Have you ever caught yourself feeling trapped by the confines of the cubicle in your office? Gazing with dissatisfaction at the floor to ceiling beige decor? Wishing beyond all hope that your desk was a little closer to a window? You’re not alone.
And while living out of a van or RV was once only practical for Instagram influencers, remote work has gone mainstream. Wanderlust is taking over today’s workforce and the number of digital nomads is growing with the help of unified communications technologies.
Let’s get into the details before you rush to sell all your belongings and hit the road in an Airstream.
What Is a Digital Nomad?
Think of a digital nomad as a remote worker with the travel bug. They’re roaming tech enthusiasts that travel and work anywhere with an internet connection. These “nomads” tend to be well-educated, skilled and often work in high-demand, tech-heavy occupations. Relying on mobile devices with wireless internet access, they often use laptops, smartphones and mobile hotspots to get the job done.
While this kind of lifestyle seemed pretty out-of-reach for most of us a few years ago, it’s become quite accessible. With the adoption of remote positions and digital communication platforms, traditional office workers are hitting the road.
The Digital Nomad Movement Is Gaining Momentum
Even before the pandemic, the move toward remote work and flexible schedules was on an upward swing. COVID-19 simply accelerated these trends, resulting in — you guessed it — a growing number of digital nomads. The MBO Partners’ 2020 State of Independence research study found that 10.9 million American workers currently describe themselves as digital nomads — that’s an increase of 49 percent from 2019!
While the digital nomad community was once dominated by freelancers, contractors and the self-employed, that’s no longer the case. The movement is now driven by people with more traditional jobs who got a taste of flexibility and remote work during the shutdown. They’ve realized that it’s possible to work from any location with internet access.
The ability to work from anywhere on any device is almost entirely powered by unified communications. Let me explain.
Become a Wandering Worker with Unified Communications
You can’t be a digital nomad without the right technology. If you’re unable to connect, communicate and collaborate with coworkers when you’re abroad, you can forget the privilege of remote work. Actually, you’re likely to find yourself unemployed after a few days of radio silence. And that’s where unified communications (or UC for short) comes in.
Unified communications is more of a concept than a concrete product. It’s about the way we connect different communication and collaboration functions into a single, unified platform. A UC tool will incorporate messaging, voice and video calling, conferencing, file sharing and collaboration spaces into a single application that you can download on any mobile device.
Benefits of UC for Digital Nomads
Mobility
Mobility is the most obvious benefit of unified communications for digital nomads. Because most UC solutions are cloud-based, the platforms are downloadable onto any mobile device. It’s like being able to carry your office along with you wherever you go — whether it’s the coffee shop, the RV or the beach.
User Experience
Whether you’re working on your phone, laptop or desktop, the user experience is the same every time. With a consistent interface, you can switch between devices so that you never miss a beat. Chats, calls, content and contacts are accessible from any device on the same app.
Performance
Having your business phone, chat application and video conferencing tool in a single platform gives you quick access to all your communication and collaboration needs. Teams can use the device of their choice to connect with each other in real-time, meaning they can solve problems faster than ever.
The World Is Your Office
For all the knowledge workers out there, geographic mobility has become a sign of professional freedom. You’re able to work on your own terms. Thanks to UC, mobile devices and the internet, you now have the opportunity to work an “office” job while traveling across the globe.
If you’re looking for a solution that can support a nomadic lifestyle, we can help with that. Whether you’re partial to Cisco and Webex or need a cost-effective calling plan for Microsoft Teams, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re ready to support a wandering lifestyle and stay productive, give us a call today.
