Let’s face it. Technology know-how is essential to business and workplace productivity in 2020. With the current pandemic affecting all corners of the world, almost every business has had to take a long, comprehensive look at their current technological capabilities and adapt those capabilities for a mostly remote workforce.
These adaptations have not been easy for some, garnering frustrating growing and learning pains, draining employee morale and productivity. This can be especially true for local businesses, who may have never needed this high-level technology capability before.
However, it’s important to note that the modern digital business landscape isn’t going away anytime soon. If anything, the pandemic has boosted business technological needs and advances indefinitely. In fact, according to a recent 2020 remote work report, “a whopping 98% of people would like the option to work remotely for the rest of their careers.” However, 17% of respondents stressed collaboration and communication as a virtual workplace struggle.
Businesses, particularly owners and managers, need to adapt to the virtual business world. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel, though. If you reform your negative thoughts and set aside personal biases against new technologies, technical tools can be a fantastic tool to effectively and efficiently boost business productivity.
For today’s blog, let’s explore how everyday technology, as well as advanced business tools, can boost your business productivity, employee morale, and successes, even during this what seems to be an indefinite pandemic.
1. Utilize Cloud-Based Services
The future is in the cloud. It may sound like marketing jargon, but it’s true. According to a report by Cisco, by 2021, “94 percent of workloads and compute instances will be processed by cloud data centers; 6 percent will be processed by traditional data centers.”
Cloud computing and cloud-based storage solutions are more critical now than ever. With employees working potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of miles apart, you’ll want to make sure that work is stored safely, securely, and easily accessible from anywhere, combatting detrimental downtime and data loss. Various cloud services such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, allow your company to work efficiently, with open communication and collaboration from anywhere in the world.
2. Try Different Video Chat Application for Meetings
In 2020, “Zooming” has become a verb. Video conferencing has become our number one mode of communication between individuals, teams, and various departments and organizations. Collaborations, client acquisitions, and even sales are executed via the different video conferencing options available. So far, Zoom has reported over 300 million meeting participants per day in 2020, with Google Meet also reporting 100 million daily participants. 45% of teams use video calling tools daily or weekly, and 75% of senior managers believe that video conference calls will entirely replace audio-only meetings.
But why settle for one? With so many video conferencing tools available (some, like Google Meet, for free), be sure to try out a few different brands and services. While there is a base level of features such as screen sharing available, most applications have different sets of tools and features to choose from and utilize. Pick whichever one works best for you and your company.
3. Utilize Shared Calendars
For companies that require their employees to accomplish a checklist of time-sensitive tasks and attend multiple meetings throughout the week, shared calendars are not only useful; they are essential. Ensuring that your team or company-wide shared calendar is up to date with helpful information, important deadlines, and links to video meetings is one of the simplest and most straightforward ways to produce positive and productive results within your team or company.
Keeping calendar notifications (more on notifications to below) up to date helps ensure that open communication is possible between all departments, employees, and teams. With collaboration and communication becoming a struggle for businesses, shared calendars provide a simple tool in support of solving remote working’s biggest challenges.
4. Enlist Dedicated and Accessible IT Support
Dedicated IT support provides stable service to your employees, ensuring that frustrating downtime due to technical difficulties and troubleshooting efforts is reduced to a minimum. Whether you outsource technical support or have a dedicated staff member or team, affording your staff dedicated and accessible support solves and prevents any technical issue from throttling your business efforts and goals.
While the digital age comes with its own share of challenges and frustrations, it has also enabled us to provide assistance almost as quickly as technical problems occur. The best IT support and consultation companies are dedicated to resolving digital and technological challenges at the base level, preventing them from happening again in the future, enhancing company productivity and reliability.
5. Manage Desktop & Mobile Notifications
While we tend to associate notifications with text messages, Facebook likes, Instagram DMs, and the latest Tweets, they can prove valuable business assets. Turning on and enabling important company business notifications to go directly to your smartphone or desktop from your shared calendar, team communication application (such as Slack), or project management software ensures that you stay up to date with the latest workplace happenings and communications.
Technological Adaptability = Business Success
The current worldwide situation isn’t a perfect one. In fact, it’s been downright draining and challenging to navigate, especially when it comes to business and workplace productivity. But, it’s essential to understand and utilize the various technological tools available right at our fingertips and seek out the resources necessary to use them to the fullest potential.
77% of remote employees say they’re more productive when working from home, and a whopping 76% prefer to avoid the office completely when they need to concentrate on a crucial company project. Pairing this newfound remote confidence with the proper technological tools ensures boosted productivity and overall company success.
In 2020, and from here on out, technological adaptability will be a key to achieving long and short-term business goals. From large conglomerates, right down to Mom and Pop restaurants, times are changing. Apps, mobile notifications, and contactless services have moved to society’s forefront as a solution for both business and personal needs.
Categorised in: Business Management, Digital Age, home office, Tech Tips