Deskless Workforce Vs. Mobile Workforce Vs. Telecommuting Vs. Remote Work

By Angela Gonzales

The digital revolution has forever changed the way we work, making the era of the 9-to-5 work day and desk-based worker a thing of the past. Thanks to advances in technology, new and flexible methods of working are gaining popularity—telecommuting, remote work, deskless work, and mobile work. But while these terms may seem interchangeable, there are some subtle differences.

The deskless workforce largely refers to workers who don’t sit at a desk or in front of a computer to do their jobs, and represents 2.7 billion people in the global working population. Mobile workers have their core job take place outside the office, such as at worksites or traveling from one location to another. Telecommuters occasionally work from another location but spend the rest of the time in the office. Remote workers, on the other hand, perform their office-type jobs from another location, such as at home.

Each of these approaches requires different capabilities. Understanding which definition applies to your workforce will ensure you select a technology platform that meets their communication, collaboration, and productivity needs.