Use Automation to Improve Operations

The difference between productivity and innovation is not always clear-cut, but the biggest one is that higher productivity naturally creates innovation… assuming it is supported by the right tools and mindset. How can technology help your business be more creative and innovative in the way it goes about its day-to-day operations?

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that there is great value in operational freedom, and both employees and employers want to have their expectations met. What can we expect from these new circumstances we find ourselves in?

It Takes Action to Produce Results

Ultimately, it’s productivity that most workers, departments, businesses, and industries will be looking to for a measurement of success. If your employees are more productive, then your business will be more productive as a result. Technology is crucial in facilitating this vision of better performance across your organization.

The right technology can make a world of difference if it’s implemented appropriately. Take the CRM tool, or customer relationship management. A CRM can help your team make spades in productivity by automating much of the sales or marketing processes that might normally be assigned to your staff, like customer interaction, collaboration, and so on.

Now, if your team doesn’t have to spend all of that time on those tasks, then they won’t have to work as hard to manage or maintain these relationships, freeing up even more time to focus on other tasks that can generate profit. A CRM automates many tasks that would normally grind the workday to a halt, and it can help to achieve a more efficient workflow, just like productivity suites or cloud-based platforms.

The cloud in particular can also create opportunities for your organization to expand its operational flexibility, as these resources can be accessed anywhere, anytime, and at a fraction of the costs associated with in-house hosting, management, and maintenance. If you have not considered the cloud for your needs, we strongly encourage you to do so.

Technology Creates More Opportunities

Even with new opportunities opening up as a result of technology, some companies are finding it harder to innovate. Small businesses need to use every opportunity at their disposal to make changes for the better at their organization, including new technology solutions. There are plenty of tools out there that can make all the difference to help your staff be more productive and efficient with their time.

Consider how much time and effort your staff are required to invest into the guidelines and procedures you have for your company. If it’s exhausting for you, then it’s exhausting for them—especially if the processes are not simple ones. You can make them more streamlined and effective, allowing your team to more easily manage their schedules and communicate with each other in better, clearer ways. If you can free up time for your employees, then you can make their lives so much easier. Here are three ways you can make this happen:

• AI chatbots: You can invest in better support options to assist your clients in getting the help they need. When you implement an AI chatbot, you are essentially giving your clients more support, which is never a bad thing. Plus, if the bots are capable of handling most commonly-asked questions, imagine how much time this saves for your other, non-bot employees.
• Internet of Things: You can eliminate unnecessary costs through the use of the Internet of Things. With connected systems, you can control your HVAC system, lighting, thermostats, and so much more, including inventory and asset management. You can then reinvest the savings into other areas of your business.
• Data insights: You should be able to use your data to create opportunities for action. There are analytics systems and business intelligence platforms that you can use to solve all kinds of problems using the data you collect and utilize on a daily basis. You can then use this data to make better, smarter decisions for your organization.

We know technology isn’t always the easiest thing to manage for your business, which is why we dedicate ourselves to helping small businesses get the most value out of their IT infrastructures. To learn more about what we can do for your business, reach out to us at (703) 743-3056.