Globalization. IT Consumerization. Big data. Collaboration Software. Social networking. Remote workers. The workplace is transforming quickly and dramatically. These rapid changes can often leave organizations challenged to keep up. So how do you ensure your company is not left behind? More important, how do you strengthen your leadership and competitive position?
We can help. Virtual Distance International has the world's first Software-as-a-Service-based predictive analytics and solutions to reduce Virtual Distance to enable and empower workplace transformation. Metrics that matter. Results you can count on. 
What is
Virtual Distance?

Virtual Distance is a measurable disconnect that occurs when human beings rely heavily on smart, digital devices to communicate—no matter where they are located.

We've all seen the signs: Meetings that feel unfocused at best. A team member left out due to a perceived slight. Projects that get off track due to poor communication. Welcome to the new world of work. And to a world of new challenges, ones we never could have anticipated.

Everyone's heard the term 'Workplace Transformation' bandied about. But what does it mean? Hi-tech AV equipment? Offices with 24/7 snacks, Starbucks IVs and bean bag chairs? Leveraging more “on demand” workers? Ironically, today’s connected office has actually led to disconnectedness. Try these numbers on for size: 76% of employees feel disengaged. An astounding 87% of projects end up late and/or over budget. And 24% of virtual workers surveyed, reported feeling less respected than their in-person counterparts.

Organizations that leverage today’s technologies effectively have the ability to attract, hire, and motivate the best people, regardless of location. But to do so, they must first address a hidden set of barriers that when taken in sum, is called Virtual Distance.

Virtual Distance:
Backed by science. Proven in business.

We've discovered that when Virtual Distance is properly identified, measured and analyzed, it can also be fixed. Using our advanced Virtual Distance Analytics in dozens of global companies, we've devised ways to:

  • Identify areas where Virtual Distance is affecting productivity, performance and product development.
  • Measure the impact of Virtual Distance on performance, leadership, morale, job satisfaction and innovation.
  • Reduce Virtual Distance by applying best practices that have been tested, validated and proven over a dozen years in the field.
  • Manage Virtual Distance to improve productivity, support workers at all locations, enhance collaboration and accelerate speed to market, innovation and digital transformation.
  • Predict where Virtual Distance will occur in the future to avoid the traps that can make digital collaboration ineffective.

Until now, these exclusive Virtual Distance analytics have been available solely for the private use of our consulting clients. Now we are making them available to the world through our scalable VDM Cloud Software as a Service.

Virtual Distance was discovered by Dr. Lojeski while doing her Ph.D. research. Her thesis, "Virtual Distance: A New Model for the Study of Virtual Work", won the 2006 award for outstanding dissertation of the year at Steven's Institute of Technology, one of the top engineering schools in the country.

Using rigorous research methods and in-depth statistical modeling, Dr. Lojeski has shown that Virtual Distance has a significant and negative impact on multiple key performance indicators. And it's not just about geographic or time-zone differences - in fact - when taken in sum - those factors are the least important.

Dr. Lojeski identified 10 factors, grouped into three main components, Physical Distance, Operational Distance and Affinity Distance. The most significant factors, Operational and Affinity Distance, have more to do with day-to-day issues in meaningful communications and the barriers that block the deep formation of relationships. That said, if companies continue to chase the Physical Distance Factors - they are aiming at the wrong target if they want to improve performance.

After a decade of collecting Virtual Distance data, including 40,000 data points from more than 1,000 global teams in companies that employ over a million people, the statistical relationships and predictive power of Virtual Distance has just gotten stronger. We have demonstrated that when Virtual Distance is reduced using Virtual Distance Management (VDM) practices, now available in the VDM Cloud SaaS solution, performance can increase by 30% or more and the difference can be seen in less than six months!

Using science as our ground, we can predict success.

HOW HIGH VIRTUAL DISTANCE IMPACTS YOUR CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Virtual Distance isn’t something that happens to “other people.”

You are, without a doubt, affected by Virtual Distance. You just may not realize it yet. And when it comes to this topic, what you don’t know CAN hurt you.

For more than a decade, we've worked with Fortune 500 companies around the globe and have demonstrated that Virtual Distance upends multi-billion-dollar businesses, impedes product development, causes team dysfunction and cripples corporate cultures.

For individuals, this can be frustrating. For businesses, it can seriously impact your bottom line. Discover for yourself just how valuable remedying Virtual Distance can be for your company.

Virtual Distance can have significant effects on culture, efficiency and profits.
We Can Help.

By leveraging the tools in The Virtual Distance Management (VDM) Cloud software suite, organizations can now take control of Virtual Distance and transform it from a liability into a tool for competitive differentiation. In a world of hard-to-implement and harder-to-measure team engagement solutions, Virtual Distance (and the proven science behind it) is the game changer managers have been waiting for.
What are you waiting for? Get in touch with one of our experts today.

Get your company working smarter with VDM Cloud The world’s first Virtual Distance® software product.
VDM Cloud includes five powerful modules that will forever change the way you work.

A few of the organizations
we’ve helped.
We have worked with dozens of global companies to solve some of the most vexing problems presented by the new world of work. Our experience with industry-specific nuances, whether it be privacy, compliance or localization, allows us to deliver solutions that ensure that you see the most impactful results in the shortest amount of time.
We have worked with dozens of global clients to solve some of the most vexing problems presented by the new world of work. Our experience with industry-specific nuances, whether it be privacy, compliance or localization, allows us to deliver a solution that will ensure that you see the most impactful results in the shortest amount of time.
We have worked with dozens of global clients to solve some of the most vexing problems presented by the new world of work. Our experience with industry-specific nuances, whether it be privacy, compliance or localization, allows us to deliver a solution that will ensure that you see the most impactful results in the shortest amount of time.
We have worked with dozens of global clients to solve some of the most vexing problems presented by the new world of work. Our experience with industry-specific nuances, whether it be privacy, compliance or localization, allows us to deliver a solution that will ensure that you see the most impactful results in the shortest amount of time.
We have worked with dozens of global clients to solve some of the most vexing problems presented by the new world of work. Our experience with industry-specific nuances, whether it be privacy, compliance or localization, allows us to deliver a solution that will ensure that you see the most impactful results in the shortest amount of time.
We have worked with dozens of global clients to solve some of the most vexing problems presented by the new world of work. Our experience with industry-specific nuances, whether it be privacy, compliance or localization, allows us to deliver a solution that will ensure that you see the most impactful results in the shortest amount of time.
Testimonials
About Virtual Distance International

Virtual Distance International (VDI), is a New York-based software company specializing in providing solutions to the most vexing challenges around Workplace Transformation. Based on the award-winning discovery of Virtual Distance by Founder and CEO, Dr. Karen Lojeski, VDI has the world's only algorithms that are scientifically validated and precisely reveal where and how Virtual Distance is impacting performance and innovation. VDI pairs these integrated data, assessments, analytics and reporting solutions with prescriptive action plans that once implemented, yield immediate and measurable improvements to performance and innovation.

Meet The VDI Leadership Team
Founder & Ceo

Dr. Karen Lojeski

Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski is the Founder and CEO of Virtual Distance International (VDI), a software company specializing in Workplace Transformation powered by Virtual Distance Analytics. Dr. Lojeski began as a Systems Engineer with a B.S. in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. She also held leadership positions at major corporations including Chase Manhattan Bank, Stratus Computer, and Mercer Consulting. Karen then earned her Ph.D. from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Dr. Lojeski is the author of two books: Leading the Virtual Workforce and Uniting the Virtual Workforce. Click here to hear her tell the story of how she discovered Virtual Distance.

In The News

Contact us to learn more and to schedule a live demo.

* Source: 2016 University of Texas survey on workplace satisfaction.