Fix my printer or why remote management..

Doesn't work for every situation. There is nothing worse than a client agreeing to let you work for them remotely and then demanding someone be onsite every week.

So how do you do it? Will this break the deal? Cost you too much?

There are always possibilities but planning is key. Few issues really require onsite visits as remote connections to clients, servers and routers is common. So why do you need to be onsite?

Executives and their assistants usually are primary reasons. But unless a failure of their PC is involved, almost anything else can and should be resolved remotely.

Printer failure? Print to another printer and someone will get there to fix the printer, but when?

In this day of instant servitude(thank you Twitter and IM programs)how long can you make someone wait? Should a client of ours in Canada wait for me to catch a flight there? Of course not, but some will insist on it.

Why is it business people can partner together, but our clients refuse to accept anyone but us doing the work? Is it fear of shoddy workmanship? Is it fear of the unknown? If we do not have any other way to help service them as clients, as far as onsite efforts, what should we do then?

Remote service does bring excellent help to many outer areas and out of the way locations, sometimes war zones. Yet so few businesses accept that it can be more productive, less expensive and even provide excellent service. Yes, sometimes you get some problems, but would you rather have Wally around all the time? Or Dilbert?

The reality is you just want things fixed...now...and you don't care how, who or what does it...until it's your turn with the problem.

The Wonders of Telecommuting

(GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE this was to be posted a few days ago)
Many of us do it, but few of our clients allow it, let alone prefer it.

Work remotely, telecommute. Sure a year or so ago the boss says we don't trust you do anything. Funny we always provide results, but who reads reports anyway.

Now, because of the economy, the notion of a remote worker is appealing because the company still gets tax benefits off of you, gain some real estate in the office, reduce salary line in budget(outsourcing goes under a different line item, which in some cases, like hiring a US company is tax beneficial), reduce benefits overhead, reduce pc/laptop and various connected items costs as well, which in turn reduces help desk calls and others.

IBM has been letting people work remotely, almost forced to do so in some cases for at least a dozen years now, probably the Lotus side has been doing it even longer.

So as I sit here in London and plan for a number of projects and meetings, our clients would not know I wasn't still in Boca Raton, if I didn't tell them. Remote access, Lotus Sametime, Skype, a US VOIP phone number and local UK SIM chip for my cell phone makes working global easy. So does a wireless router provided from my Internet company.

If your business hasn't done it yet, why not? Need help with it? Let me know I can help with the project plan that will blow your boss away. Be warned, this will not work if you have the pointy haired boss that only wants head count.