A company’s culture is its identity. It refers to the beliefs and behaviors that make it unique and different from its competitors. It determines how a company’s employees and management interact and handle outside business transactions (Definition: Investopedia.com) and can be one of the key drivers of your success.
Why are we talking about this? We’re not a business coach or HR company.
You’re right; we’re not.
And yet, as an IT support provider, we have seen firsthand how technology can shape company culture, how the right tech tools and applications help foster collaboration and communication, improve efficiency and develop better working relationships.
Let’s look at a few ways in which technology can move your business forward by developing a culture of engagement and efficiency among your team.
1. Improve Communication
Just as communication problems can derail personal relationships, they can cause significant issues in the workplace.
Studies have shown that ineffective workplace communication can cost companies an average of $420,000 annually.
Although remote work has many benefits, it changes how team members relate and communicate with each other.
Platforms like Slack and Teams help keep teams to stay connected. Being able to hop on a video conference call and talk things out with a coworker across town or on the other side of the globe is incredible and decreases the chances of miscommunication that could become costly in terms of money and time.
By empowering your workers with a streamlined and enjoyable way to communicate, you can encourage deeper engagement and long-term working relationships and remove frustration and miscommunication.
2. Improve Collaboration
A recent Slack survey found that no matter the country or industry, nearly everyone agrees that ease of communication makes for “good collaboration and employment satisfaction.
Many people, however, acknowledge that it can be challenging to use communication technology such as text/chat and emails because of the waiting period between each message sent, reducing the natural flow of a face-to-face conversation.
Fortunately, various technology tools can help improve collaboration. By now, we’re all familiar with communication services like Webex and Zoom, but a host of next-gen communication and collaboration technologies might be worth your investment.
Although we might not be quite ready for the use of Virtual Reality in business, cloud-based computing, virtual whiteboards, meeting spaces, and event platforms are promising new developments that help make collaboration easier and more effective for everyone involved, lowering stress, increasing retention and loyalty, and ultimately improving the bottom line.
3. Improve Productivity
Productivity is an essential ingredient in a positive company culture. Employees who feel they’re spinning their wheels due to inefficient and outdated systems will soon become frustrated, unmotivated, and dissatisfied with their work.
Automating workflows not only streamlines the work experience and reduces manual errors, it also
- improves the quality of life at the workplace by reducing the time spent on tedious tasks,
- helps to free up employees’ time to focus on more creative tasks and other things – like spending time with one another,
- reduces burnout and turnover by giving employees more time to focus on projects that challenge individual talents, and
- improves collaboration, engagement, and morale by giving the team more autonomy over their workdays.
By carefully choosing your company’s technology platforms, you craft a culture for productivity and engagement.
4. Improve Culture
The goal for any company should be to create a work environment where employees are inspired and motivated to do their best work. Technology can be an invaluable asset in this. By implementing the right tools, you will create better working relationships, foster collaboration, enable your teams to perform more efficiently, and reach new heights of success.
If you want to improve your company’s culture by incorporating state-of-the-art technology, call us at (845) 237-2117. Meeting Tree Computer has helped businesses like yours do precisely that since 1999. We’d love to help your business move forward as well!
