Is Remote Working Possible?

Remote or mobile working does have its challenges as well as its benefits. In this article, we list down some pros and cons when it comes to remote working. For people used to working in an office setting it can be a very new experience. We delve into the new challenges and benefits this working arrangement can bring out.

Pros

1.     
  Less Stress

Equipped with unlimited mobile broadband, there is little you really need. Remote working allows employees to relax a little more. Offices have a lot of limitations when it comes to attire and attendance. This can cause unnecessary stress in most employees. The key reason for stress in the office is traffic during peak times which also happens to be when they have to be at work. Remote working eliminates the need for commute or traffic related stress.

2.       Connected

It’s very rare for remote employees in Singapore to have no access to the internet. Even with a simple prepaid mobile broadband connection, employees can stay connected and communicate effectively online with video conferencing apps such as Skype and WhatsApp. Along with the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, employees don’t have to bring around heavy equipment to be able to stay connected.

3.       Cheaper

Not only is it cheaper for an employer because of reduced rent and property costs, but it also saves employees a lot of money. Say goodbye to your high petrol and parking bills. You can save a lot by eating at home too. Only thing you’ll have to shell out on is your internet connection and you are good to go.

Best of all you can work wherever or however you see fit. Aside from broadband on mobile, choice and flexibility are major factors as to why remote working is very effective when it comes to improving the lives of employees.

Cons

1.       Loneliness

One factor that remote working doesn’t delve on is the social aspect of an office setting. It can get quite lonely for extroverts because you need a constant source of conversation. However, this can easily be curbed by communicating with co-workers through social media or messaging applications.

2.       Procrastination

People tend to procrastinate when there is no one around to physically supervise them. This can be problematic if you are easily affected by any interruptions, especially those with pets. But, most experts agree that once you set a habit for the next 21 days, you will be able to form a working habit.

As you can see, aside from the very crucial internet connection, it really depends on the type of person you are and how committed are you to really working remotely. If you can go without the social aspect of office life and you don’t easily get distracted, then remote working might just work for you.

Do you agree with the advantages and disadvantages listed in our article? Share with us your opinions and experiences on remote working. We would love to hear some of the challenges you were able to overcome. 

Tips to Choosing the Right Thailand Property for Sale

Interested to invest in Thailand Property? Thailand offers an exciting real estate investment opportunity. Whether you are planning to retire or start a business here, you’re sure to find a property that suits your needs and your budget price range.

Note, however, that investing in real estate may be one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. It could give you substantial return on investment, but that doesn’t happen in an instant. You also need to get yourself involved in the buying process.

You need to understand the steps you need to go through, requirements you will have to complete, along with your rights and limitations. Take the process seriously so you can avoid running into problems along the way. This is a long-term commitment and you’d want to be sure you want the property before saying yes to any deal or agreement.

Give yourself time to think through your decisions. You don’t have to rush with something as important as this. Make the most of your time. Here are a few tips before investing in any Thailand property for sale.

Define your purpose.

Ask yourself your reasons why you’re looking to invest in a property. Do you find yourself going back to Thailand and think it’s better to invest in real estate than book hotels every time?

If so, you might want to consider the return on investment you could earn when you’re not in Thailand. For example, would you be able to have the property rented? Is this option possible and can your property agent help you with the process? Is the property located in a strategic area that it will be an attractive option for tourists spending the holidays?

Or you probably are looking to retire in the country. If so, it’s essential to take a good look of the status of the property in the next years. Will it be as sturdy? Is the location practical for an elder?

Before you even approach a property agent or use a property listing site to look for available estates, take some time to contemplate on your purpose for investing  in the property market in Thailand. This will help you narrow down your options accordingly.

This will also prevent you from getting too carried away with your appreciation of a property’s aesthetic value. It might be attractive, but it might not be what you need.

Take time for your research.

There are several options for properties that you could invest in even when you’re a foreigner. Don’t settle for less. Go to as many property listing sites and inquire to as many expert property agents.

It’s your right to take your time looking into the available properties. If you’re not happy with what you see, move forward to the other choices. You don’t have to feel sorry for not picking a property just because the property agent seems very friendly and accommodating.

After all, an agent or broker wouldn’t push you to invest in a property they know you don’t have your eyes on

Set a budget.

Note that location will be a very important factor on this part. A strategic location that is within a stone’s throw away to business establishments may be more costly.

Sites near touristy spots may also come with a higher price tag. You would want to evaluate your needs as well. It would be convenient to find a place that is nearby public transportation, hospitals, or schools if you have kids or you wish to pursue further studies.

It’s up to you as you might want a laid back lifestyle as well, in which case a location set away from the bustling cities might suit you best. Your finances would determine which properties you can possibly invest in.

It is as well important to consider your other long term goals such as saving up for your retirement or your plans of investing in any business venture. You need to be prepared in case something unexpected happens.

Finally, ask help from legal and finance professionals.

If you need sound financial advice, go to professionals. The same applies if you need legal assistance. If you’re familiar with the laws involved with your investment, you’d be in a better position to negotiate deals.

You’d also know which questions to ask sellers or landlords. Real estate can be difficult to navigate, especially for beginners. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask. These people are there to help. 

Benefits of Having an Effective IT Support Helpdesk

IT support help desks are designed to improve user experience. This team plays an important role in ensuring that IT services are all running smoothly and that risks of downtime are reduced.

For someone to be effective as part of the IT help desk team, knowledge on the technical issues usually encountered by end users is highly-recommended.

It’s also important that the software used by the team keeps up with their needs. Every concern raised by users should be recorded, monitored, and resolved. This database will help the team respond to user queries faster and more effectively.

The goal is for the IT help desk to get the user back to work again. The help desk offers solutions to user problems and determines when an issue needs assistance from specialty groups, in which case the concern has to be escalated.

Help desk should be optimized to ensure fast service to users. Here are few more benefits of having an effective IT support in Singapore.

Making customers happy.

Whether the concern is troubleshooting a computer hardware or software, it is important that the help desk staff are all good communicators. They need to be able to handle the conversation in a professional manner, regardless the tone of the customer.

When customers are happy how their concerns were handled, this helps project a positive image for the company. This is especially the case when the help desk goes the extra mile in assisting users. It can also help produce more repeat customers.

Improving products and services.

Nobody would know something is wrong with a product unless someone reports it.  The IT help desk is the first team customers reach out to when they encounter issues. Hence, the help desk performs a critical task in keeping track of all customer complaints. 

It is necessary for the IT desk to record data as accurately as possible, including even small details. These complaints should be summarized and escalated to the development team, which in turn, would look into the reports and study how, based on all information available, they can improve a product.

Boosting productivity.

When customer complaints are recorded and coursed through the right team or department for proper handling, productivity in the workplace is enhanced. The IT help desk should then be able to tag customer queries correctly so they could easily be resolved as well.

Cost-effective. 

Starting your own help desk team will require resources. For one, you need to train people. Rest assured though that whatever you’re investing to improve your help desk, you’re earning back through increased productivity and improved products. By providing real-time resolutions to customer queries, you also  help everyone save time.

The role of the IT help desk may seem simple but it’s not one to be underestimated. Performing your job when a customer is frustrated can be very challenging. Making sure the IT desk people are fit for the job will benefit your company in the long-run.

If you deem you do not have time to form your own IT help desk, note that you can always outsource a company to help you out. Make sure, however, that you’re working with a reputable Singapore IT support team.

Types of Singapore Corporate Gift

Every company or business wants to show appreciation and gratefulness to their clients. It is the reason why Singapore corporate gift become in trend for several years. There are many items that can be given, but not each of them can be effective. Choosing the item to give is very important not only to make the client happy, but most especially to make it leave a good impression to your brand. Below are some unique corporate gifts, which can be effective in leaving good long lasting impression your company wanted and needed.

1. Personalized

If a person received a mug with just a company logo in it, and another one that has a company logo and also his own name, he will surely prefer the latter. Every one that receives personalized corporate gifts will be instantly joyful. Choosing items that are not only just useful to the recipient, but also personalized, can give a good effect on your brand. Think of items that can be personalized like notebooks, mugs, umbrellas, or jackets. These things can be easily placed with the brand logo and also the name of the recipient. No matter how traditional the items that you chose, if you decided to turn it into personalized corporate gifts, it will still feel and look different. This type of gift is recommended if you are in a budget but still want to add personal touch to the gift you will be sending. Your company or brand will be remembered by the recipients whenever they use the item that you gave.

2. Premium

Premium gift items can be more expensive than traditional items such as ball pens, planners, and notepads. However, if you have higher budget and want to impress your clients, then premium gift items are the perfect choice. We all want to make long lasting impression to our customers because it is one way to make them trust and continue support your business. It is the reason why many companies choose to give premium gift items especially to their loyal customers for years. Remember that you do not need to hand these items to all of your clients because it can be very expensive. Just choose the clients that gave you the trust and the ones who give you so much profit. If you are thinking of what kind of items you should give, you can choose a premium wine, chocolate, or an expensive ball pen that can be used by your clients.

3. Unique

Forget about the traditional items, and give more effort in thinking what you can give to your clients. Unique corporate gifts are one of the types that can be hard to decide on. It is because almost everything is already been given or offered by other companies. However, there are other items that can be unique or look unique at least. One great idea if you want to give unique corporate gifts is to make your own item. You can hand out a notebook, which you personally designed. In this way, even though notebooks are considered to be traditional, your personal design can make it unique. Choosing this type of gift can make your brand easily be remembered by clients because its look can be distinguished from the others.

Key Elements of Effective Promotional Corporate Gifts

Giving promotional corporate gifts is one way of showing gratitude to the recipient, and promotes the brand of companies and businesses as well. They are willing to shell out some money for the production of the items with the hope of making it an instrument to give positive effect on their brand. However, not every gift becomes effective because the items are not fully thought about. If you want to choose gifts premium that will be effective, you must consider the three key elements that are listed below.

1. Useful

The first element of the promotional corporate gifts that you should give is something that is useful for the receiver. No matter how expensive the gift is, if it will not be used, the gift will not be effective in promoting your business or company. When thinking of the kind of gift, you should consider the lifestyle of the recipient. If he is sporty, a water bottle or sports bag is perfect for him. While if the recipient is working in a cold environment, a jacket can be useful. 

If you are in a tight budget but still want to give gifts, you can choose the traditional ones such as ball pens, notebooks, and umbrellas. These items can be useful for everyone and whenever they use it, they can see your logo and the name of your brand. On the other hand, if you are willing to be generous in giving gifts, custom made gifts are perfect. There is a higher chance for the recipient to appreciate and use the item when he knows it was really made for him.

2. Relevant

The first element focuses more on the recipient, while the second element is for your brand. Choose gifts premium that are relevant to your company or business. It means that the item must be related to the products or services that you offer. Once people received the gifts, they must easily associate it to your company. You might think of giving traditional and popular gifts such as ball pens. However, if the products or services that your company or business offer does not have anything to with writing, then probably ball pens are not the best choice.

If your business is gym, a water bottle or sports bag can be relevant to your brand. Another example is when you own a coffee shop; a mug with your brand logo can help you be remembered by the recipients. If you own a cosmetics brand, a cute and handy mirror can also be associated with the gift that you will give.

3. Representation

The main reason why businesses and companies give promotional gifts to their clients is because they want to get the positive insights of their customers. Having a positive impression of clients can help any business succeed, no matter in which field it is included. It is the reason why the third element of effective promotional corporate gifts is the representation of the company. No one wanted to leave negative impression to the recipient, so you have to make sure that what item you will give, can leave nothing but good effect to your brand.

Make sure to avoid giving items that are not presentable and look crappy. Even though you purchased the items in a cheap price, the items must still look good to make the recipients happy. Remember that what you will give can be kept by the recipients for years, depending on how much they like it and use it, so you have to ensure that it can represent your brand well.