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The Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) operates a 12m telescope in Chile at 5107m above sea level in the Andes mountains. Given this isolated location, APEX was developed as a telescope for remote operations, ensuring that it could be effectively managed despite the challenging environment. To guarantee optimal operation in terms of science and engineering, several developments were deployed related to monitoring and network systems. In this paper, we will describe the key properties that have enabled APEX to successfully operate in remote mode over the last seven years. Our discussion will detail the significant experiences gained during this period. We will describe the reliable network system setup implemented in APEX, the monitoring system that has been developed for safety and remote operation, which incorporates a redundant database in a master/slave topology at both control and high sites. Additionally, we will explain the design of the control room infrastructure that allows for continuous monitoring, alerting operators to failures through trend analysis for prompt response. We will provide a perspective how the successful implementation, lessons learned and expertise gathered through APEX as remote telescope could help as a pathfinder for the future of remote operations at the VLT and ELT, in the framework of the integrated Operation (IOP) Programme whose goal is to integrate VLT and ELT to a single observatory. Effective remote management under the IOP framework promises not only enhanced efficiency and safety but also a cohesive operational synergy. To this end we will provide a comparison of the remote-controlled systems at VLT and APEX, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, which can provide guidance for shaping the future remote operations of the ELT and VLT.
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