Can Your Virtual PBX Support the Mobile Workforce?

The mobile worker – nearly every enterprise now supports the concept, either in theory or in practice. We have the tools at our disposal with Bring Your Own Device strategies and mobile device management to ensure the protection of the network. To best streamline communications, virtual PBX technology is the go-to platform, but is it possible to really effectively manage your remote workers?

It’s a common question and one that has kept many a company from fully investing in mobile initiatives or remote employee programs. If you give your employees the flexibility to work from anywhere, will they actually work? The answer should be yes if you’ve properly vetted your employees. Perhaps the more appropriate question is whether or not you’ve provided the technology necessary to support working from home when the situation arises.

The reality is that the 9-5 worker is a myth. What once worked in a traditional setting is no longer acceptable if you want to meet customer expectations. And those who are dedicated to the job and achieving the goals you’ve established together will put everything they have into that joint success. As a result, it’s up to you to provide the right working environment to support their preferred working style. For some, that means the implementation of virtual PBX to enable remote capabilities.

A recent blog from virtual PBX provider Nextiva explored this very topic. While the piece touched on the importance of identifying the right employees to fill the mobile worker role, it also pointed to the technology necessary to bridge the gap between workers and the home base. It’s common for the remote worker to use a computer in some capacity to complete their daily tasks. That computer, whether it’s owned by the company or the employee, is likely accessing the corporate network to keep the employee connected. As a result, there are a few things you need in place.

It’s a given that the employee needs a reliable Internet connection. At the same time, they also need high quality and secure access to the corporate network, including email capabilities and the use of collaboration suites. A high performance phone system like those provided by Nextiva can’t hurt, and employees need the ability to attend interactive meetings and video conferences online whenever necessary. Virtual PBX can help make these requirements a reality and ensure remote access is a valuable asset and not simply a distraction from work.

To better understand the value associated with virtual PBX in a mobile environment, Nextiva will be on hand for this year’s ITEXPO. The company’s director of North America channel sales, Ira Feuerstein, will be in the session, “Effectively Managing Remote and Mobile Workers” on Monday, August 11 from 12:30-1:15 p.m. If you’re focus is on supporting the mobile workforce, this is one session you won’t want to miss.