Home: Message List - So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

fiorza — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:15:13 GMT

Skype video chatting is a great way to stay in touch with your colleagues while working from home. It is free, realiable, and easy to install. If your computer doesn't have a web camera and microphone, then consider one of the many affordable webcam/microphone combinations (I like the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000). I much prefer Skype to telephone calls because of the video element and the fact that my hands are free on calls, which allows me to keep working!

Fiorza Luxe
http://www.fiorza.com

Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

seetumail — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:32:18 GMT

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Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

seetumail — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:28:27 GMT

well i also work from home and have earned a lot from that.it's really helpful especially for busy people like me
for more details please visit teh link below
Eliza
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Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

majones — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:06:01 GMT

So many options for working online and virtualizing a company... our organization works with thousands of companies who need or want to virtualize for a variety of reasons.

Depending on the specific requirements, there are TONS of options available. It really depends on how much or how little you intend to centrally manage. For example, you could offer messaging, calendaring and basic tools like that by using Google Apps or Microsoft Live services.

There are a large number of companies providing, for example, CRM as an online application. Most companies require more than just CRM, however, so this is often not a means to totally virtualize the organization.

For businesses who need total IT capability, but don't necessarily want the tech management responsibility, outsourced and hosted desktop services may be the ticket.

One company (www.cpaasp.com) is offers total virtual desktop services for businesses. Subscribers can have a complete Windows desktop (hosted) with all desktop and network applications hosted and managed by the service provider. This company also is licensed by Intuit to host the QuickBooks products, so you can have QuickBooks Pro, Premier or Enterprise with the virtual desktop.

The key in virtualizing any business is to ensure that all participants know and understand their jobs, know what is required of them, have the tools to do their job, and have a means to collaborate and get information when it is required. Remember that virtualizing a company doesn't mean that people don't see each other and interact. It just means they don't have to be in the same room to do it.
-majones

Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

BDS INC — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:02:39 GMT

Advantages:

Money Savings
Time Savings
Quality of Life
Personal Tax Benefits

Drawbacks:

Difficulty in meeting clients at home office
Lack of business space clarity

Home based since 1984

WayneSGA — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:00:14 GMT

To work effectively virtually you need to have the right electronic environment - the right collaboration tools. The choice is to select each tool independent of each other or select one integrated platform so you all can work together seamlessly. If you add up the costs to try to accomplish this independtly you will spend an enormous amount of time and money trying to put the pieces together. As your business grows technology will be a constant pain point.

Some components to think about (not in any particular order):

1. fast Internet access (DSL/Cable)
2. a well set up computer with an image backup in case of corruption or virus. (e.g., Acronis Image software)
3. e-mail (gmail, outlook, notes, etc.)
4. personal productivity tools (spreadsheet, word processor, presentation software - Office)
5. accounting software (quickbooks pro)
6. backup software (burn to dvd, backup exec, etc.)
7. customer relationship management (contact management, ACT, etc.)
8. time managment software
9. shared calendar
10. expense reporting
11. project management software
12. instant messaging (AIM, msn messenger, sametime, etc.)
13. web conferencing (gotomeeting, sametime, etc.)
14. antivirus, anti-everything software (symantec, mcafe, etc.)
15. website hosting and development and email routing (ISP)
16. website content management, integration with internal operations and backup
17. email anti-spam (e.g. postini)
18. discussion/collaboration software (forums, lotus notes)
19. laptop encryption software (vista ultimate, lotus notes)
20. document management/sharing (sharepoint, lotus notes)

Following is synopsis of how we accomplish this and it's been so successful we help other firms do the same.

In 1993, we converted all operations to using Lotus Notes as a base. We built on that foundation an entire suite of collaboration solutions: crm, project management, time management, etc. etc. etc. We even backup quickbooks pro to a Notes database. The advantage over all other technologies? Replication. All of our information replicates to multiple servers and clients in multiple locations. That's automatic backup and the ability to share anything/everything. Oh, our website is built 100% on Notes. Check it out http://www.sga.com/

When a hard disk dies it's not a big deal. We replace the unit, install Lotus Notes and replicate the databases from any server and back up and running. Virtually no information lost.

Now for the good stuff. You can replicate locally and work locally. This means we were productive back in the mid-90's even though we had to use the old dial-up technology. We can work on airplanes then replicate when you arrive at the hotel.

There's more - design of the databases replicates transparently. This means you don't need to install updates to any application. New field for the CRM? Sure...done and replicates to everyone, whether two employees or thousands.

Oh...Notes has a full mail system built in and free. Ever hear of a virus for Lotus Notes? Nope. Notes is one of the most secure environments there is on the planet. And when you replicate/synchronize locally all information is automatically encrypted.

Want more? How about integrated web conferencing and instant messaging - all encrypted and secure.

Say goodbye to the thousands of folders you have in your mail file and shared drives you use to store Office files. You can store and manage it all in the applications.

You want a solution which will scale as your business grows. Notes can be used by two people or 200,000.

What's the price? If your firm is 1,000 employees or less (I'm sure most here fit that category), it's $103/person. IBM is giving it away to the small business.

Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

batchblue — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:07:06 GMT

Hi everyone-

Thanks so much for the feedback, this is a great forum! We gave the presentation last week, if you're interested you can check out the slides here
http://batchblue.com/presentations/

Thanks again,
~BatchBlue

Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

LUCKIEST — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:13:14 GMT

Batchblue, Read Thursday Wall Street Journal, Personal Journal Section:
Good News For Professionals Who Want to Work at Home.
This article could help your presentation (if it not too late)
Again, LUCKIEST

Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

Ed O'Gee — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:35:30 GMT

I run my business successfully out of my home and the benefits to me are:

1. Low overhead - when I am out of the office I am on site with clients so no need for expensive office space
2. No communiting cost - unless you count the energy of walking down a flight of stairs and a short hallway to my home office.
3. More time with my family, almost forces me to structure my day so that I have time to spend with the family

Re: So you want to work from home? Telecommuting tips needed!

Lighthouse24 — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:25:12 GMT

Although it was last November or December when I inquired about it, that's not how the pricing/licensing was explained to me. I just visited the website, though, and $149/month would appear to provide unlimited access to all -- so thank you for the info, DDiva!