Talk to HR heads all around the world and they’ll all tell you that strong communication means a strong company. One of the major issues with business technology is how many channels there are and how easy it is to be distracted. Not only are you competing against other staff members for attention but you’re also competing with their own devices.
Here are just a few ways that technology is changing the workplace in 2019.
Collaborative Workspaces Are Changing Things
The way that people work has changed. So has the way that they work together. Since so many major projects at large enterprises require a team to be collaborative, digital collaboration tools are dominating the scene.
Traditional offices are starting to fade, leading more people to work remotely. However, every single metric has shown that Americans are more productive than ever. That’s due in part to the flexibility of tools that inspire innovation and creativity.
The spirit of community is important in a work environment. Modern digital workspaces allow small groups to get together informally. This leads to better communication where each employee feels free to create content and have meaningful exchanges.
Video Is Massive
The ability to have robust video conferencing is more important than ever. While offices have been using video technology for more than 30 years, it’s only now that it’s become a must for companies. Instead of traditional conference calls and group chats, more offices are opting for video.
Video enabled phones and tablets mean that every employee can use the same devices they use for productivity to keep in touch. Your employees, executives, and collaborators can get onto a video chat from anywhere in the world.
As data transfer rates have improved and device capabilities have grown, it’s easier than ever to have high-quality video.
On top of that, video conferencing tools now allow for screen sharing. This is great when you’re working on a new product for a client and want to show them exactly how it works. It also works if you’re commissioning a new tool and need the creators to walk you through the process of using it.
Teams can meet in virtual rooms or one on one. Video conferencing also includes tools for document sharing so that you can read, react, and make changes to important documents in real-time.
More Powerful Mobile
One thing that’s making both executives and employees happy lately is the ability to work more on mobile devices. With the coming development of 5G, devices should be able to handle all kinds of robust data and information transfers.
Mobile devices not only allow people to stay in communication, but it’s created new ways for businesses to operate. Through mobile applications and devices, your company can stay in touch with customers. You can build apps that allow customers new ways to interact with your products and services.
A mobile intranet means that employees don’t need to have their butts in one particular seat to be productive. With their phone or tablets, they’ll get access to the company data they need to be productive. More offices are even implementing a “bring your own device” policy to encourage employees to work from whatever device they feel comfortable with.
Management gets to be in touch with employees whenever they need them and employees get the freedom to work wherever they feel comfortable.
Cloud-Based Systems
With more companies needing robust IT departments to stay on top of the latest trends, those companies are finding ways to save money. One of the most expensive line-items for any company is payroll. With remote teams and managed services provided, companies can have complicated systems for less.
Instead of hiring IT professionals as permanent staff, having your data on a cloud-based server allows you to outsource IT work. Your data will be secured by some of the most talented people in the business while you keep from worrying about your network being hacked. If your network were hacked, no one could get to your data.
Another element of moving production to the cloud comes in the way that companies communicate. With VoIP and cloud-based communication systems, companies can track more information with every call and learn about their customers. If you’re new to this kind of system and are unaware of what is SIP calling, take the time to learn about how these systems can help companies like yours.
More Chat Services Means More Communication
While chat services are by no means new, they’re doing more than ever before. Along with the way that conference calling tools can perform chats and data transfers, chat programs are now able to provide those services too. Teams are able to quickly integrate tools like Slack to stay in touch and to share important information when necessary.
Having a social intranet up and running, it means that you’ll build camaraderie among your team members. Dedicating a chat network to each team or each department means that you can manage it by your own rules. Chat allows for real-time communication that’s unobtrusive and direct.
Business Communication Requires Great Business Technology
If you want your team to communicate clearly, you need to give them the tools to do the work. Business technology can vary in quality and you can often pay way too much for a tool that you never use to its full capacity. Instead of introducing distractions, introduce tools that you would use yourself.
If you’re wondering whether to create a unified communication system, check out our guide to why.