Video conferencing has been used for decades as a way to connect business professionals from locations across the globe. Over the past few months, as our world has come to face one of the largest public health crises of all time, more and more organizations have gone digital and encouraged employees to work from the convenience and safety of their own homes.

This shift has, of course, contributed to social distancing by eliminating unnecessary group gatherings and limiting the amount of time people are spending out in public. However, the benefits of working remotely go far beyond the pandemic, and digital workspaces are likely to become a trend that companies follow for years to come.

The Benefits of Working Remotely

Video conferencing essentially recreates the experience of a face-to-face conversation without requiring everybody to be in the same place at the same time. This means that business meetings can be equally productive; however, video conferencing allows far more flexibility for team members, which often has a positive impact on their work-life balance.

The biggest benefits of video conferencing are found in these external variables that employers may not have previously considered, but they can have a positive impact on their team's performance and well-being.

1. Video Conferencing Puts the Family First

Working remotely enables employees with young children or other dependents to better tend to their family's needs. This could reduce the need to hire a nanny or use other forms of caretaking, which could strengthen relationships in the home and save the family a small fortune.

2. Eliminating the Commute Saves Employees Time

When employees are able to work from home, they save the time that would normally be spent commuting to and from the office each day. Lucky employees may only live a short jaunt from their workplace, but the average American commutes almost half an hour to and from their job. This spare time could instead be spent on family, personal hobbies or professional development.

3. Remote Work Reduces Travel Costs and Emissions

Without traveling to and from the office, employees also save money that would normally be spent on transportation, whether it be a public transit pass, gas, or the costs of ride-sharing. Since most workers don't live within walking or biking distance of their workplace, reducing travel also decreases energy emissions, doing our environment a world of good.

4. Waste-Free, Travel-Free Business Meetings

Oftentimes when professionals come together, whether it be for a casual business meeting or in a large conference, food and beverages are served. Remote meetings cannot be catered, which means less food waste, storage plastic, and wrapping papers sent to landfills. Travel emissions can also be saved if employees no longer have to travel to attend important meetings. Fewer business trips might also be a benefit to the employee's family life.

5. Working From Home Saves Office Energy and Resources

It's clear to see how remote work can do some good for your team members' personal lives, but the real business benefits of video conferencing are that it can save your company some big bucks. When employees work from home, fewer office resources are used, such as pens, paper, printer ink, and the electricity that keeps everything up and running. Cutting down on such expenses improves your business's bottom line.

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