Transitioning from a company office to a home
office may be quite tricky for first timers. Though there are advantages of
being in the comfort of your own home, having flexible hours and working to
your own schedule, there are downsides of needing more than just a desk and
chair as part of your office equipment. Working at a company office, everything
is provided for you from your first day at the company. You just have to show
up for work, undergo a bit of company orientation and get to know the people you’re
going to work alongside. Then you can go to your office cubicle and start
working.
In a home office, you
have to identify what office equipment is needed and be in charge of purchasing
it all. If you’ve only just started your transition, you may not know what
equipment is really needed for your home office. Here are the basics you need to
cover:
1. Computer and Router
with Stable Internet Connection
You can’t work without
these two: a computer and a router with a strong Internet connection. The type
of computer is up to you. You can have a desktop or a laptop for your home
office. If you foresee bringing your work outside of your house, you may want to
opt for a laptop. A strong and stable Internet connection is a must. Having an
inconsistent connection will disrupt your work and will also upset your
clients. Invest in a good provider to ensure you have a secure connection.
2. Printer, Copier and
Scanner in One
Now that you work at
home you no longer have access to a company copier, scanner and printer. So get
yourself these three. Better yet, get a copier, scanner and printer in one.
There are various brands offering one product that incorporates these three
tools in a single unit. Plus they are even available with Wi-Fi capability so
you can easily print a document from your mobile phone.
3. VoIP (Voice over
Internet Protocol)
Get a dedicated phone
line for your home office. Using your home phone line will provide many
disadvantages. It will make you look unprofessional and you may even risk
having clients question your business’ legitimacy. A VoIP service is good to
get for your home office especially if you have clients from other states or
countries. It will be less expensive than getting a landline. Plus VoIP offers
various features useful for your business like the audio and video conferencing
and Find Me Follow Me (FMFM). The FMFM feature allows you to get calls wherever
you are through your mobile. So if you’re on the go, you won’t have to miss
important phone calls.
4. UPS (Uninterruptible
Power Supply)
Ever wondered how at a
company office when a power surge occurs everything turns dark and the one
remaining light you see is the light from your computer screen? Your computers
at the office are always the last things to go off allowing you to save your
files first before they completely shut down. This happens because your company
uses a UPS server for your office computers.
When a power surge occurs and the main power source shuts off, the UPS battery
kicks in and provides a secondary source of power for a short time. Having a
UPS for your home office will not only allow you to avoid losing important unsaved
files, it will also protect your computer from the damage a power surge will
cause.
5. Good Desk and
Comfortable Chair
Don’t underestimate the
benefit of a good desk and a comfortable chair. Now that you work at home you can get office
furniture that suits your taste and needs. You no longer have to settle for
what is issued by the company. Make sure you get a good desk that matches your
height and one with a good working space. And get a chair you will feel
comfortable sitting in for hours and hours. Just don’t get too comfy or you
might end up slipping into a nap while working.
Now that you’re working
at home you need to make sure you have a space that’s fully equipped to ensure
productivity. Not having these five key things in your home office may disrupt
your work and lose you valuable time and money. Getting this must-have office
equipment will ensure you spend your time in your home office wisely and productively.
Featured images:
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Image author owned
Author Bio:
By Debra Wright
Debra Wright is a creative and innovative blogger and online marketing specialist. She uses her wordsmith skills to share her ideas, thoughts, and tips to other people about topics that fascinate her, such as office equipment and working from home.