How Technology Improves Productivity

Business leaders are always looking for ways to increase productivity in the workplace. However, there's no set formula or strict set of rules you can follow, which can make it difficult to determine how to increase productivity in your own company. Technology can play a big role in helping companies find ways to improve productivity by automating, streamlining, and speeding up processes.

In recent decades, technology has become an essential part of the workplace. From using emails to contact colleagues to creating collaborative workflows using programs, the main purpose of technology in the workplace is to increase productivity, speed, and convenience which is why many companies choose digital transformation.

Improve and Streamline Workflows and Processes

There are many reasons why a workflow may be inefficient or slower than necessary. Some workflows halt due to lack of communication or inability to reach out to the right resource. Sometimes the workflow is performed a certain way for so long that no one considers changing it. Inefficiency can even stem from working with multiple systems that don't properly integrate with one another, thereby slowing down the workflow.?

Whatever the case, technology can streamline workflows, helping them run smoothly and and more efficiently. One excellent example would be a marketing platform that combines customer information, marketing campaigns and initiatives, and strategic sourcing of materials. On a single platform, these three different facets of the business are all streamlined in one interface, allowing the marketing workflow to be quicker and more efficient.

Another example where technology can improve a workplace process is tracking packages once they enter the building. Due to many employees working remotely, working on a hybrid system, or traveling, they may be unable to receive or take time out of their day to pick up a package delivered to them at the office. This can easily lead to packages becoming lost within the building itself, delivered to the wrong recipient, or even mistakenly returned. Using a package receiving technology system could allow employees to receive a notification regarding an incoming package, decide where they want to receive it, and validate the chain of custody.?

Collaborate More Efficiently

With any company, it's imperative to collaborate efficiently even among smaller teams. This is another area where technology shines, improving productivity. In fact, collaborative technology has been shown to increase operational efficiencies by around 131% . Collaborative technology can include project management or workflow programs, a cloud-based system for file sharing, chat forums, and calendars with scheduling capabilities, just to name a few.?

Taking a closer look at project management systems and programs, employees can easily see each team member’s tasks and projects, as well as the full project workflow. For example, a project management program would allow a content manager to see who is doing which task and when. They can see when the writer will complete the article and pass it to the editor who, once completed with edits, will pass it off to the design team to add images.?The program allows the manager to schedule each of these tasks, keeping the project on track, and identifying common bottlenecks across multiple projects.

This way the creative team doesn't scramble to make sure everyone is on task. With a project management program, each worker knows when they’ll need to start working on a project and when they’ll need to complete the project by.?

Another great way technology improves collaboration is by sharing digital files online. Where once employees would need to physically mail or bring files to another employee, now technology allows cloud-based file systems where employees can share and even revise files. This process significantly cuts down on time and increases productivity.

Communicate Easily

When the pandemic hit, many companies and employees very quickly adopted chats and video calls as a more central part of their day-to-day operations. Technology like this allows employees to not only engage with their own team members, but also reach out to coworkers and collaborators across the globe. Virtual conferences provide more flexibility with screen sharing and recording options. Screen sharing allows all employees to be on the same page, thus increasing efficiency. Recording virtual meetings offers an excellent option for employees who were unable to attend the meeting so they remain up to speed on current projects and plans.?

Chat rooms also allow effective communication between employees. Different chat room programs allow employees to create chat rooms for team members making it more convenient to ask questions when working on a project with a team. This speedy form of communication doesn’t interrupt an employee’s workday, as they can send the message and then continue with the task at hand.??

Eliminate Repetitive Tasks

Certain tasks in the workplace tend to be repetitive, tedious, or monotonous. Thankfully, technology can easily take over many of these tasks - often with greater speed and accuracy - allowing employees to focus more on strategic or creative pursuits. In fact, in many ways, technology can increase creativity because it gives employees the mental energy and time to work on their core competencies whether that’s writing articles, coming up with a new marketing campaign, or solving a workflow issue.?

A 2021 survey found that 67% of employees believed they were performing the same tasks repeatedly and that 58% of those employees felt that their jobs didn’t allow them to be as creative as they would like. Cutting down on repetitive tasks greatly increases productivity by not only freeing up employee time but also enhancing employee job fulfillment. Employees who work in a more creative environment find more satisfaction in the workplace .?

Technology in the Workplace

As we continue to navigate the relationship between tech and business, technology will help increase productivity in a myriad of ways. Digital transformation helps companies to remain competitive and thrive in the current world, leading business further into the future.