PART 2 OF 2. Click here to read part 1 of this commentary

SAN FRANCISCO-When we talk about the office of the future, we're really talking about workplace optimization solutions. The virtual office is part of that discussion. But every workplace is different, and every program must be customized to meet the needs of the organization.

How can you determine what program will work best? Due diligence is required before you can begin to answer that question, and it makes sense to benchmark what other companies have done in attempts to optimize their workplace. You may find some organizations that have a 100% virtual workforce and others that are 100% in-house. More than likely, you'll find much variance, not extremes.