July 26, 2006
Runzheimer International recently expanded its suite of employee mobility solutions by launching Virtual Office Services. The service helps organizations improve virtual office and telecommuting program management and prepare for a not-too-distant future where as many as 50% of workers will perform their jobs outside of traditional office facilities.
A Runzheimer 2005 benchmarking study of Fortune 2000 firms found that nearly half of participants (44%) intend to increase their number of teleworkers within the next year. The number of teleworkers is rising for a number of reasons, including the need to reduce facilities expenditures and become more flexible to compete effectively in a global economy.
"Providing Virtual Office Services directly aligns with our strategic initiative to expand Runzheimer’s total employee mobility services portfolio and meet an immediate need," comments Greg Harper, president of Runzheimer International. "Many of our clients continue to be faced with growing real estate, energy and transportation costs, talent management challenges, and business continuity concerns. These areas all have connections to the virtual office concept and we intend to offer a suite of services which enable clients to effectively address all of them. Runzheimer’s unique expertise helps organizations avoid hidden costs, maximize savings, ensure adequate support systems are in place, and improve agility and competitive advantage."
Most organizations struggle in terms of how virtual office programs and processes are managed. Eighty-one percent of Runzheimer benchmarking participants were unable to measure their administrative costs to support mobile workers and 74% do not have a clearly identified department that is responsible for managing virtual office programs. Furthermore, the volume, complexity and speed with which mobile technology is changing make it difficult for scarce information technology resources to keep up. Runzheimer services will focus on helping organizations improve program management.
"Sales professionals tend to be one of the most prominent categories of mobile workers and too much time can be spent each day on technology issues such as gaining remote connectivity to e-mail," said Harper. "Office employees rarely have to contend with such concerns because their environments are tightly controlled, but gaining connectivity for mobile workers can be a daily frustration. If sales professionals could gain just 12 more minutes of productive time each day," Harper continued, "top-line revenue would grow by 2 percent for the typical organization. Runzheimer helps organizations take a comprehensive view of their virtual office support systems, including technology infrastructure, to ensure that mobile worker distractions are kept to a minimum and productivity is enhanced."
Gil Gordon, a principal with Runzheimer’s Virtual Office Services consulting practice, and leading author, speaker, and consultant, commented, "Working virtually even a few days a week can be your best dream or your worst nightmare. Much depends on the organization’s ability to successfully launch a telework program that meets the needs of its specific environment and to ensure that the employer is prepared to support its teleworkers within that framework. Many organizations have been using an ad hoc approach to virtual work for a number of years and are now struggling with how to integrate the results and goals of these telework programs into their 3-year and 5-year plans and turn them into more predictable, more manageable programs that are responsive to organization-wide goals."
"The 21st Century is about mobility. Whether it involves employees working from the road or from home, we are excited to be able to provide innovative virtual office consulting, training and benchmarking opportunities to boost cost savings, improve employee productivity and increase organizational agility," concluded Harper.
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About Runzheimer International
Founded in 1933, Runzheimer International serves 60 percent of the Fortune 500. Recognized for providing innovative solutions relating to total employee mobility, Runzheimer is the global leader in business vehicle reimbursement programs, travel management consulting, employee relocation and compensation, virtual offices, and corporate aircraft.
For more information, contact Luella Dooley at Runzheimer International, Runzheimer Park, Rochester, Wisconsin 53167, (262)971-2277, ljd@runzheimer.com, www.runzheimer.com.
