5 ways technology can help you increase business productivity

10th December 2020

Practically since the beginning of time, small and medium enterprises have been trying to find ways to do business more efficiently, striving to achieve better productivity and more innovativeness. Nowadays, with the increasing number of people working remotely, the demand for on-demand data is on the increase as well. On-demand information means instant accessibility, at any given time and from any location. Therefore, the use of technology has also risen in an attempt to help businesses achieve their goals. The ways in which technology can help you increase business productivity are numerous, and what follows are the most prominent ones.

  1. Connect dispersed employees

    Since work from home has become widely present, technology has allowed employees instant access to all business data from wherever and at any time necessary. Moreover, such a way of working has enlarged the talent pool. It means that geographical location, or time zones, are not a limit for employing the right person for a position. Technology has also made remote onboarding possible. Finally, with more and more staff working offsite, businesses have a chance to save money on office space or even open remote offices without being physically present. All that without obstacles in communication, data exchange, or a drop in productivity – quite the opposite.
     
  2. Improved collaboration, communication, and non-stop availability

    As already mentioned, the dispersed staff can easily collaborate through any preferred medium. There are numerous tools the employees can use to exchange files and documents easily. As we already know, effective information sharing is crucial for business productivity. Moreover, the implementation of unified communication systems, which include various types of communication – call, conference sessions, video chats, instant messages, etc., allow for unobstructed interaction among employees.

    In addition, there are various software solutions business uses to increase productivity, share data, keep track of projects, and monitor staff activity. One such example is the Customer Relationship Management software (CRM). It allows sales teams, for instance, to access all necessary information at any given time to make right decisions regarding potential sales. It also enables consistent and high-quality customer service, ultimately increasing productivity and profitability.
     
  3. Better organisation and increased availability

    Easy and quick access to data saves valuable time. Since the data can be reached from any device anywhere and whenever necessary, there is no need for employees to be physically present. But even in the case of work from the office, technology can eliminate the tedious search for needed information in spreadsheets and tables. Furthermore, the data is stored safely on cloud services. Therefore, even in the case of system failure, the business can continue uninterrupted, and no file will get lost.
     
  4. Identifying weak points

    Obsolete technology and a poor Internet connection can impede business flow. Regular updates of both hardware and software will solve the problem and point out the problematic areas. Also, offsite servers allow you to virtualise the operating system, which will, in turn, prolong the lifespan of your desktop computers. Such practice will reduce the costs of both hardware and software maintenance.
     
  5. Enhanced internal affairs

    The internal structure of a company has a significant impact on its productivity. Many businesses have successfully established a company culture and have been employing new staff accordingly. However, creating a culture is not enough. It needs to be maintained to ensure satisfaction among employees and prevent deviating from company values. Many software solutions help employers keep an eye on their staff and enable instant identification of any signs of distress.

    Moreover, employee monitoring systems are an excellent option for tracking efficiency and productivity. Constant insight into business functioning allows business owners to react quickly and effectively at the first sign of a problem. Finally, since they can monitor employees' performance, they can boost morale and provide incentives through a reward system.

Final takeaways

If you are a business owner, technology can help you increase business productivity tremendously. With the improvement of communication, ease of data sharing, instant accessibility to information, productivity improves as well. Moreover, company values and culture are easier to strengthen and maintain by carefully monitoring staff performance and quick reactions from employers. Also, costs decrease due to smaller office space necessary. The culture can be enriched with the employment of staff from all over the world. But that is not all; technology has also found its way into the learning processes. Companies can organise online training and online conferences more efficiently and with fewer expenditures.

Author

Lindsay Denton, Digital Dot