Digital nomads. Remote teams. Mobile service providers. Although all of these jobs may seem completely unrelated to one another, they have one thing in common. They require the people working in these situations to conduct their business dealings while they’re on the go. This setup has many advantages, but it comes with its share of disadvantages, too. One big challenge you may face if you work on the go is keeping up with your customer service obligations. Fortunately, advances in technology help even the most remote digital nomad be connected to his/ her customers. Here are types of tools you’ll need to conduct your business on the road.
Just in Time…
Anymore, your customers can reside anywhere in the world. One of the biggest challenges that even the most adept remote team/ digital nomad team will struggle with is the time zone issue. To solve this issue, Fast Company recommends a tool called Every Time Zone. This tool works with an at-a-glance slider that shows you the time in major cities around the world relative to your own time zone. World Time Buddy is another app worthy of looking at for this purpose. Additionally, digital nomads will want to do a quick Google search of the time zone they need to call a couple of days before the actual call. Here’s why. Many times, the time zone you’ll be calling is more than eight hours ahead of you. Knowing this information helps you prepare mentally and strategically for the call.
Mobile Printing Services
Although many companies now share documents digitally via tools like DropBox or Google Drive, these documents will still sometimes need to be printed. That’s where mobile printing services come in. According to How Stuff Works, many of these mobile printing technologies require you to put drivers on your computer or require you to download an app. However, once you do, this type of software allows your phone or computer to find a remote printer like your computer finds a WiFi connection. Some mobile technologies will print to a fax machine as well. Other apps show you where you can find a printer in office stores, hotels, coffee shops, etc. Additionally, depending on the size of print you need, there are mobile printers you can take with you. This type of equipment might be better for longer remote stays, however. Finally, no matter where you find your mobile printing services, you do want to be aware of document security. It’s best to be near your printing location so that you can pick up your print immediately.
Internet Access/ Client Meetups
When you’re going to be out of your home office, you need to figure out where you can access the Internet. Having access to the Internet allows you to answer client emails in a timely fashion, something that’s especially important if you deal with customer complaints. The WiFi access on your phone is always an option, but for more involved work, you may want a place where you can spread out a bit. Many cafes allow people to work for extended periods of time and provide Internet service for such a purpose. If it’s a cafe with a nice atmosphere, you may be able to meet up with clients there as well. Internet cafes give you access to the Internet and other services. You can find them by doing an Internet search for the Internet cafes in the city you’ll be working in. Other options include renting a conference room in a hotel or space in an office that provides shared space for self-employed individuals. These spaces often rent by the day, giving you access to the stuff you’ll need to do business. Lastly, Work From also provides you with information about remote workspaces, like the local coffee shop.
Final Words on Customer Service on the Go
Technology has expanded our ability to work on the go. However, working remotely can present some extra communication challenges for the person trying to do customer care. However, by using a little forethought and the right technologies, you can sidestep many of the issues that face digital nomads and other remote workers. These tools allow you to make practically any location your office, including your favorite coffee shop in Paris or Rome.Resources: https://www.fastcompany.com/3038333/17-tools-for-remote-workershttps://home.howstuffworks.com/mobile-printing1.htmhttps://www.printerlogic.com/https://workfrom.co/
