Today, Mashable posted a great overview of 5 Ways Small Businesses Can Use Tech to Save Money. Tip #2 is definitely one we stand by:

“Go Distributed:  You can use technologies such as IM clients, VOIP calls, video chats, project management software and in-the-cloud document storage to get a lot done from remote locations. In the short term, this can save you overhead (and earn you major brownie points with your staff) if you let folks work from home on Fridays; it can also ease the pain of sick days and vacation time when urgent tasks pop up. In the long term, being able to have employees work remotely can allow you to hire offsite workers; one thing we’ve learned about Gen X and Millennial employees it that many of them are willing to take a lower salary in exchange for the ability to work from home. In cases such as this, you save on both salary and capital expenses."

TELUS has an internal commitment to provide employees with the flexibility and freedom to work where they’re most productive. Trish Clarry, Executive Director, Real Estate and Enterprise Services at TELUS, has been heavily involved in planning flexible work programs at TELUS.  Based on her experiences, she’s developed the following three tips for businesses looking to shift to a distributed workforce:

1. Leverage technology to support work the way it is naturally happening, whether that be in the office, on the road or at home. When you embrace technology, give people the right tools to get the job done and support how employees want to work, productivity will take care of itself.
2. Create the right balance of individual and group work opportunities for your employee mix. With so many generations in the workforce these days, you need to facilitate the different ways each generation is most productive and create the types of spaces that each group will gravitate to.
3. Create a fun, inspirational, motivating working arrangement because people need a reason to get out of bed in the morning and they need to like their working environment.

How have you used technology to cut work hours and save money?  Any tips of your own to share?