Both employers and employees today are deeply concerned with the essential technologies that maximize productivity on the job. Take one of them away from your office and productivity noticeably drops.
Every office needs the following tools to ensure that the most basic things get done.
Land line Phone
Cell phones and Smartphone’s are great, but they can’t replace land line phones when it comes to call quality. The quality of desk phones is far superior to newer tools. The latest Smartphone models, coupled with a good Bluetooth headset, works great outside the office. But if you’re spending more time inside your office, a land line phone will save you from huge bills and a ton of other headaches.
Printer and Scanner
The search for a paperless office is elusive for a reason. Many of us still have to print things from time to time. Many files scanned and emailed don’t stay on the cloud for too long. They beg to be printed for better readability or any other reason. This is why you need a capable printer and scanner. You don’t need to invest in inkjet cartridges if you print infrequently. An inexpensive yet dependable black and white printer will do. Use it to print directions, contracts to be signed and other important documents. Make sure you also use the toner save mode to make sure your cartridges are lasting longer. Use an inexpensive flatbed scanner to scan signed documents or papers to be emailed.
Quality Internet Connection
No modern office scrimps on an Internet service. A fast and reliable high speed internet connection speeds up tasks such as email and correspondence, remote team collaboration, research, and decision-making. Slow or intermittent connection delays all these. It wastes days and thousands of dollars a year.
The benefits of subscribing to an excellent Internet service are obvious. Unfortunately, many fall for attractive and cheap deals. Companies may offer fast downloads but are likely to have slow upload speeds, no static IP address and inferior overall service quality.
That’s why a business class account is always worth it. It’s more expensive than the basic package, but it has all you need to complete crucial office tasks on time. A business account usually comes with stellar technical support and bandwidth segregated from residential access. This means your connection won’t get affected by the Internet activities of houses nearby.
Powerful Computing Device
Do you need a full desktop? Or do you actually just need an iPad and a keyboard? Jack Dorsey, creator of Twitter and CEO of Square, gets his work done using Apple’s tablet. He doesn’t even have a desk
Your computing needs will definitely differ. You may want to work with a full-sized screen or a 15-inch laptop. The point is, your main computing device should fit your type of work. The only requirement is that it should be efficient enough to let you finish tasks on time.
Many offices are already implementing the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. You may want to look into the benefits of adopting such a policy, which include increased productivity and employee satisfaction.
Tools, old and new, do affect our jobs and our relationship with work itself. As you can see from the examples here, you don’t need to use every shiny gadget available in the market. But you do have to invest in a few superior tools that work.
