Feeling like your office is in a rut? Maybe your workflows are inefficient, or you’ve got organizational issues, or perhaps you just need new ways to get inspired. We’ve all been there. Luckily, there are plenty of solutions out there to help your business get back on track with your productivity and growth!
1. Streamline processes
One of the top technology trends in office efficiency has been the introduction of project management software.
“You don’t start communities. Communities already exist. The question to ask is how you can help them do that better.” — Mark Zuckerberg
With these tools, you and your team can stay on track with daily assignments and long term projects with ease. Plus, you can integrate tools like Asana and Basecamp with time-tracking software programs so you can see where your hours are spent, and you can identify room for process improvements.
2. Save resources
To make money, you’ve got to spend some money. If you’re working on a small business budget, chances are you’re doing everything you can to maximize your resources.
You can cut operational costs, but you’ll still have to pay for electricity and A/C in the office. But that doesn’t mean your expenses have to be unreasonable. Connect your home devices with a product like Nest, that allows you to manage your electronics, activate security measures, and monitor your thermostat.
Need other ways to maximize your office resources? If you haven’t moved to a paperless model yet, it’s time to start! Transfer your paper files to digital and watch your paper costs get squashed. Stowe away office materials in organizational bins so that your employees aren’t tempted to use up office supplies with reckless abandon.
“Technology will not replace great teachers but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational.” — George Couros
3. Improve security
If you’ve moved your office operations online, make sure that you have implemented the right security processes to ensure that your data and information is safe!
Use an online password manager to help you keep track of your unique passwords securely. Put that notebook of passwords aside, for good!
4. Capture inspiration and ideas
Have you ever had a big idea that got away? Since humans haven’t reached robot memory storage capacity yet, and not many of us can claim photographic memory, you can probably relate.
But you never know if a great idea could end up being your big break. So don’t miss another moment, and start using technology that allows you to record your ideas right as you’re visualizing them. The Otter app for example, allows you to record your conversations so that you can capture all of the nuances that you might have otherwise forgotten.
And if you can’t imagine a world without a whiteboard and colorful markers, meet the new generation of whiteboard tech. Kaptivo is a smart whiteboard that allows you to save your ideas and even share your whiteboard live with anyone, anywhere.
“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.” — Charles Mingus
5. Redefine collaboration
You know what they say: two brains are better than one!
No matter what industry you’re working in, you likely rely on collaboration with your team to come up with new ideas and make improvements to your services. But if you want to facilitate an environment where your staff feels like they can share their thoughts and ideas, you must create that space for them.
Offices are increasingly dependent on collaboration, or what Steelcase calls ‘hyper-collaboration.’ How exactly do you create this kind of collaborative space? In a study, the office design company found that teams struggle when they don’t have a space to call home, when tools fall short, and when they don’t have control over their work environment. So how do you solve this dilemma?
They recommend finding a space where your team can work together but also retreat from the group when they need some time to think on their own. If you don’t have tons of space to work with, give your employees opportunities to collaborate outside of the office as well as spaces for them to refocus in a quieter setting.
In addition to Facetime, you’ll also want to give your employees a digital space to connect, get updates, and of course, collaborate. Use an internal messaging platform to help you refine office communications and minimize your email’s inbox.
Conclusion
With new technology debuting daily, there are constantly new ways to improve your workflows, elevate your employees’ happiness, and grow your business. Follow these tips to start incorporating technology in your workplace now!
