Federal employee travel and commuting account for the largest category of what the administration calls indirect sources of pollution.  The White House is encouraging workers to travel less for business and to use mass transit for their commutes.

Today, most businesses understand their responsibility to limit their impact on the environment and are leveraging available technology like video and audio conferencing as an alternative to business travel.

Among the many benefits of this technology are: a decrease in business travel expenses, a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and increased productivity.  Individuals can have face-to-face meetings with colleagues or clients anyone anywhere in the world allowing them to collaborate as effectively as if they were meeting in the same room.
 
Access to this technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity for businesses of all sizes. Companies find themselves managing a distributed workforce with limited budget for business travel. Videoconferencing eliminates geographic boundaries and is an easy way for businesses to be environmentally conscious.

Videoconferencing can be used for something as simple as a conversation between two people in private offices across the country from each other or involve several people in several offices around the globe.  Besides the audio and visual transmission of meeting activities, videoconferencing can be used to share documents, computer-displayed information, and whiteboards.  All of this from the comfort of your own office.

You might be asking yourself, “OK, how can it enhance my business performance?”  It’s all about how you use this technology to your benefit.  Videoconferencing can support a mobile work force and allow you to conduct business instantly.  It is a quick and effective way to meet face-to-face.    Plus you’ll save money on travel costs and, Videoconferencing can also increase in productivity, as it eliminates the hassle of travel arrangements, managing jet lag, and the coordination of traveler schedules across days for one meeting.  As an added bonus, videoconferencing is a user-friendly green business solution – no trains, planes, or automobiles are needed!

A cost-effective, productivity increasing tool, videoconferencing is a smart business solution for any business looking to succeed in this market.   For more information about how OfficeLinks Videoconferencing studios in Office New York office locations (40 Wall Street, 1440 Broadway and 33 West 19^th Street) and OfficeLinks Chicago office locations (Willis Tower) can enhance your business, click here.

The OfficeLinks Business Support Services can act as part of your team in a number of ways.  Need 100 copies of a presentation by tomorrow, collated and bound? OfficeLinks Business Support Services are there for you. Need to have data entered into your system, but it has been sitting on your desk for weeks, getting bumped for other to-dos on your list?  OfficeLinks Business Support Services are there for you. Have a major business meeting and need help with the PowerPoint presentation and video conferencing?  OfficeLinks Business Support Services are there for you.   Need voicemail storage and access 24/7?  OfficeLinks Business Support Services are there for you. Need high-speed internet access with managed firewall protection and system support and maintenance?  OfficeLinks Business Support Services are there for you.

Ok, so we’re trying to drive home a point by saying that we’re there for you.  But all joking aside, OIfficeLinks clients know that we are absolutely committed to being there for you and providing an environment for them to thrive.  For more information about how OfficeLinks can support your business and employees, click here.

This concept of co-working is a very attractive one – you get to work in a creative, dedicated work environment with other professionals, escape working alone in a home office, connect with others and network, avoid the coffee house distractions, get motivated and driven by the others sharing the workspace, and have flexibility and no commitment to traditional “work time”.

This past August, OfficeLinks debuted a product designed to provide knowledge workers with reduce office space costs while providing enterprise-grade technology and workplace infrastructure that enables and inspires collaboration: Co-Working Offices. Companies or individuals interested may try co-working FREE on Fridays at OfficeLinks’ locations in Chicago and New York.  The first of its kind, OfficeLinks’ program brings knowledge workers unprecedented opportunity to leverage the company’s fully furnished, staffed, and modern offices on a transactional basis, while also networking with like-minded business people.   OfficeLinks’ Co-Working program includes access to modern workstations, blazing-fast and free WIFI, as well as refreshments and snacks to fuel the brain.

Say goodbye to overhearing every soy latte ordered at the corner café and hello to working in an inspiring, modern workspace with other people just like you.  For more information about OfficeLinks’ Co-Working Offices in their Chicago (Willis Tower location) and New York (40 Wall Street, 1440 Broadway and 33 West 19^th Street) office locations, click here.

OfficeLinks Supports 21^st century working with innovative product launch, Co-Working Offices.  Available now, on-demand – AND FREE on Fridays!  Each week, we’ll have 10 desks available on a first come first serve basis. So, give us a call to make a reservation 646-512-5700.

There are a few major trends going on right now that are impacting where and when people work and how they utilize their office space.  First, companies are seeking ways to cut costs.  In doing so, it’s critically important that they identify ways to ensure productivity and image remains in tact.  Second, the workforce is becoming more distributed.  This powerful segment needs to be supported whenever and wherever their work gets done.  The local coffee shop, hotel lobby, home office or camping out a client’s space isn’t cutting it.

OfficeLinks not only understands, we also have a solution – CoWorking offices.  This product enables companies to slash office space fees while maintaining a professional front face.  The product supports workers with a workplace environment, enterprise-grade technology infrastructure and business support staff that stimulates the mind and inspires great work.

OfficeLinks is launching CoWorking at our Willis Tower (Chicago )and 40 Wall Street locations.  Clients will enter into the best buildings in the city, take the elevator up to the 84th and 28th floors respectively, be greeted by a welcoming receptionist and guided into their own Co-Working office.  The office is open plan and encourages interaction while privacy is ensured through locked desks and secure phones.  Clients will have access to the OfficeLinks Java Lounge where they can enjoy freshly brewed gourmet coffee, Tazo teas, filtered water and connectivity via iMacs.  In addition, they may also access boardroom style meeting rooms and videoconference studios on a pay–for-use basis.  

As an OfficeLinks team member, I have always been impressed with our company’s foresight and leading-edge products and services.  However, our latest offering takes the cake.  In fact, we’re launching Co-Working at OfficeLinks New York and Chicago with a FREE test drive.  Anyone interested in test-driving our new product may try it for FREE on Fridays starting August 28, 2009. Each week, we’ll have 10 desks available on a first come first serve basis. So, give us a call to make a reservation 646-512-5700.

We’re launching this product due to strong customer demand.  I’m thrilled that we’re the first in our industry to respond to the demand and to deliver an office product that really makes sense in today’s business climate. Just think—your isolated home office… a coffee shop… a hotel lobby… or a premiere office location featuring brilliant views, modern workstations, high-speed WiFi, free refreshments, and other business people.  Sounds to me like a no brainer!