Technology's role in boosting productivity
Productivity is defined as "the effectiveness of productive effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input".
We’ve said “so long and sayonara” to the old days of clocking in at 9 and calling it quits at 5. Well before Covid-19 struck, our world (and workers) have become accustomed to the ease and immediacy of the digital world. During quarantine, and surely post-pandemic, these trends will continue - and employers will need to adjust their management and productivity styles to accommodate remote workers. And it’s not just the large tech companies that are making changes - there is a steady increase of small businesses that are also looking for resources and technology tools that will help their workforce become more efficient, more innovative and more productive.
So how do we measure productivity in this new age of employers not hawking over their staff?
Many small business owners are searching for budget-friendly solutions that will assist them in their efforts to streamline operations and boost productivity...and we can help. How you ask? Well, the technology of course!
How Do Technology Tools Help My Business in “The New Normal”?
1. Technology Creates Organization
Technology can help to organize every task that you need to complete and improve productivity along the way. By streamlining and automating simple tasks, you can free up an overwhelmed staff. And, by using shared folders or management apps, you can allocate and oversee projects, tasks and resources.
Digital collaboration tools let team members know who is working on what, clearly outline deadlines, task dependencies and any problems that may arise. Countless hours can be wasted searching through spreadsheets for information stored in large data sets, some of which are only accessible via desktop. Investing in a database system that allows your staff to easily add and access data pays for itself inefficiencies.
2. Technology Cultivates Collaboration
Collaboration is essential to business, but employees don’t have to be in connected cubicles to achieve it. Technology allows for employees to come together and discuss ideas, find a solution to a problem, and create something new....all All while safely socially distanced. There are a plethora of simple technology tools you can use, like cloud-based note-taking, which allows your team to collaborate anytime and anywhere.
Employees will also be able to hold meetings whether they are in the office, working from home, out on business, or in the middle of a pandemic (just to name a few). With the abundance of free applications like Google’s cloud-based suite of products, staff members working from remote locations can collaborate and share documents easily. These collaboration suits are used to provide an all-in-one environment where members can execute projects and discuss any plans they need to make and, by design, have all the tools necessary to be beneficial for every person involved. By adding collaborations suits to your company, you can cancel things that are unnecessary (like, say, time-sucking daily staff meetings). You will end up saving money, time, and resources.
3. Technology Makes Communication Better
One way technology can improve communication efficiency and productivity is to utilize group messaging or a group chat. Urgent questions can be answered immediately, leaving less room for the paltry “I wasn’t aware” excuses. The majority of these group messaging applications can be accessed from both mobile and desktop devices to keep everyone in the loop, wherever they happen to be.
4. Provides Flexibility In The Workforce
With the opportunity to work remotely, comes the ability to control which distractions and communication with employers or employees you allow in your day, which can leave more time for you to get into your zone. Your employees will also have more energy throughout the day because they won't be exhausted from daily commutes. Perhaps your business is more hands-on and you need to be in store but having resources that allows you to work from home will allow you to be more reachable. Technology like personal devices such as phones or computers allows employers to hit their deadlines remotely if needed instead of waiting until the next day.
5. Technology Encourages Networking
Old school networking looked like gathering business cards that inevitably collected lint in your pocket until they got lost in the washing machine. Though not completely out of style, networking today is ample and utilizing websites like LinkedIn that networks for every sector, from investors to comic book collectors. Finding those in your niche is easier and faster than ever. Local groups like Rising Tide and The Creative Coast have been able to keep their weekly and monthly meetings going without a hitch.
6. Technology Champions Marketing
Marketing allows companies to improve products, monitor customer feedback, generate leads, and build awareness. Using technology allows you to market and grow your company better. For example, you can expand your customer outreach by using social media. From responding to customer complaints and questions on social media to establishing your business by creating your own niche. Not only will you be able to expand your customer pool but you will be able to get your business out there but using online advertising.
7. Technology Establishes A Safer Environment
Not only does technology help managers supervise employee productivity and job performance but video surveillance also helps to create a safer environment for the team. Workers appreciate knowing that they are safe, and those warm fuzzies boost productivity by reducing workplace stress. You could also use access control systems that let you control who has access to your building and restrict certain areas.
Of course, life is full of variables, and technology tools cannot solve all of them (as of yet), but it can assist with the top 5 reasons why people become unproductive. By using technology business owners are able to impact their businesses in a positive way, even in quarantine. Technology is also continually evolving - There are tools being created every day to increase growth and productivity. It helps make the lives of individuals and businesses less burdensome. These gadgets and gizmos make life just a little easier, and (as long as we never turn into an iRobot sitch - we all know how that ended) the potential for productivity is at its highest.