How Tech Increases Productivity in the Workplace
10th April 2018There was a time where everything at the workplace was done manually. It was painstaking and accounts and records had to be meticulously checked and counter checked to make sure everything was right.
Obviously, this was not only time-consuming but inefficient. With modern technology, however, workers can access data from anywhere in the world and respond to customer requests and business needs much more efficiently. Here are a few ways technology boosts productivity in the workplace.
- The workforce can work on the go
Initially, you had to be sited in an office to get work done. You would definitely need an office chair with adjustable arms, arm rest, and proper ergonomic desks along with a set of office equipment and supplies at all times. However, with the internet as well as cloud computing, workers can access company data from any location. This allows for a greater volume of work to be completed as it removes any time wasted commuting to the office.
What’re more workers are much more satisfied and happier with their jobs which results in more productivity.
- Outsourcing
Business owners do not always have to go through the rigorous process of getting the right candidate for the job or having to train them to perform a certain task. By hiring experts through platforms such as Freelancer and Upwork, they can outsource tasks to highly qualified workers. Additionally, business owners may choose to outsource certain segments of the business such as customer support, H.R operations, IT support, etc. Moreover, by taking such an approach, the workflow can get streamlined and also save a lot of money. Hiring business process outsourcing firms such as Peak support and others like it may help a business flourish.
- Tracking time
Tools such as Slack or Yammer make it possible to track online productivity. Management can easily keep an eye on the workforce even while not being close to them. Whether it’s a project or targets that need to be met, the management can see where it is lacking and make necessary corrections to get things back on track. Besides Slack and Yammer, OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) can also help in tracking business productivity. But what are okrs? OKR is a framework (a type of corporate software) that can help in managing goals. It can be used by both large and small teams to collaborate and achieve stretch goals through a framework that requires regular feedback, collaboration, check-ins, problem-solving, and continuous learning. Truth be told, OKRs are simple yet powerful. This system can be useful both for startups and large corporations as entrepreneurs can execute their strategy with focus and alignment.
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- Staying focused
The internet not only provides workers with information to help accomplish their tasks better, but it can also be a distraction. Think of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. However, there are tools that can help prevent workers from getting distracted. SelfControl, for example blocks access to certain websites.
- Networking
Before the internet, the only way to network was to manually give out business cards to people in the niche you are interested in.
Now with platforms such as LinkedIn, you can get in contact with people in your field easily without leaving the office or the comfort of your couch. Communication is easier now and you can exchange ideas that can help improve your productivity.
- Better marketing
Technology now makes it possible for focused advertisements that are designed for specific individuals. This significantly increases the odds of turning that potential client into a regular customer. Gone are the days when businesses placed ads in newspapers, hoping to catch the attention of customers. While it surely worked, targeted advertising is much more efficient. In fact, with powerful technological tools that can be leveraged with the help of data analytics consulting companies, the process of identifying what works and what doesn’t has become much easier and more efficient.
- Better Customer service
Often customer service involved receiving and making phone calls that were at times frustrating. Chat boxes are now able to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions saving both the customer and the business valuable time and resources. Chat boxes can also make reservations and even order products.
After reading the articles on my website, you would be quite likely thinking about the brain behind this information. It will be better to inform that one person could never create, update and maintain such a big website. Although people like to call me as the owner of this information portal, I would like to describe myself as a geek trying to help others.