The key to workplace productivity is equipping your people with the best tools for the job, which includes putting the right tech at their fingertips.
Technology is a force multiplier that gives your business a competitive edge, so it's important to spend your tech budget wisely. Whether you're equipping your frontline staff with more powerful PCs or rolling out software updates for your back-office team, it's vital that you empower your people to work more efficiently and effectively.
Technology is supposed to work for your business, but if you put off upgrading for too long it starts to work against you.
Sluggish hardware hinders productivity, with the average worker wasting 9 working days each year due to slow or ineffective technology. Meanwhile, obsolete software hampers workflows and leaves you exposed to security threats.
Ageing tech can hurt your business every day, but upgrading isn't just about getting things done more quickly. It's about embracing new ways of working, building an integrated technology ecosystem and becoming more nimble to gain a competitive edge and seize new opportunities.
There's no one-size-fits-all solution, so it's important to assess the needs of employees working in different roles – both in the office and on the road. Some tasks demand plenty of grunts, such as multimedia editing or high-end design work, but not every staff member needs a powerhouse PC.
You might need to make compromises to stay within budget, especially when catering to employees who are always on the move. Sales and support staff might place more importance on a lightweight design and long battery life rather than grunt under the bonnet, while those who spend their days typing will be more productive with a decent keyboard.
Whatever hardware and software you favour, be sure that it will meet your future needs and won't become outdated too soon. Also ensure that it fits in with your technology roadmap, which might include a long-term cloud and mobility strategy. Of course, you should align your technology roadmapwith the needs of the business.
While you want to give each employee the best tools for the job, you need to balance this against the support and maintenance costs of fragmenting your business technology ecosystem. Try to streamline upgrade cycles while minimising the number of hardware configurations, standard operating environments and applications you need to support.
Making the most of your people means giving them the best tools for the job. If technology is hindering them rather than helping them, it's time to start planning your next upgrade.