Ecommerce firms are undoubtedly on the rise. After all, it’s been reported that online marketplaces have become a necessity, and in this day and age, this analyses hits closer to home than many brick and mortar businesses might like to admit. Companies have stumbled upon a crossroads, and now must decide where they want their presence to be felt the strongest; online, or in the real world?
Still, no matter how much online businesses develop, physical business premises will never go out of fashion. In spite of everything, support has never been more widely available in finding a quality workplace, so there’s still demand. But what reasons will keep physical business premises alive for a while longer yet?
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More Personable Interactions
While the online world can add shortcuts and convenience to communications, it can’t outright replace or duplicate the warmth of human interaction. Handshakes, conference and meeting rooms, refreshments; these are only a few of the things that can only be experienced via a face to face meeting and provided by a business premises. Moreover, each of these things can help businesses close deals and build positive client or B2B relationships.
Some meetings can take place through software like Skype, but others that are perhaps more important should be conducted in person on the premises of a business. It communicates a level of respect between the parties involved, that they’re worth one another’s time and give up their own for the sake of discussions. From here, their bonds can be strengthened, and more trust can be built between them.
Client Impressions
Of course, if businesses are located exclusively online, then clients have a very limited view of the business. Paragraphs of text, a few brand images and logos, a couple of webpages… these things don’t define every inch of a business. It leaves a lot in the dark and a lot to be guessed, and clients are merely getting a glimpse of the company. Does the business have anything to hide? Choosing an office location is an important factor in your business success.
A business premises can land a more well-rounded impression from a client. They can see how people work, aesthetic and decorative tastes, health and safety standards, dress codes, and how company workers and representatives carry themselves professionally. It’s a more truthful representation of the firm that’s more revealing than the selective snippets they choose to post online.
Separating Work From Home
When your entire life is online, it can be tough to pull the plug and disconnect. Staff emails are being read early in the morning, living rooms become offices, work is being done after home time, and sleepless nights are more frequently occurring. When one’s career is on a cloud server that can be accessed with a laptop and password, worried workers will undoubtedly log in at home and work past their allotted hours.
Some might say this is their right, and while that be true, it’s also not healthy. Everyone needs a positive work-life balance, and employees must recognize when it’s time to work and when it’s to rest and unwind. With a physical work premises, work stays at work, and home stuff stays at home. The two will hardly ever intersect, and therefore employee’s mental wellbeing will undoubtedly improve.
Conclusion
Ultimately, a physical workplace premises is more revealing, trustworthy and personable than an online business. People will develop stronger bonds to the firm, whether they’re visitors or even staff. It’s all about building better relationships and impressions of the company, something that can only yield long-term advantages for the future.
