Digital nomads are a growing segment of the world population that does their work on-the-go. They have a different mindset than traditionally oriented office workers and that means it’s important to consider carefully before investing in a mobile workforce, the bottom line (ROI) is a good place to start that discussion.
To gain good perspective on the ROI of digital nomads it’s important to look at both tangible gains like reduced facility expenses and intangible factors like employee morale and the security of intellectual property.
The leadership inside many organizations has a tendency to focus on tangible benefits. That kind of benefit usually takes the form of numbers that are comfortable in their black and white symbolism. The problem with that approach is that it can often lead to shortsighted decision making and quickly lead an organization toward mediocrity or worse.
The table below illustrates the theoretical costs and gains realized from a set of tangible benefits. Values will scale to a cost of -100 to a gain of 100. This provides a model for discussion without the distraction of company-specific metrics.
View the table in html.
Now take a look at intangible benefits using the same scale.
View the table in html.
With this analysis, it’s clear that the business is benefitting strongly by utilizing digital nomads, though individual organizations are sure to allocate valuations differently. This is simply a tool meant to provide clarity and direction.