4 Technologies to Support Your Modern Team

4 Technologies to Support Your Modern Team
7 min read
02 December 2022

New tech is all the rage these days and businesses are rushing headlong into the digitalization craze!

Rather than burdening your employees with a myriad of fancy apps and tools they may not even need, think in terms of apps that will make their jobs easier and their life more enjoyable. Anything that’s spamming them, asking for reviews and feedback, and requiring them to obtain a degree to learn how to use is not a good option!

If it sounds too harsh, just think about the global lack of frontline workers and the soon-to-hit medical worker crisis in Europe and you’ll see that burnout is not the way to go about things.

Times are too fast and too hectic and people are supposed to be social beings! Don’t kill all communication with artificial tools that will make it superficial. E.g., online meetings are cool for remote teams but everyday online pointless meetings are not.

Some vocations are benefiting from new tech more than others due to the nature of the jobs. Others are in critical lack even of the simple tools (frontline workers, specifically).

That’s why you should apply certain criteria when choosing the apps and we’ll offer some useful tips here.

How to Choose the Best Apps

There are bad tools, decent tools, and great tools. Usually, the more money you’re willing to spend, the better the tools at your disposal.

However, not all businesses need pro versions of every app out there. Many solid apps offer free and paid versions, like Asana. Other are completely free (like Skype and Zoom).

Obviously, breaking the bank isn’t the right approach.

First and foremost, define your teams’ specific needs. Follow up by defining problematic spots and looking for apps that can help address them efficiently.

Some apps are needed by all businesses. Good team management, project management, and communication apps, for example, are always a welcome addition.

However, there are so many of those that picking the suitable ones may take time and resources.

Of course, not every business has the same vision, mission, and goals. When picking the tools for your teams, look into the apps’ special features. Simplicity shouldn’t be overlooked even when you are after extras! Keep in mind that employees need to be comfortable with the apps and not be confused by a multitude of features half of which they may not even need.

The next things to consider are implementation and integration. Optimally, you’d want to choose the apps that are complementary to other apps you’re already using and with employees’ devices (all of them!).

Lastly, consider your budget. How much can you spend on an app? How many apps do you need? For paid apps, annual subscription plans are cheaper than monthly plans but don’t overpay them.

When you have answers to all these questions, consider the following app types.

1. Time-Tracking Software

Technology to track time is not novel but it’s massively underused. These apps save loads of time that would otherwise be spent on manual time-tracking, which is a woe to any employee.

Cloud-based software may be a good choice here. Employees clock in at the beginning f the working day and clock out when their shift ends from their devices.

Basically, there are three basic types of clocking-in systems: manual, digital, and software. Manual and digital time clocks may use biometrics, proximity clocks, swipe clock time cards, PIN clocks, or punch clock time cards.

Cloud-based time-tracking apps record and store the data in the cloud on a server. Cloud storage is accessible from anywhere, anytime, which is its selling point.

2. eLearning

eLearning design software, better known as Learning Experience Design (LxD) is a combination of User Interface Design (UxD), Interaction Design (IxD) and Content Strategy (CS).

LxD offers content with the end-user in mind, meaning it offers targeted chunks of information that will benefit the learner. It provides a human-centered design, with the content being created through the vista of emotion and connection.

Great any options are available here: from online courses to gamification to AI… Choices are many and so are the needs, so look up all options before picking the best one for your business.

3. Apply Digital Transformation

Digital transformation is the application of digital transformation to your everyday work activities. Many companies have discovered just how important implementing a digital transformation is to their own companies.

Digital transformation allows businesses to embrace new technologies and make use of them to innovate, improve customer experience, increase operational efficiency and cut costs. This includes investments in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies create the opportunity to redefine a business’s products, processes and personnel. They open the door to new revenue streams, such as predictive analytics, smart automation and data monetization. 

4. Onboarding Software and Career Development

Last but not least, look into employee onboarding tools and opportunities for assistance with career development.

Onboarding is critical and too often overlooked. Businesses would do well to deploy software that will help them with every aspect of the process, including, but not limited to:

  •       Detailing job responsibilities, duties, schedules, and payment information to new hires to avoid negative experiences
  •       Submitting a job requisition document to managers in charge
  •       Gathering all the forms new employees need to fill out
  •       Providing all devices and tools for new hires
  •       Setting up all necessary accounts and logins for new hires
  •       Scheduling orientation sessions

And additionally, it’s crucial to help your current team develop their careers so that they can be happy with their roles and remain engaged.

Key Takeaways

There are many options when it comes to new tech. When choosing which apps to use, consider your business goals, employees’ needs and your budget.

It is important to remember that new apps keep popping up all the time, so even if you’re not too happy with the present tools, you’ll be able to find more sophisticated ones later on.

Don’t overpay the apps but also don’t pick free apps if they’re unsuitable.

As always, a good strategy will tell you how to go about picking the best tools, so be thorough!

 

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Angela Ash 0
Angela Ash is a professional writer and editor who focuses on topics like business, technology, remote work, digital nomads, marketing, mental health and travel...
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