Origamic Solutions

Who’s excited to open that spreadsheet?! ?? Most likely, no one. Centralizing your data is an important part of any process and spreadsheets are a great tool to use, but are they effective in telling the data’s story? Data visualizations are a great way to display data in a more inviting manner. Graphs, charts, histograms, scatter plots and other visualizations better identify relationships and trends within your data sets so that you and your team can make more educated decisions using your data. Visualizations will also provide value to you and your team by: ??? Enhancing Communication – allows those that may not have a technical background to better understand raw data points. ?? Increasing Engagement – Users can interact with the data more than they would with the raw data, leading to more conversations and deeper insights. ?? Improved Understanding – Visualized data is just simply easier to comprehend in comparison to raw data in a spreadsheet. ?? Accessibility – Most data visualization tools are user-friendly, making it easier for your entire team to create and interpret visual data. ? Our recommended visualization tool: Microsoft’s Power BI ? ?? What tool does your organization use to visualize your data?

This is how your team feels when you add ANOTHER tool/software/application to your business. There are a lot of tools in the market that businesses can leverage. As standalone products, they do provide a lot of value, but at what cost? As businesses begin to scale, there becomes a necessity to upgrade their tools. During the process, a mistake that is often made is that businesses gravitate towards what is readily available. This leads to a one-time purchase of a tool that may only be able to effectively execute in one area of the business. Over time, more and more necessities arise leading to more and more tools. Having a lot of “one-offs” when building your business will lead to: ?? Increased Costs ? Ineffective Communication ? Lack of Transparency When it comes time to expand your business’s capabilities, look to create a centralized approach with various competences. To select the right tool, ask yourself questions such as: ?? What are my goals and what do I need to achieve them? ?? How can I connect the different aspects of my business? (finance, ops, sales, etc.) ?? Can this toolset grow with my business? In the long run, having a centralized “toolbelt” for your business will: ?? Reduce Costs ?? Create Consistency and Standardization ?? Improve Data Management ?? Simplify Training ?? What tools are you adding to your business this year?

Microsoft’s offerings have become more and more extensive over the years. SharePoint has become one of the more prominent offerings, since it is typically on the backend of most of their services. We have seen Microsoft offerings evolve over time and SharePoint has seen quite a few changes over the years. SharePoint has been a part of Microsoft’s offerings since 2001 and at its inception, it wasn’t great. It started out as a simple document repository, not much different than your folders on your desktop. Fast-forward to SharePoint 2007 – SharePoint has enhanced its ability to integrate with other Office products as well as external data sources. In SharePoint 2013, we saw the introduction of the SharePoint Framework, which gave users the tools to customize their SharePoint sites in addition to its mobile friendliness. From the start of SharePoint Online (around 2016) to the present, the focus has been to build a site that is adaptable to “hybrid cloud scenarios”, allowing users to integrate with Teams and all of the 365 suite. SharePoint serves as the data repository, allowing users the sharing capabilities in Teams and other applications that they are accustomed to using. As other tools such as Power Automate and PowerApps have become established, users can now leverage their SharePoint sites to build custom applications, automate workflows or notification chains and create custom dashboards for data visualization. As for the future, just like other SaaS tools, AI is making its presence known. These agents leverage sophisticated AI to understand the context of user requests, enabling them to retrieve and summarize relevant information from documents, pages, and other SharePoint content. A key advantage is their ability to be scoped to specific sites or folders, allowing for the creation of specialized AI assistants tailored to particular subject areas or departmental needs. Beyond simple information retrieval, these agents can also automate routine tasks, such as answering frequently asked questions or guiding users through specific processes, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity. Ultimately, these AI agents strive to streamline information access, boost productivity, and enhance collaboration within organizations, representing a significant advancement in how SharePoint content is leveraged. How are you using SharePoint to level up your business? Share your thoughts below! ???? #SharePoint #Microsoft365 #Collaboration #Productivity #AI #TechTrends

Introducing Viva Learning! Tired of digging through physical documentation to find the appropriate training materials for your new employees? Organizing a company-wide training exercise and need to distribute the materials? Viva Learning is a tool offered within your Microsoft 365 subscription that facilitates your training, development, and continuous learning programs. Utilizing this tool will help your business create: ?? Centralized Learning Hub ???? Personalized Learning Experience ?? Content Sharing and Recommendations ?? Social Learning Features Viva Learning offers a library of relevant training materials, as well as the ability to upload and manage your company’s training materials or integrate with your current Learning Management System (LMS). The platform supports all Microsoft Office Products, audio and video uploads to ensure you can provide the best resources for your team! Interested in expanding your training programs? Curious about what other features your Microsoft Subscription offers? Schedule a call with our team to learn more! https://lnkd.in/eYSwdp8y

?NEW BLOG? The dynamics within the workplace have been changing - we look to provide some insights as to why. We focus on the communications aspect of the different generations and how this is causing some of the frustrations and how we can all work collaboratively to alleviate them. https://lnkd.in/e_sBhQ_Q

The DISC Profile model, originally created in the 1920s by psychologist William Moulton Marston, is a popular model still in use today. It breaks down personalities into four categories: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientious. There is no “right or wrong” personality type, this model is intended to help people identify their personality type and to be able to identify the personality type of others. There are a few different ways to effectively utilize this information, but some of the most common are: ?? Determining your strengths ??? Effectively communicate with others ?? Hiring and recruiting efforts ?? Coaching and developing employees ?? Conflict Resolution Understanding how each profile interacts with others and what makes them feel comfortable or “in their element” can go a long way. Here are some details about the four personality types to help identify them and how to be effective in a coaching or leadership role towards each personality ??

In a virtual world, do not let convenience trump value when it comes to communicating! When feasible (based on location, availability, and other factors) try to meet with your boss, co-worker and clients in person. There is value in both virtual and in-person meetings, but here are some of the positives you may gain from in-person meetings that can be missed virtually: ?? Body Language: The look of excitement when sharing good news, the fidgeting when someone may disagree but does not want to be rude. It is difficult at times to gauge someone’s body language virtually. ??? Fluid Conversations: Virtually, people tend to stick to a specified structure more than they would if they were in-person. If the topic of conversation is meant to be more collaborative or creative in nature, an in-person meeting may be your best bet. ? Accountability: When meeting face-to-face, it is a lot more difficult to deny accountability for your actions or results. People tend to be more upfront and honest when in-person. Again, both virtual and in-person communications have their value in the workplace. The intentions behind all communications should be to build rapport, foster existing connections, clarify expectations and create a space for collaboration. Be sure to choose which communication method you will use wisely!

The development of skill sets is only part of the equation to help your team grow, there has to be a shift in mentality as well. Tim's take on the "entrepreneurial mentality" and how it can cause a ripple effect in your organization ?? ?? How do you challenge your team to think bigger?

There are many new and exciting roles/industries emerging in recent years, so 2025 is no different. The world of Artificial Intelligence for example is prominent in so many aspects of business, which requires many new skills in addition to the tried and true best practices. Here are 10 of the most desirable skills employers are looking for in 2025: ???? Data Science Skills: Utilizing math, statistics, and computer science to spot growth opportunities and drive innovation. ?? Artificial Intelligence (AI) Fluency: AI is now integral to many business functions. Skills in AI and machine learning, including prompt engineering and algorithm training, are highly sought after. ??? Software Development and Programming: Developers proficient in languages like Python and Swift to build and maintain applications. ?? Emotional Intelligence: The ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as those of others. ?? Adaptability and Flexibility: The fast-paced nature of technological advancements means that being able to adapt to new tools and environments is a key skill. ?? Creative and Analytical Thinking: Employers value employees who can think outside the box and analyze situations to come up with innovative solutions. ?? Leadership and Management: Strong leadership and management skills are essential for guiding teams and projects effectively. ?? Continuous Learning: The willingness and ability to continuously learn and “upskill” are critical as job roles evolve. ??? Communication Skills: Effective communication, both verbal and written, remains a top priority for employers. ?? Green Skills: As sustainability becomes more important, skills related to environmental management and green technologies are in demand. What skills is your company looking to invest in for 2025? ??

During the hiring process, we hear a lot about the need for “transferable skills”. What does this mean and how does one acquire those skill sets? Transferable skills are those that can be applied to situations regardless of the industry, cause of the situation and area of expertise. As our business landscape continues to evolve, these skills are more relevant than ever. Our ability to navigate the unknown, be creative and drive innovative solutions will have a direct correlation to our growth, development and ultimate success in business. Transferable skills do not replace your area of expertise, we still highly recommend having your “niche”. What they do provide is another level of skills that can build upon your current knowledge. So how do we acquire them? It is all about experiences! Some of the most sought-after transferable skills are: ?? Leadership ?? Problem Solving ?? Technical Proficiencies (software, tools, etc.) ?? Adaptability ?? Analytical and Critical Thinking To show your capabilities within these skills, one can only communicate their experiences through real-lie situations. Check out our conversation with Mike King about how transferable skills have allowed our team to flourish! https://lnkd.in/e5RHTCJ5