Cut Software Redundancy, Boost Team Productivity

Let me ask you something:

Do you think all the different tools, programs, and applications whose icons litter your business' desktops help drive your business forward? Or, is there a possibility that they are actually undercutting your team’s productivity?

The trouble with all these inclusive platforms is that they include more than you might realize… and as such, you’re likely investing in duplicate functionality. This is why it is so important to be able to say no, or to have someone in your corner who can.

As Much as Our Industry Doesn’t Want to Tell You This, There’s a Good Chance You Already Have the Tools You Need

Whether you subscribe to Google Workspace or rely on Microsoft’s software suite for your everyday business needs, you probably only use a fraction of your chosen platform’s full capabilities. 

Quick… without looking, what does your business productivity suite of choice offer you?

In many cases, your current toolkit already offers exactly what you are looking for, so your needs would be better served by more training than by adding another subscription to your monthly expenses. Additionally, doing so will make your current investments even more valuable to you.

Is What You’re Trying to Accomplish Actually Worth It?

Let’s also not forget that there are other considerations beyond “Do we already have this?” You also need to take less concrete factors into account.

For instance, is the cost of a new program or process on your employees’ cognitive load manageable? After all, the point of any tool is to empower them to accomplish as much as possible. By adding hoops to jump through, you’re endorsing an environment where they feel less like team members and more like just another asset on a spreadsheet, all while creating obstacles where there needn’t be any.

Every time someone switches from one app to another, they lose a little of their attention to the friction it creates. This gradually leads to burnout, but less gradually if these team members also feel like you have them under surveillance. This is the next question you need to ask yourself:

Is this tradeoff worth the benefits that a new tool might bring?

These feelings will alienate the most talented people in the labor pool, as they resort to looking busy rather than accomplishing anything. Meanwhile, many of your team members will likely seek alternative workplaces rather than feel as though they are under a microscope as their tasks keep expanding due to internal scope creep.

Instead, reconsider the definition of success in the context of your business and its operations. Don’t monitor who spent all day in their inbox or on the phone… keep track of whose clients report the best customer service or signed on to additional services. These are the key performance indicators that will really move the needle in the direction you want.

How to Tell Whether an Investment Will Be Worthwhile

First and foremost, you need to know what you already have and what it can accomplish. With the notable exception of data backups, redundancy is a surefire way to kill the value of any investment you are considering. If something you already possess can be used to carry out a process, prioritize learning to use it more fully rather than simultaneously purchasing something else to do the same thing.

Second, consider the return you’ll see from your new investment, particularly its business impact. How much will a specific needle be moved when you introduce a new technology? If it isn’t by a quantifiable amount, it is likely best to wait until it is before pulling the trigger. 

Of course, we’re here to help.

We work with businesses in and around New South Wales to ensure they have the technology required to excel and accomplish their goals, maintaining their existing tools and guiding the trajectory of their IT infrastructure. We can help you do the same, too.

If you want to discuss a plan that meets your business, its budget, and your people where they are, and includes a strategy for the future, give us a call at (02) 8825-5555.