http://www.cyberlinkasp.com | In today’s hectic corporate world, it is important to establish flexible business practices—such as modifiable work schedules and off-site virtual desktop usage—in order to remain competitive.

1. The Advantages of Being Flexible in Business
The business world has experienced huge changes in recent years, and there’s no doubt that over
the next decade we’ll continue to see dramatic shifts in the ways we go about our working lives.
We’ve come a long way since the era when the workday was so standardized that everyone knew
what people meant when they referred to a “9-to-5 job,” a phrase that tended to call up images of
impeccably clean business suits and orderly monochromatic offices.
These days, it seems like hardly anyone punches in at nine and punches out at five—that’s just
one aspect of a larger trend toward abandoning the old ways of doing business.
For those in the business sector, change is in the air, and companies that adapt to this new
paradigm—one that emphasizes the importance of adjusting to new trends, rather than clinging
to outdated models—will be the ones that thrive in the 21st
century. In short, flexibility is the key
to success, but what do we mean by this? How, precisely, can a business benefit from flexible
practices?
Flexible Hours
As we’ve mentioned, there was a time not so long ago where a large portion of the workforce
literally did the 9-to-5 shift, but this is increasingly not the case. Much of this change has been
driven by workers themselves, who tend to value the option to move around their schedule to
accommodate their personal preferences. 77% of “millennials” believe that flexible work hours
can make people from their generation more productive while on the job.1
A flexible work schedule can take a number of forms. Some companies have found success by
allowing personnel to select their time of arrival at work, provided that their start time falls
within a certain span. For example, a lot of workers prefer to show up early, say at 7 a.m., in
order to avoid all the commuting traffic that clogs up the roads later in the morning. Other
employees prefer to rise relatively late and show up at 10 a.m. Both types of workers put in the
same eight-hour day, but one will begin and end their day at earlier times.
In addition, there is another trend toward allowing employees to elect to take either a half-hour
or hour-long lunch. When companies establish this policy, the common practice is to require an
employee to stay a half-hour later if they choose the hour lunch option. Again, there are valid
reasons why a worker might select one option or the other—some people prefer to go home as
early as possible, while others prefer to enjoy a leisurely lunch.
Telecommuting
Many workers enjoy the freedom that comes with working from home; this is particularly true
for those with family commitments, or for whom it may be difficult to physically travel to the
worksite. Of course, not all jobs lend themselves to this kind of policy—we won’t be seeing

2. telecommuting dentists any time soon. In recent years, however, the rise of virtual desktops has
greatly expanded telecommuting options for millions of employees across the world.
Virtual desktops utilize cloud technology to enable workers to access standard desktop tools
(e.g., MS Word, Excel, email, and more) without needing to rely on any particular device. The
cloud works similarly to the Internet; it’s a cyberspace environment supported by a large number
of independent servers, and it can be accessed by any laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone that
can connect to the service.
With virtual desktops, personnel can perform a lot of important job functions nearly anywhere—
at home, at a hotel, on the beach, or wherever they take their devices. That’s why telecommuting
can give company productivity a major boost.
BYOD
Standing for Bring Your Own Device, this is an increasingly widespread policy in the corporate
world that permits employees to use their personal devices (e.g., iPhones) in place of ones
provided by the company. BYOD guidelines often complement virtual desktop use. Many
companies have found that BYOD policies also augment worker productivity.
Company Bio
Based out of Dallas, Texas, CyberlinkASP is an application service provider that offers 24/7
cloud-based access to a wide range of IT services, including virtual desktops and managed
hosting. This privately owned company, founded in 1999, maintains a staff of highly experienced
IT professionals and a network of world-class data centers.
Sources
1. http://www.futureofbusinessandtech.com/workplace-wellness/why-flexibility-is-the-key-
to-the-modern-workforce