is changing the way we do |
| Now, a client can get an answer in as quick as a few | | | | our work, and as end users, spoils us for an instant |
| minutes because of the convenience of an excellent | | | | response from the companies we do business with. |