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Post Pandemic: Why Business Tech Is More Important Than Ever

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StrategyDriven Editorial Perspective |Business Tech|Post Pandemic: Why Business Tech Is More Important Than EverTechnology has completely changed life in so many ways over the past few decades. But we realised it’s value even more over the past couple of years- particularly during lockdowns and the covid pandemic. Not only did tech enable us to order the supplies we needed to stay at home, but it allowed us to keep in touch with loved ones, and also keep the economy afloat by allowing us to move many of our businesses’ processes online. While this has been something that’s been happening gradually for some time, the pandemic accelerated the shift and now that we’re returning to normal life again, there are lots of areas we’ll never turn back in. So implementing good technology is more important than ever if you want to keep up with your competitors and provide the service expected by your customers. Here are three examples of types of tech you can utilise in your company, and specific examples of softwares to consider.

Security Technology

Online security

Security in modern business has to go beyond firewalls and anti-virus software if you want to keep it properly protected. Hackers can interrupt businesses massively, and cost companies millions of dollars every year- as well as their reputations. Good technology can protect your company’s information and finances and is absolutely crucial not to overlook. From AI cyber security to embedded authenticators (which employ multiple levels and methods of authentication working in tandem) to blockchain cyber security- there are plenty of different options out there these days so do your research.

Digitally linked security systems

These types of smart security systems from CCTV to alarms can protect your physical businesses from everything from vandalism to theft. These modern systems are able to provide you with real-time alerts, contacting you via your phone or the police directly. If you have a premises such as a shop, office, warehouse or factory then you’ll need to consider ways to keep it protected.

Customer Service Technology

CRM software

CRM software enables you to offer excellent customer service to all of your customers. It tracks information such as products they have viewed and purchased, the feedback they have given you and any marketing materials you have already shown them. Not only can you use this to sell further products to them, but it gives a more personal feeling approach which can improve customer satisfaction.

Scribe technology

AI based scribe technologies like deepscribe.ai can take care of documentation, allowing businesses such as those in the healthcare industry to take better care of their patients. Human medical scribes are expensive, but medical dictation tools aren’t 100% reliable or efficient. So by utilising AI technology, we’re able to get the best of both worlds. Instead of focusing on the screen, practicioners can focus on their patients and provide a better quality of care.

Recruitment Technology

Online testing

With online testing you can quickly narrow down a large pool of employees by having them take a test set by you, and filter out the ones who fail. This can be particularly useful if your position attracts a lot of candidates, or you’re interviewing for a higher position and feel that the candidate you want should definitely have knowledge of certain areas. While it’s not completely foolproof and could possibly exclude potentially good candidates due to nerves or a silly mistake they’ve made, it can make a wide pool of candidates smaller and more manageable and ensure those that remain have at least foundation knowledge that you’d expect from someone at the level you’re looking to employ.

Video interviewing

The next best thing to a real life interview, since you can see the person including their body language and other factors that might be missed during phone interviews. Pre-recorded video questions can be sent to candidates and then the footage can be watched back at a convenient time. This is something that would be useful if you plan on hiring a remote team, or if covid restrictions where you are means that standard interviewing isn’t possible.

Recruitment software

Lots of metrics can be measured using recruitment software and reviewed afterwards; using technology here will save you time and money. Consider options such as applicant tracking software and management software. If your company is larger and you’re recruiting often then this could be a fantastic investment.

5 Modes Of Communication Essential For Business

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StrategyDriven Business Communications Article |Modes of Communication|5 Modes Of Communication Essential For BusinessAlmost all businesses are essentially communicative organizations. Businesses need to communicate internally, with consultants, and with consumers. Here are five modes of communication that are absolutely essential for modern businesses.

Telephone

The humble telephone, probably invented by Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell in 1875, still has some very important roles to play in business in 2022. Telephones are the most commonly used means of direct audio communication between consumers and businesses. They are also the most convenient way to instantly confirm information within an organization. One problem associated with telephones is the amount of labor it takes to consistently field calls. Third-party telephone answering services typically offer companies the option of outsourcing their inbound calls.

Social Media

In 2020, an estimated 3.6 billion people were using social media around the world. This number is expected to grow to 4.41 billion people by 2025. If you take children out of the equation, that means that the majority of the people on the earth will use social media very soon. This makes social media an absolutely essential communicative avenue for all public-facing businesses.

Social media is key for marketing, data collection, and recruitment. Companies relying upon big datasets often harvest communicative information from social media in order to make accurate forecasts. Social media allows companies to seek out candidates for roles using extremely specific parameters. It’s also a great way to reach consumers you know are already invested in your products or services.

Email

The history of email can be traced all the way back to 1965 when academics at MIT developed a method of sending messages via the institute’s computer terminals. Today, email is one of the most important forms of written communication. Email is usually the first method used to communicate between departments, set up meetings, or field consumer inquiries. Emails can also, crucially, be used for sending files from one computer to another. Although cloud computing is making this less of an important feature, it still remains useful.

Video Conferencing

Remote and hybrid working solutions are now considered to be part of the ‘new normal.’ The coronavirus pandemic prompted more workplaces than ever before to permit home working. Video conferencing technology is one of the most important innovations that has allowed businesses to operate successfully under remote-working conditions. Video conferencing tools like Skype and Zoom existed long before the pandemic, but the increased amount of need for such tools during the global catastrophe raised them to the status of ‘must have’ services in almost every field of business. The chances are high that your next meeting will be on Zoom.

Project Management Software

Project management software is now considered to be a crucial communicative tool for businesses chasing complex strategic aims. Instead of being a traditional mode of communication, project management software typically combines many different communicative channels and allows them to be viewed and interacted with on a central dashboard. Video recordings, instant messages, and memos can all be accessed easily using the best project management software. This makes the organization of a team far less complex.

Top 3 Tips To Be A Better Manager

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StrategyDriven Management and Leadership Article |Tips to be a Better Manager|Top 3 Tips To Be A Better ManagerAs a manager, you have a lot of responsibilities. You’re in charge of the day-to-day operations and often oversee the employees. It can all be very overwhelming. That’s why we’ve prepared this guide for managing your team and becoming a better boss. We’ll cover what makes an effective leader, how to stay organized, and how to keep your employees happy and productive. From fostering workplace culture to improving communication skills, here are some top tips for being a better manager.

What Makes a Great Leader

In order to be a great leader, you have to know the importance of your role and continuously strive for improvement. Leadership means staying calm when everyone is overwhelmed and acting swiftly in times of crisis. It means setting an example for your employees and empathizing with them on a personal level. If you want to become a better manager, you must find out what makes an effective leader and take steps towards becoming one yourself.

How to Be Organized as a Manager

One of the most important things for a manager is to be organized. As a leader, you need to set goals and stay on top of tasks each day. To do this effectively, it’s best to have an organizational system that works for you. Some common ones are Kanban boards, time blocking, or project management software like Basecamp.

Managers know agendas and aforementioned organizational tools are a platform to success. Therefore, choose whichever fits your needs and be consistent.


How to Keep Employees Happy and Productive

One of the most important things you can do for your workers is foster a sense of workplace culture.

Create a company culture that encourages employees to feel like they belong and are valued. This way, they’ll be more likely to stay and more invested in their work.

Make your office an enjoyable place to work with a motivating attitude. Encourage your team to relax after a hard day’s work. Have a space where employees can work remotely when they need to so they don’t feel tethered to their desks all day. Promote trust by being accessible and showing that you care about your employees’ success. Try hosting monthly check-ins with each employee, and make sure you take time to listen before giving advice or solving problems for them.

Encourage feedback from employees through tools like open office hours, surveys, and focus groups. They’ll feel heard and will be more willing to share ideas openly in the future–helping you become a better manager for it!

Important Steps

Becoming a better manager doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and plenty of hard work to make progress. But it can be done. You’ll want to make sure you know what you’re good at and what your employees are good at, too. Any time you want to bring about changes at work, you will have to be organized and have a detailed plan. Additionally, be mindful of the environment in which your employees work and keep it stress-free. finally, don’t be like pop up displays; avoid micromanaging your team.

Save Money on Maintaining Your Business Equipment

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Business Equipment|Save Money on Maintaining Your Business EquipmentYour business most likely needs some type of equipment to enable it to run. It could be office equipment that you need, or perhaps you need power tools or large machinery. Whatever the equipment is, you need to keep it in good condition so that it helps you to run your business efficiently. That requires regular maintenance so that you can avoid problems that might shut down your business unexpectedly. Maintaining your business equipment can get costly and take a lot of time too. However, there are ways to save money and even save time on taking care of your essential equipment.

Learn Some Maintenance Skills

Some people might decide that the best way to save money on equipment maintenance is for them (or their employees) to learn some maintenance skills. There are often maintenance tasks and repairs that you can do yourself, rather than calling out a service to have it done for you. Knowing how to fix a printer jam or get the parts to fix your tractor could save you a lot of time and money. Plenty of basic tasks can be completed by just about anyone, so it’s a waste of money to get someone with experience to do it for you.

Prevent Instead of Repair

Making repairs to your equipment can be pretty expensive, especially when extensive repairs are required. If you want to avoid expensive repairs, one of the best things that you can do is prevent problems in the first place. Good maintenance can help you to avoid the need for repairs by keeping your equipment running smoothly. Even just keeping your equipment clean can be a smart way to maintain it and prevent any issues that might require costly and time-consuming repair. Create a schedule of maintenance and servicing for your equipment to keep everything running.

Hire Some Equipment

The more equipment you own, the more you have to maintain. But you don’t necessarily have to own all of the equipment that you need to use. You might only need to use a piece of equipment a couple of times a year, and the rest of the time it could be taking up space while being neglected. If you don’t need something very often, consider hiring it instead. You’ll have to take care of it when it’s in your possession, but you won’t be responsible for its long-term maintenance. Plus, it can save you money.

Know When to Replace

As an asset gets older, it can require more and more maintenance. Eventually, you could end up spending more on maintenance than the cost of replacing the item. Knowing when to replace something instead of continuing to repair it is essential if you want to save money on your business equipment. Having to carry out constant maintenance and repair not only wastes your money but also wastes your time, so make sure you consider whether replacement is a better option.

Maintaining your business equipment should be affordable. You can save money if you need to maintain equipment more efficiently.

The 4 Best Ways To Stay Connected to Your Team

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Stay connected to your team|The 4 Best Ways To Stay Connected to Your TeamIf there’s one thing the best companies to work for all have in common, it is ensuring their team is well-connected at all times. This connection helps build cohesion between your employees, which may reach the point where they know what the other is thinking, boosting synchronicity and cultivating an office that is more productive than others. As a manager, you need to find a way to match this, so how can you stay connected to your team?

Team Building

Team building is a superb way to bring your office closer together and help people stay connected. There are numerous ways to achieve this, too, including weekly quizzes or activities like golf, laser tag, or other fun things that will bring people closer together.

These team-building efforts can be the difference between an office that goes above and beyond for one another, and one that will ditch their team as soon as another offer comes around. It will improve teamwork and satisfaction, giving you a more robust office culture that will have a direct impact on productivity and performance.

Casual Connections

Professional communication is vital in the office, but you can also help your team develop casual connections. Many people consider their work friends important but it can be tricky to improve these connections outside the office.

To encourage this, consider one of the best alternatives to Telegram and Discord that will give your employees the chance to chat and connect even outside the confines of your office. The various rooms and features allow them to connect on a different level that isn’t related to work, which will allow them to develop more authentic relationships. From this, you’ll see a direct improvement.

Exchanges

If your team is working remotely more often than not, there’s a chance they may feel disconnected from their colleagues and may not have the drive they once did. Loneliness and isolation are two significant issues with working from home, so establishing exchanges each week can remind everyone they are still thought of and cared for.

These exchanges can include whatever you want. Previously, businesses have tried baked goods or books, but there is no right or wrong answer, so consider whatever you think will work best.

Company Contests

Office competitions always go down well. They are ideal for celebrating the end of the year or season, and they are often easy enough for everyone to get involved, even those who don’t normally feel like partaking in activities.

Establishing company contests or competitions will allow everyone to win something, whether a voucher or even a day off whenever they feel like it. Like exchanges and activities, there is no limit to what you can choose, so feel free to get creative.

Connected

Staying connected is essential for building rapport with your team. However, as beneficial as it can be to get in touch with your employees at all times, you must also understand boundaries. By respecting when they are off the clock, you can maintain a positive attitude towards their duties. So, embrace the benefits of simple communication, but establish limits, also.