Here at Vesk we know all about the pros of working while on the move. 

Freedom, reduced costs, mobility and reduced commuting times are just 4 of the things we're talking about. While employing mobile workers is a great idea, we also understand that sometimes it can be a struggle to manage mobile workers efficiently. Ensuring productivity and high standards can be tough - that's why we've come up with a list of top tips to help you manage your mobile workers. 

• Put systems in place: Before you begin mobile working ensure the right systems are in place e.g. you've chosen the right mobile devices and the best technology for your needs. This will make it easier when you start to manage workers and will make the transition period much smoother. 

• Set guidelines: Setting ground rules, guidelines and expectations is a good idea because it lets everyone know where they stand and what is expected of them. Establishing rules on internet consumption and working times is advisable. 

• Trust your staff: For the relationship to work, you need to able to trust your staff. Constantly checking up on mobile workers effectively defeats the point of them being mobile!

• Keep regular face to face contact: Making workers come in once a week for meetings is a great way to make them feel part of the team and it gives you a chance to discuss any problems you may have. 

• Track your workers/vehicles: GPS tracking systems allow you to check up on any staff you might not trust. It allows you to track your workers at all times, which is good for sales groups. It allows you to see where each of your staff are so you can quickly identify which is nearest to the client. It also lets you check how effectively your fleet is operating and can be useful when debating drop off times.

• Keep staff task-orientated: Mobile workers can easily stray from their designated task if they think no one is watching. Setting objectives and goals is a good way to keep them motivated and ensure they don't fall behind. 

• Fully integrate all your documentation: Try to make sure your mobile workers use the same forms and documents your office workers do. This makes it much easier and quicker to transfer files and will enable mobile workers to access files without having to return to the office. 

Although advances in mobile technology have undoubtedly made lives easier, particularly for mobile workers, there are many who now believe mobile devices are having a negative impact on our lives. 

A new survey by Robert Half Technology has revealed that many people believe mobile devices increase rudeness in the workplace. 51% of the workers in 1,400 US offices said they felt the introduction of mobile devices in the workplace had increased "breaches in workplace etiquette". 

Many of those questioned said mobile devices acted as a distraction for workers, often interfering in meetings and discussions. 

The 5 main tech-related "breaches of workplace etiquette" are:

• E-mailing or texting during company meetings. 

• Workers that communicate primarily through e-mail, rather than face-to-face discussions.

• Employees who talk loudly on the phone, no matter where they are. 

• Workers who walk around with Bluetooth devices strapped to their heads.

• Employees who let their phones vibrate during meetings without turning them off. 

A new study has revealed mobile workers don't take security as seriously as they should. 

The study by Cisco and the US National Cyber Security Alliance questioned 700 mobile workers across America, the UK, China, India, Singapore, Germany and South Korea. As companies increase the number of mobile workers they employ, the more mobile devices are used and thus, the security risks increase. 

Despite this, nearly three quarters of those questioned said they are not always aware of security threats and the best practices to use when working on the move. 28% admitted they "hardly ever" consider security threats because they're in "a hurry" or "it's IT's job". 

Almost half admitted to opening e-mails and attachments from sources they don't know, with more than three quarters saying it was harder to identify unknown sources on PDA's because of their small screens. 

Korn/Ferry International recently released research which found nearly 81% of mobile workers are constantly connected to a mobile device, with a large majority admitting to using unauthorised wireless internet connections. Nearly a third said they had hijacked their neighbour's account or had used an unauthorised connection in a public place. 

“While this study shows mobility provides businesses with new risks, so do other internet services and new technologies," said Ron Teixeira, Executive Director of NCSA. "Mobility and the internet can be used securely and safely if businesses institute a culture of security within their workforce by providing their employees with continuous cyber security awareness and education programs.”

The NCSA say many workers forget that PDA's are also personal devices and can easily be hijacked if proper security processes are not put in place. Tools such as encryption help to safeguard information, should mobile devices fall into the wrong hands. 

We've all been there....stuck in a daily traffic jam....late for work...cut up on the road by various useless drivers. Yes, the daily commute to work is a nightmare for most workers and a new survey has revealed that the average UK daily commute to and from work is around 47 minutes. 

That's the equivalent of 8 days a year and an average total of around £454. In a survey of 3000 workers, 58% admitted being late for work due to traffic, while 59% admitted to often feeling angry on the daily commute. 

The longest average commute time is in London - 56 minutes a day, where 70% of commuters admitted to regularly feeling angry on their way to work. 

This added stress is often unnecessary and can often be avoided. 68% of those asked said they would work from home if this was an option. 

Brian Martin, from elephant.co.uk who conducted the survey, said, “Modern technology is enabling more and more people the chance to work at least some of their time from home.  It’s something we expect to see more of in the years to come.  This won’t only benefit those people who are given the option of working from home, it should also take some of the commuter traffic off the road at rush hour and make the commute less busy for all road users.”

As well as cutting down commuter traffic and taking stress off major roads, home working also allows workers to make their working hours more productive. Time spent commuting is the equivalent of £260 million worth of working hours. This wasted time could be converted into working time if workers switched from working in the office to working at home. 

Home working is a great way at cutting costs and encouraging productivity but it seems many SME's are reluctant to try it. 

New figures out by oneDrum show that 61% of employers never give their staff the opportunity to work from home. Not being able to access files and lack of technology are two of the main reasons stated for not allowing workers to work from home. 

The price of virtual desktops has dropped in recent years as the new technology has become more and more popular with home workers. In fact figures out this week show that a third of SME's are currently looking into desktop virtualisation. Although this figure may seem high, it still leaves a massive 70% who aren't looking to embrace this technology.

Why? The research shows that 55% of SME's questioned said they could see no reason for working from home and said couldn't see how flexible working policies could allow staff to work better away from the office. 

This reluctance comes despite the fact that many reports have shown that there are many pluses to working from home, including reduced costs and increased creativity. 

Ignorance is thought to be another reason behind the reluctance. Many SME's have a tried and tested formula which they're happy with, despite the fact it might not be the most economical. New technology could scare SME's who might not completely understand it and, because of this, can't see how it could help their business.

Although SME owners might not be able to see the potential, many of the 606 employees questioned could. Over 80% said they feel they could be more productive working from home, while almost a third said they could do all or most of their work from home. 

Jasper Westerway from  oneDrum, said; “Many respondents stated that working from home wasn’t an option because they needed access to documents and colleagues. SMBs need to identify solutions that truly meet their needs and budgets, as well as trust both the technology and their employees to treat their data with care and attention.”

The number of SME's looking into desktop virtualisation have shot up in the last 6 months according to new research by Centrix Software.

The survey found that over a third of SME's were looking into deploying the technology in 2010. Cost-saving, improved delivery of IT services and simplification of servers were the three main reasons identified by SME's across a wide range of industries for the switch.

Over 30% of companies who use a single platform application are thought to now be considering virtualisation.

"The survey findings highlight the momentum behind the move to virtual infrastructures and the central deployment of applications," said Centrix Vice President For Sales and Marketing Lewis Gee.

Virtual desktops allow users to access their desktop using the internet. This cuts the need for a number of servers and also makes transferring files much quicker and easier. It also eliminates the need for storage devices e.g. USB sticks and allows you to use all programmes so you don't need to waste time updating hardware.

Why are SME's looking into virtual desktops?

There are a number of reasons why SME's are looking into desktop virtualisation.VDI's help SME's to centralise control over data for security reasons. Financial service companies such as hedge funds see virtual desktops as a way to keep their data confidential and off laptops, which are an easy target for theives.

SME's could also save money with virtual desktops. Some VDI providers say they can save SME's up to 50% of the costs they currently spend on IT administrators.

This new evidence from Centrix looks to back up the prediction that 2010 will be the year that virtual desktops get the boost they've been waiting for.  

Everyday more and more people are using mobile devices to store and transport important documents and files from location to location. 

But it's not just private workers and consumers who are turning to mobile devices. Government agencies and companies are also beginning to turn to mobile devices in a bid to increase productivity between workers. Industry analyst firm IDC have estimated that there will be 1 billion mobile workers by 2011. This means there will be at least 1 billion portable devices. 

But what happens when these devices get lost or stolen?

You might have the "it'll never happen to me" attitude but you might want to think twice when you see the statistics. The Ponemon Institute recently conducted a survey of 900 US companies. The results were shocking and rather worrying. 

• 43% had lost a device that contained personal information
• 32% didn't report the loss in a timely fashion
• 33% had lost USB drives, 31% had lost CD's/DVD's, 21% had lost Blackberrys or iphones, while 5% had lost laptop

Whether it be down to finances, weather (as is the case this week!) or location, the number of people working professionally from home has soared in the last few years. 

In fact the number of people who both live and work at home is now at all time high. New technology, such as e-mailing and virtual desktops, has made it easier than ever to work from home without missing out on the professional office environment. 

So what’s making this such a popular option? Obvious answers are a warm fire in winter, no commuting and no office costs but there are other advantages to working at home that you might not have considered. 

Wider choice of applicants: Allowing staff to work at home means you can have a wider scope of applicants e.g. disabled people who might not normally be able to get into the office. Working from home also means it’s easier to retain employees e.g. working mothers who might otherwise have been forced to quit. 

Increased staff motivation: Working from home often takes the pressure off employees and while some see this as an excuse not to work, many actually become more motivated and much more positive. It also reduces staff and sick days so saves your company money in the long run. 

Location: Allowing staff to work from home often means they’re closer to clients so saves yet more commuting time. This is particularly important in a sales environment where time, quite literally, equals money. 

Innovation: Taking time out of an office environment can really help to inspire staff. Many of the best ideas are born out of working at home, away from the claustrophobia of the office. 

But home working doesn’t mean you have to just work at home. More and more people are choosing to split their working time equally between home and the office. This option allows employers to check up on their staff and fill them in on what’s going on, while staff can still retain their freedom. 

While there are many advantages to working at home, there are also a few negative things employers need to consider. Letting one person work at home sets a precedent and others will want to follow – you need to have a clear idea before you start of how home working will operate, who it will work for and you need to also come up with some “house rules.” Training, increased telecommunications and security are also important costs to consider. 

The recession has, undoubtedly, shaken the business world over the last 12 months. Companies have been forced to sack thousands of workers and tighten their purse strings on all business costs in a bid to keep their heads above water at a time when many have suffered.

The office space market has been one of the worst affected, with vacancy rates at all time highs in many places throughout the world. So, what happens when you can’t afford office space?

Employers from all industries are now choosing to employ mobile workers in an attempt to cut down on traditional office costs. Mobile working suits a lot of industries, and many have now been left wondering when they didn’t turn mobile a long time ago.

Writers, artists and designers are just three of the major industries which can function well from home. In fact some are now finding that their current situation suits them better than their original, “traditional” arrangement.

So what are the advantages of employing mobile workers?

1. You don’t have to rent expensive office space. This is a great advantage in a sales industry when many workers are rarely at their desks anyway.

2. It cuts costs on office furniture/costs. Not having a traditional office means you no longer have to pay the traditional costs, such as heating, electricity and internet. This frees up your time to concentrate on your business, rather than worrying about the bills you need to pay at the end of the month.

3. It creates more trust between you and your employees. Employing mobile workers means you have to learn to trust your employees to do the work you’ve asked them to. This will in time make for a better working relationship as both sides will benefit from the new found trust.

4. A new environment could breed creativity. Employing workers from home could stir up their creativity and inspire them to come up with new ideas that could really benefit your company in the long run.

5. New technology makes it easy to stay in touch. New technology, such as virtual desktops, now means it’s easier than ever to stay in touch with employees and share files without having to constantly meet, saving both sides time and money.