Technology and the Small Business: How to Boost Productivity in the Workplace

The advancement of technology can be a beautiful thing. In the business world, the advancement of technology can provide slicker processes. After all, who doesn’t want to increase productivity in their venture? There are some great pieces of technology that can be used. This is irrespective of industry or sector.

Every CEO and entrepreneur in the land will be keen to ensure that they are increasing workplace productivity. Not only does this benefit the business in terms of the ROI, but it can inspire customer confidence in your product or services. Keeping the customer happy is vital to your success. After all, a happy customer is one that returns to your amazing product or services time and time again.

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Many businesses struggle with the ability to increase productivity. This can be difficult to achieve. But, the fast track to success is ensuring that productivity is increased. The implementation of digital technology is an excellent way to do this.

Let’s find out more.

Increase Customer Confidence: Customer Retention

A happy customer is a repeat customer. In the cut throat industry, making sure that you are inspiring customer confidence is vital. In the world of retail and hospitality, for example, making sure that you have a robust IT till system is vital. The rapid expansion of highly computerised tills is proving to be successful for many industries. You may have a customer facing product. You could have a traditional bricks and mortar store. If this is the case, you need to make sure that you are using robust IT till systems. This ensures that customers are getting a fast, slick service. But, it can also ensure that you are getting the most from your business. Analyzing audits and profitability is easier with this kind of till solutions. According to Epos Now, having specialized IT till systems can ensure that customer service is the focal point. A more productive, faster environment is needed in the current age. This kind of specialist software can help.

Of course, with the growth of e-commerce stores a robust till system is less necessary. But, there are some great pieces of software that can be used to inspire and increase customer confidence. Having a ‘My Account’ section on your online store is vital. Ensuring that this has a place for contacting you and devising an FAQ section is fundamental. Technology and web design is imperative to customer confidence. After all, you need to keep customers happy.

Providing Sales Support

Providing sales support can be tough. But, if a customer or client needs vital information, you need to be able to provide this correctly. Technology can assist with this in more ways than one. You need to make sure that you have a robust means of contacting you. Apps are a great way of doing this. Having a responsive website is fundamental. You need to ensure that you have more than a simple telephone service to provide sales support. You need to have a technological platform in place where people can ask questions and get that much-needed sales support. This means having 24-hour email services. Naturally, this is great for customers. But, this kind of support will ensure that you have a faster system in place within your office or venture. This can guarantee that sales transactions are operated more efficiently. This, in turn, leads to quicker profits.

Motivating Employees

We have focussed on the external, customer side of your business. But, your internal processes may need to be assessed too. After all, technology should help all aspects of the business. The customer aspect of business is important. But, you also need to ensure that you are motivating employees using business software. This is a great way to increase productivity and ensure long-term success.

Installing and implementing the use of new technology is fundamental. Cloud-based solutions are becoming more and more important. Network and remote working are becoming part and parcel of everyday office life.  With this in mind, you need to consider how you are reacting to the information technology in your office. Motivating employees is vital. But, you also need to ensure that your employees are accessing important information quickly. In order to remain ahead of the competition, you need to have an automatic process when it comes to retrieving information. A secure, reliable network is a great way to motivate your employees. Having a slow, sluggish system will make your employees unmotivated.

Provide training days so that everyone can get up to speed. Everyone loves to face a challenge in their career. Providing robust training and support is a great way to get employees fired up. Everyone likes to feel that they are being challenged when they are in the workplace. If you don’t do this, you could be facing a loss of motivation and complacency.

Communication Matters

Having an effective means of communication in the office environment is vital. This is important for both customers and employees. Increasing productivity in the workplace via smart communication can result in better turnaround times. Smartphones and mobile devices are great to give to all employees. If you have a sales team, you will know that time on the road is time that is lost. Using smart devices means that calls and emails can be responded to, anytime anywhere. But, it also means that clients can your company too. An improved line of communication, using technology, is imperative to your businesses success. You need to make sure that you have open lines of communication with everyone in your remit. This benefits both the employee and the client. What is more, you don’t have to worry about lost time within the workplace.

Let’s Wrap Up…

The advent of the age of technology is a wondrous thing. A mere matter of a decade ago, this kind of robust technology could not be used. It meant that productivity was at an all-time low. Without access to IT, email, phones and tills, businesses suffered in more ways than one. Technology is a powerful tool, no matter what form it comes in. All businesses, irrespective of their size, and turnover or industry can benefit from technology. Internal and external processes are more efficient, and productivity is at an all time high.