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S ince the onset of the global pandemic, most companies’ work-at-home environments have missed something: that legitimate feeling of camaraderie and connection that comes with dealing with others on a face-to- face basis. Enter Our Virtual Office. OVO started as an on-demand service for making connections. As early as 2015, one could use the Quicklook website to link up with a service provider and get an es- timate over the phone, using mo- bile video. There were, of course, many implications. Appraisers could use the software to assess property value. Repair technicians could diagnose problems. And, unbeknownst even to its creators, employers could soon foster a col- laborative, in-office-like environ- ment for remote workers. That is when COVID-19 hit. “We identified that a lot of peo- ple were going to be working from home,” said company president and COO, Grizelle Jimenez. The exec believes that, during that time of at-home quarantine, organizations continually asked the same ques- tions: “How are remote workers go- ing to be managed? How are they going to safely share information and collaborate with one another?” One answer is the Our Virtual Office software set. Our Virtual Office provides a remote interface that is pre- sented with an overhead view of an actual, physical office map. Re- plete with individual workspaces, meeting rooms and breakroom, OVO allows its users to share the close-proximity bond of an in-of- fice situation, regardless of their physical geographic location. Included are options for track- ing staff member whereabouts and activity by viewing their “office,” as well as inviting them and others in for a meeting or quick chat. “Did you ever want to just be able to talk face-to-face with a per- son without having to first call or schedule a meeting time and wait? Now you can,” said OVO founder and chairman, Daniel O’Neal. “Our on-de- mand meeting software recreates the office setting as if everyone is in the same building. Really, the po- tential is unlimited.” This impact on employer flexibility and employee productivity is tan- gible. With features such as single- click meetings (think of popping one’s head into another’s cubicle), custom image capture (to view one’s at-desk availability), direct video- connect numbers (for connecting to one-on-one video) and inter-organi- zational networking (going beyond one’s own co-workers), Our Virtual Office redefines the traditional brick- and-mortar experience. Of note is the latter feature: Virtual Network Directory. With this unique function, each employee can import any contact into the inter- face, whether a co-worker, client or other third party. This option opens the virtual door tomeetings inmuch the same way and has strong impli- cations for customer service. “We’re very excited about Virtu- al Network Directory,” said O’Neal. “It provides a whole other level of customer service.” Plus, the software is secure, as only trusted sources are invited for collaboration and data access. “The intense scrutiny we endured to make sure the site is secure is a testament to how important that is for us,”noted Jimenez. “Information can be kept on our server, and that’s fine. We’re encrypted, and both SOX and HIPAA compliant. More impor- tantly, though, the data can also be stored on the company’s server. It’s that level of customization and security that helps Our Virtual Office stand out.” Operations move very fast in today’s business climate, a facet that is often compounded by the limitations of having remote staff. Throw in the inherent risks associated with remote collabora- tion and information access, and the disparity only grows. In that regard, OVO offers collaboration that is at least as fast as physical, in-person dialogue. OVO is available in both desk- top and mobile versions. The company is also negotiating with larger telcos to integrate the software. For those questioning its viability, O’Neal points to his own organization. “We were going to get a new office space,” he noted. “Now, we don’t need it. Our Virtual Office has opened up everything to us. When we deal with clients or one another, it’s instant. And when we hire, it can be worldwide.” J www.ourvirtualoffice.com By Brady Hicks INTELLIGENCE Our Virtual Office Redefines theRemote-WorkExperience 18 REMOTE WORK SOLUTIONS rwsmagazine.com