People in essentially all pursuits are interested in doing things faster and more efficiently, but without sacrificing quality. For those engaged in business, boosting productivity is a constant objective. Here, you’ll discover some of the ways that technology can improve your team’s output.
Collaborate as the 21st Century Man
Selected technologies should cover several fundamental issues, the foremost of which is communication. One of your goals should be ensuring that there is a seamless flow of information between team members, and between management and employees.
This can be accomplished via several current technologies, such as cloud-based file sharing and instant messaging services. There should also be a single, comprehensive platform supporting the different communication apps you’re using on a daily basis.
You can also empower your staff with smart virtual personal assistants (SVPA). These make it much easier when taking notes, maintaining schedules, and setting up alerts and reminders for busy people on the go. Another useful tool is email apps that allow you to set up filters and alerts so your staff isn’t constantly distracted by emails that don’t reflect priorities.
Data management is also an important part of business infrastructure. For example, CRM solutions can be automated to collect, synchronize, and share up-to-date customer information. Marketers, salespeople, and customer service agents will all share the same data and analytics tools for fast access to specific information on every customer interaction.
CRM solutions allow you to have near real-time data available for decision making and personalized customer experience. The addition of automated tools also allows them to spend more time satisfying customers and less time wasted on mundane tasks that can be handled by software.
Track Staff Employee Performance
Tracking your staff’s performance is essential to identify areas for potential improvements. Technical tools can provide you the ability to monitor activity on each workstation. You’ll be able to maintain records of each application used and website accessed, including starting and end times so you can measure the time spent on various tasks and compare them to output levels.
However, you should not look at this tool as the opportunity to police or spy on employees, but as a means of gathering information on boosting productivity. You can examine the overall activity as well as individual performance in order to spot trends and test solutions.
This type of system can also raise red flags as activity issues fall outside normal expectations. The information gathered will support effective decision-making on ways to boost attendance and participation and improve employee attitudes. Greater job satisfaction will help to reduce turn over, improve training and onboarding, and develop stronger loyalty and motivation in your workforce.
Offer Flexibility
Mobile technology also allows you to implement remote workers into your organization. This can be either local staff working from home, or freelancers or third-party services from anywhere on the globe. Off-site workers can save your money on utilities, hardware, office space, and distractions to in-office staff, as well as give you access to a wider field of talent.
Research suggests that remote workers are more highly motivated and get more done. Home-based workers rate their productivity at 77 percent, while in-house employees rate personal productivity at 65 percent. Flexible work arrangements would improve loyalty for 82 percent of workers, while 39 percent said they’d be willing to work more hours if they could do so from home.
To keep your off-site employees productive, it is advisable to utilize the right digital tools. Project management software can help them to stay informed and in sync with managers and on-site colleagues. Video conferencing applications are invaluable in helping remote workers build relationships with their coworkers so they can feel like a vital part of the team.
It’s a good strategy to schedule regular video chat meetings with your remote workers. You can learn a lot about their attitudes and emotions through visual clues like facial expressions and body language. They’re more apt to feel loyalty and job engagement toward your company when they can interact face-to-face, albeit digitally.
In short, the right technologies for your company can pave the way for long-term improvements in productivity. You’re building better collaboration, information sharing, communication, and employee satisfaction.
Jasmine Williams covers the good and the bad of today’s business and marketing. When she’s not being all serious and busy, she’s usually hunched over a book or dancing in the kitchen, trying hard to maintain rhythm, and delivering some fine cooking (her family says so). Tweet her @JazzyWilliams88.
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