Ever wanted to work from home, but didn't know where to start? Have you ever started to fall asleep at your desk once one o'clock rolled around?

Even just a decade ago, working remotely was considered to be just for business owners who worked entirely through the internet. Although this is still true, it is becoming increasingly more common to also work remotely as an employee for a larger company. As technology becomes increasingly more mobile, so are jobs.

Some jobs require more hands-on, in-person work than others, such as working in IT or working as a plumber. Some jobs, on the other hand, can be done entirely online. For example, you may be a web developer, a travel agent, an online tutor, or a virtual assistant.

However, there are still several ways that you can cut the workload by being reachable from home. Here are 5 different tools you can use so that you may work from home, regardless of your job title:

Video conferences to meet with clients or customers

Being face-to-face with a customer will always be the number one way to connect with someone on a more personal level. However, if you want to work from home, you won't be wanting to meet with clients in person. What is your next best option? Video conferences using your computer's webcam and microphone.

Not only do video conferences save you hundreds of dollars on flights, but it can also save a tremendous amount of time. You won't have to interrupt your work to drive an hour to the location of your meeting, you can simply turn on your webcam and speak with the client the moment you scheduled the call.

Even if your job requires physically being at a location to solve an issue, talking through webcam first will allow you to know what the issue may look like, and what tools you should bring.

Thanks to video conferencing, you will be one step closer to cutting down your in-person office hours so you can work from home.

Use a call center software

Regular work calls are typically done through a landline phone at your physical work location. If you are not in the office at that moment, chances are you will miss the call. Because of this, you feel glued to your desk for the full 8 hours of the workday, 5 days a week. It's 2019, how can this still be happening?

 The answer is that doesn't have to. Virtual phone lines, known as a virtual PBX system, allow you to have the same telephone network in your business but it can be used from anywhere. Thanks to the internet, you can use a call center software and use your work phone number from a computer or your cell phone.

Many different telecommunication companies now offer this feature. Not only can you work from home, but you can work from absolutely anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet.

Use a remote desktop

Do you have several files on your work desktop? Are there certain applications on your work computer that you only have access to at work? By using a remote desktop application, you can view your computer screen from work on any other computer.

Some applications that let you do this include TeamViewer, Remote Utilities for Windows, or LogMeIn. Apple computers have a built-in option that allows you to do this with other Apple computers as well. It is important to research which kind of applications work best for your situation as some of them may be costly.

Use international numbers

Sometimes, being at work may require reaching clients or coworkers in other countries. If you tried to make international calls from home, you will be charged outrageous service fees from your carrier. You may also have to travel to a separate office to make calls with that particular area code.

However, virtual international phone numbers now exist. You can make international calls from any area code of your choice, without the crazy fees. You may be at home in the United States, and meanwhile, your area code looks like you are calling from your office in England.

If you want to work remote and appear like you're still in the office that's several thousands of miles away, virtual international phone numbers are what you really need.

Upload documents to a drive

If you want to be able to view your documents from any computer, upload your document to a cloud or drive. Not only will this save your documents where you can reach them, but others can also collaborate on your files in real-time. This means that any edit they make is saved automatically, and you can both work on the same file at the same time.

From home, you and your coworkers can check each other's spelling, make a few notes, add calculations to a spreadsheet, share files, and so on. Having a drive is essential and will allow you to collaborate from home or anywhere you have an internet connection.

By using these 5 tools, you can cut down on your workload in the office and begin to work from home.