Satellite offices are popping up all over the world, and lots of workers are now flocking to them instead of traditional office setups.For those who work in the tech space, satellite officers are becoming especially popular. After all, they create more opportunities to work with talented employees from all over the globe, and they help businesses to save on overhead costs.Have you been curious about a satellite office for your tech company? Would you like to use this approach for your app development project?If you said “yes” to either of these questions, read on to learn everything you need to know.
What Is a Satellite Office?
A satellite office is an offshoot of a company’s main office. It’s physically separate from the business’s primary meeting space. However, it still provides employees with everything they need to do their jobs without having to commute to the main office.A satellite office can be on the other side of town from the main office, in another state, or even in another country. It can be small enough for just a couple of employees to utilize, or it can be big enough to house hundreds of employees on a day-to-day basis.
Satellite Offices and the Tech Sector
Satellite offices have become increasingly common among tech businesses. Their popularity has grown even more in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, though.When tech offices shut down throughout the world, suddenly, millions of workers were left conducting business from home offices or kitchen tables.After they learned that they wouldn’t be returning to the office ever (which was the case for many tech companies, including major names like Twitter), many workers even decided to return to their hometowns or relocate to places with lower costs of living. Since they no longer had to show up to an office in Silicon Valley, what was the point of staying in such an expensive and crowded place?In response to this mass exodus from major cities, a lot of tech businesses started experimenting with satellite offices as an alternative to remote work. With this new approach, instead of working from the kitchen table with a dozen distractions surrounding them, employees could go to a satellite office that was closer to home and easier for them to get to.
Benefits of Satellite Offices
There are lots of reasons why satellite offices are a great solution to businesses in the tech field. The following are some of the greatest benefits satellite offices have to offer to business owners, their employees, and their clients:
Lower Costs
The cost of opening and running an office in a major city like San Francisco is far higher than it is in a smaller city or more rural area. For businesses that want to reduce overhead spending (especially without having to lay off employees or make pay cuts at a time when the cost of living is skyrocketing), opening satellite offices and allowing employees to work from them could lead to more savings in the long run.
Increased Access and Job Satisfaction
Commuting to and around a major tech city is difficult and stressful, to say the least.By opening up satellite offices in other parts of the state (or even the country), you make it easier for your employees to get to and do their jobs. This, in turn, may lead to higher rates of job satisfaction and can make it easier for team members to enjoy a sense of work-life balance. As a result, they’ll be more inclined to stick around and be loyal to your company long-term.
Community Revitalization
Building satellite offices in rural or less-populated communities can help to revitalize them. Rather than thousands of people having to leave their hometowns to find work in major cities, they can stay close to home and continue to support their local economies.Businesses that open satellite offices in smaller, less-populated places also have a chance to create jobs and support other local businesses with their efforts. For example, they can buy office furniture from a local store or hire local restaurants to cater weekly lunches.
Increased Customer Satisfaction
Not only are satellite offices good for increasing employee satisfaction, but they can also help to increase customer satisfaction. Research shows that 57 percent of consumers prefer to shop locally and keep money in their own communities. Thirty-eight percent also say they support local businesses because it helps them to feel closer to their neighbors.If your tech business has a satellite office in a particular community, the customers who live there will feel more connected to your business than they would otherwise. This, in turn, can lead to more customer support, better relationships, and increased satisfaction across the board.
Larger Talent Pool
When you open satellite offices, you not only increase accessibility for your current employees, but you also make your business more appealing to a larger pool of talented potential employees.If you’re looking to build your business and bring in more skilled professionals, opening a satellite office could give you a chance to find and employ people who might not have ever been on your radar otherwise.
Which Tech Businesses Should Use Satellite Offices?
For most business owners and tech entrepreneurs, the majority (if not all) of the benefits listed above probably sound pretty promising. It’s worth noting, though, that a satellite office setup can be more beneficial to some tech businesses than others.If you’re considering this approach for your team, ask yourself the following questions:
Is Your Business Growing?
If your business is performing well and you’re looking to bring on more talented individuals (or if you suspect you will be in this position soon), you may want to consider a satellite office. This gives you a chance to select team members from a larger pool.If your business is growing, a satellite office also allows you to expand your offerings and services without having to spend more money on a larger building in the city.
Is Your Business Expanding Its Offerings?
Is part of your business’s growth expanding its offerings? Are you thinking of offering different products or services than what you’ve offered in the past?If this is the case, opening a satellite office could make it easier for you to reach a different audience, one that might be more interested in these products or services.Opening a satellite office can also make it easier to facilitate meetings with potential partners that can assist you as you work to expand your company.
Is Your Business Seeking New Partnerships?
Speaking of partnerships, are you looking to partner with other businesses to help you expand or improve your company? Are you going to be working closely with these partners and don’t want to have to arrange all your meetings via video chat?If the answer to either of these questions is “yes,” setting up a satellite office could be a good way to establish a strong partnership and show the other company that you’re serious about working with them.
Do Many of Your Employees Work Remotely?
Do you currently have a lot of employees who are working remotely, either because of the pandemic or because that’s just how you prefer to run your business?If you have a lot of remote workers who live in or around a particular area, opening up a satellite office nearby could be a good way to provide them with an alternative workspace. This could also make it easier for them to connect with their colleagues and improve their productivity, collaboration, innovation, etc.
Have Many of Your Employees Relocated?
On a similar note, have many of your employees recently relocated to a certain area?If you know that a lot of your employees have relocated (or are planning to relocate) to a specific place, you may also want to consider setting up a satellite office. That way, you can keep your business running smoothly even when your team members are spread out and are no longer central to your company’s main office.
How to Select a Satellite Office
If you’ve decided that opening up a satellite office makes sense for your tech business, your next job is to find the right office for your team. Here are a few key criteria to consider when searching for a new space:
Location
Of course, one of the most important factors to consider when searching for a satellite office is the building’s location. If you’re going to spend money to open up a satellite office and rent space for your employees, it needs to be in a place that they can easily get to and will want to work from.Find out where your employees are located, as well as how far they’re willing to travel, so you can get a better sense of where you should look.
Space
Next, consider the office space itself.How big is it? Can it easily accommodate all of the team members who will be using it? On the flip side, is it too big for a team this size?Consider the layout, too, and make sure you’ve chosen an office space that people will want to visit and work from regularly. Otherwise, what’s the point of investing in it?
Goals
When weighing your options, think about what you hope to accomplish with your company’s satellite office. Setting clear goals will help you ensure you see results after you open a satellite office.Do you want to provide your employees with an alternative work and meeting space? Do you want to find an area that’s close to potential clients and partners for easier meetings?
Accessibility
How easy is it for team members to get to and navigate the satellite office space? Can employees, including those with disabilities, easily get around and access everything they need?In general, one of the primary reasons to set up a satellite office is to make life easier for your employers, so take accessibility into account when deciding whether or not this is the case.
Inter-Office Logistics
Make sure that the space you choose for your company’s satellite office is compatible with your main office.In other words, is it easier for you and the employees working at the main office to get in touch with people working at the satellite office? Does everyone have access to the same software and tools so they can collaborate from afar and stay in the loop about the status of current projects?
Tech
The technology available at a particular office will play a significant role in helping you to determine whether or not it’s a good fit.If the office isn’t well outfitted with everything you and your team need to stay in touch and collaborate, it might not be the right place to set up shop. This is particularly true if you’re looking to save money and don’t want to have to buy a ton of equipment to make the new office functional.
Amenities
Finally, consider the office’s amenities, too.Many satellite office spaces provide certain amenities that make them more appealing to team members. This might include having coffee stations or beverage stations set up in the kitchen or having a cafeteria inside so people can get lunch without having to leave the building. Amenities are important, but they’re not the end-all-be-all. Talk to your team members to find out what matters most to them. You might find that they care less about a cafeteria in the building and may prefer a spot that’s closer to the freeway so commutes are easier.
Consider a Satellite Office Today
Now that you know more about satellite offices and the benefits they have to offer, are you interested in using one? If so, keep the tips listed above in mind so you can select the right one for you and your employees.In the meantime, if you’re working on a new app or software project, contact Alpha Bravo Development for an award-winning Miami app development experience. We partner with clients from all over the world, including those working in satellite offices, and are eager to help you turn your vision into a reality.Reach out today for a free quote.
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