How are businesses improving productivity through new communication technology?
High-performing businesses are always looking for new ways to improve their productivity in search of lower costs and higher profits.
Typically, this means that businesses make small investments with hopes of high returns. Relatively minor changes, like reorganizing workflow charts or delegating tasks, can yield high returns and meaningfully improve productivity.
Today, there is a new way for businesses to improve their productivity: invest in new communication technology. Communication tech can help teams stay on the same page throughout the workday and saves time that would have been spent in meetings or responding to emails.
Business leaders have plenty of options to choose from, too. Software like virtual meeting rooms, messaging platforms, and Voice over Internet Protocols can skyrocket productivity and ensure that employees spend more time working on meaningful tasks.
The Cloud
The cloud has revolutionized the way that businesses work around the world. Businesses can store as much data and as many documents as they want and are easily able to scale their operations as their business grows. However, the cloud is more than an easy way to store and organize business-related documents.
Successfully leveraging the cloud can improve communication and productivity, as well. Businesses that use the cloud can seamlessly share documents and scale their storage so that new teams and employees can collaborate without worrying about overloading physical storage systems.
The cloud can also be used in tandem with Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP). This is particularly important for businesses that use phones to communicate with customers or team members. VoIP tech ensures that every employee has access to the data they need when they need it. As such, digital phone systems that use VoIP can speed up day-to-day operations and improve phone-related productivity.
Interdepartmental Communication
Businesses that embrace interdepartmental communication have a natural advantage over competitors that don’t.
Interdepartmental communication improves workflow efficiency and helps business leaders avoid conflict. Effective interdepartmental communication also ensures that businesses are agile and able to respond to market fluctuations and pressures.
One way businesses can establish this interdepartmental communication is through instant messaging platforms. Instant messaging platforms have quickly spread through businesses around the world. Almost every business now has some version of Microsoft Teams, Slack, or ClickUp. These platforms are designed to speed up internal communications and replace lengthy emails with quick messages.
However, the best instant messaging platforms are more than alternatives for texting. Internal messaging software now integrates a whole host of programmes designed to improve productivity and speed up communication.
Platforms like ClickUp and Slack allow users to create their own dashboards and messaging channels. These channels can be linked to important documents and planners. Similarly, Microsoft Teams works seamlessly with the Microsoft suite so employees can edit excel sheets and word documents while messaging synchronously on the app.
Integrated messaging platforms are particularly useful for businesses that are reliant on efficient workflows. Apps like Asana and Monday.com can be weaved into the messaging platform’s app directory. Thanks to some clever coding, this means that programs developed by different companies can be accessed from a single platform.
Recent developments from Meta — Facebook’s parent company — may pave the way for further innovation. Facebook Workplace functions like a social media site and is highly customizable.
Workplace accounts are kept separate from personal accounts, but the user interface is largely unchanged. This can reduce onboarding times, improve uptake amongst employees, and further improve productivity.
Face-to-Face Meeting
New communication technology can improve interdepartmental communication and improve workflow efficiency. However, there are times when a face-to-face meeting is essential for productivity and morale.
Face-to-face meetings are great for idea generation and collaborative work. We all love chatting with our peers in person and may find it easier to find solutions to complex problems when meeting in real life. However, face-to-face meetings don’t need to excise technology altogether. Communication technology can be used to facilitate more productive, time-efficient meetings.
Team leaders who meet in conference rooms need to have access to current data and useful documents. Businesses that care about productivity should replace traditional flip charts with interactive whiteboards. Interactive whiteboards can be manipulated by participants and are usually connected to the cloud.
This means that business leaders can quickly pull up pertinent data and reduce the amount of time spent following up on meetings with missing data or documents.
Tech-integrated meetings can help folks stay on time, too. Meetings are renowned for being time-sinks and productivity-killers. As a result, employees can improve their time management by automating some tasks. Folks who are running meetings can also use time management software to keep speakers moving along on schedule while ensuring that everyone has the information they need.
Businesses that can’t meet in real life can consider investing in virtual reality hardware. VR platforms don’t entirely replace the buzz of meeting IRL, but they can be an effective way to replicate in-person meetings.
VR software works by giving everyone a virtual seat at the table and may lead to higher productivity and stronger engagement.
How Businesses Are Improving Productivity Through New Communication Technology
Recent improvements in new communication technology can give businesses a competitive edge over their rivals.
Firms that embrace integrated messaging platforms can improve their interdepartmental communication and ensure that all employees have access to the information they need when they need it. Likewise, the cloud can be leveraged during an in-person meeting to ensure that all participants are looking at the right data sets and documents while speakers are presenting their ideas.
Ainsley Lawrence is a writer who loves to talk about good health, balanced life, and better living through technology. She is frequently lost in a good book.
