Tools such asreal-time workplace chat, video conferencing, web conference calls,and more are now readily available and make it much easier foremployees to stay in the loop no matter where they are. (Photo:Shutterstock)

Even if you don't consider yourself a remote worker per se,you've likely done work beyond the confines of a traditionaloffice. Quickly checking email on your phone, brainstorming ideasfor an upcoming pitch, or joining a conference call while on yourcommute – these are all tasks that can be done well from anywhere,with no need for either a work PC or a dedicated desk.

The trend toward frequent and full-time remote work begandecades ago in the U.S., but only reached escape velocityrelatively recently. The 1970s oil crisis, the surge in trafficgridlock (a term that was, coincidentally, coined in the '70s,too), and the rise of stay-at-home parenting all contributed to thevery early growth of telecommuting. Then, technology caught up.

Related: Remote work can help companies' talent search,employee well-being

Tools such as real-time workplace chat, video conferencing, webconference calls, and more are now readily available and make itmuch easier for employees to stay in the loop no matter where theyare. These solutions enable richer, higher-quality interactionsthan were possible using just emails or phone calls.

Why remote work is worth supporting

It makes sense, in this context, that both workers andorganizations have been increasingly drawn to telecommuting:

• Global Workplace Analytics estimated that the number ofbusinesses offering telework options to employees increased by 40 percent from 2014 to 2019.
• Meanwhile, between 80 percent and 90 percent of the workforcewould like to work remotely at least part of the time.

So how should your organization approach remote workarrangements? For most companies that can support it, it's prudentto do so, as there are many benefits for everyone involved. Let'slook at five perks of remote work.

1. Lower costs

Think of the typical SMB's budget and what it goes toward. Afterthe mostly locked-in expenses of salaries and benefits, some of thelarger line items will usually include travel and real estate.

Telecommuting helps curb these expenditures. Instead of needinga sprawling office, an organization might choose a smaller, denserspace with the assumption that many of its employees will beworking elsewhere much of the time.

Likewise, the company travel budget can be trimmed.Traditionally, meeting with a colleague or client basicallyrequired taking a road trip or booking a flight. Not anymore. Withvideo and HD voice, it's possible to have a virtual conference callmeeting that feels like being in the same room, all at a much lowercost than actually traveling.

2. Improved morale, with less turnover

Why do people leave their jobs? It's complicated, but longcommutes are definitely a common reason why.

According to a University of West England survey, adding 20minutes to a commute had the same negative effect on jobsatisfaction as a 19 percent pay cut for the study's subjects. Noone likes being stuck in traffic.

Remote workers don't have to confront this issue. As long asthey've got a stable internet connection, they can work from home,a public place, or a nearby branch site instead of making the longtrek into HQ. That's good news for morale and for their chances ofstaying at the firm.

3. Increased productivity

Working remotely can boost productivity in several durableways:

• Since commutes become less grueling or even non-existent,employees have more time to focus on their work.
• The distractions of some types of office spaces, like having tocontend with constant noise from an open floor plan layout, areeliminated entirely.
• Remote workers can use devices they know, plus utilize the fullbandwidth of their internet connection since they aren't sharing itwith potentially many others.
• Individuals with health conditions that might be difficult todeal with in an office, or worsened by a commute, can more easilytake care of themselves.

4. More opportunities for expansion

Allowing employees to telecommute can double as a companyexpansion strategy to new locales. If your business is growing andlooking to target customers in different markets, then remote worklets you recruit workers with more flexibility and fewerlimitations.

Of course, there are still some constraints, like needing to beincorporated in each state in which you conduct businessoperations. But having telework options available means that it'smore practical to create job listings with broader appeal.Candidates can apply without needing to price in the cost and timeassociated with a commute.

5. Better time management

Not everyone is a morning person. But commute-driven jobs almostrequire you to be one.

With remote work, there's more flexibility in how an employeesets and uses their hours. Telecommuters have more discretion overwhen they start work and take breaks, allowing them to beproductive on their own schedules. And, as we noted earlier, theyhave more time to begin with due to not commuting or having toconstantly tune-out various in-office distractions.

What you need to get the most from remote work

There are a few things that flexible working arrangements needto succeed. The first being the leadership support to create aculture that encourages this type of flexibility. Establishingtrust and accountability from the top down, is critical to foster aremote working environment. You also need the right collaborationsolutions. The ability to easily create and join a video conferencecall, plus add context through messaging, digital whiteboarding,and file sharing, is essential.

With the right approach and the right technology, you can createa culture that embraces the remote workforce—and positively impactsthe business.

Leonard Callejo isdirector of online marketing at Cisco Webex.com, a leader insoftware-as-a-service (SaaS) video conferencing and teamcollaboration solutions. Prior to Cisco, Leonard held leadershippositions at CA Technologies and IBM, where he drove integrateddigital marketing strategies and demand creation across allroutes-to-market for both, on-premises and software-as-a-service(SaaS) solutions. His digital marketing roots go back to the 1990sand the early days of database marketing.

Read more: 

• 7 ways to HR departments can make remoteworkers feel more included
• Cutting flex work harms companies' productivity,collaboration
• Remote work increasing, but technology,distractions stand in the way