Click here to get this post as a PDF and read it later!
Do we still manage to do anything without a computer or a smartphone at hand? The answer is no. But, thankfully, as digital technology is detrimental to business growth and success, it would be preposterous to pretend otherwise. However, IT interferes in all business processes, whether it is to enhance communication between the parties or to enable a smooth and effective transaction. As a necessary tool to sustain business progression, it needs to remain up-to-date, performant, and useful. Ultimately the last thing you should expect from IT is to waste your time. However, it is precisely the most common issue poor use of IT can cause.
You don’t have the skills to troubleshoot
You may work on a computer or a laptop every day, but that doesn’t make you an IT expert. Most office employees only know what they need to navigate their digital path. As such, when mishaps happen, untrained professionals don’t have the skills to troubleshoot the issue. Why does my screen freeze? How come the software comes up with an error notification? How do I solve it? Maintaining IT support as part of your business services to your team is essential to keep up with the work – if you don’t have an in-house IT team, you can click here to find out more about consulting services or outsourcing. The truth is that you can’t afford to waste time with IT issues that experts could resolve in a matter of minutes – or avoid altogether.
You’ve got lost in the midst of web content
It’s all started with a simple check of a client’s social media profile… and you’re not sure how it happened, but right now, you’re watching cat videos on Facebook. Welcome to the magical world of the Internet. It is not only a source of information, but it is also the most common source of distraction in the office world. Companies can lose up to 60% of their productivity through digital distractions such as social media platforms and personal emails. Whether you decide to introduce regular breaks throughout the day to let your employees relax and reduce distractions, or whether you implement strict browser blockers to keep specific websites at bay, it’s up to you.
You can receive your emails at any time
Smartphones have the fantastic advantage of making you available throughout the day, regardless of the time or location. While most clients know when to call and carefully avoid out-of-office hours, sending an email tends to happen at any time of the day and night. Most professionals admit they check their emails after work. It’s only a few minutes on your phone, right? Wrong! Checking your emails comes at a high cost. It increases the burnout risk, as you can’t relax and leave work at the office. Additionally, it increases your stress levels, making mistakes, and loss of quality more likely. In the long term, you waste your spare time checking your emails, and it affects your professional performance too.
There is no denying that IT plays a significant role in your business. But technology suffers from its hyper accessibility. Because everything seems to be available at the click of a mouse, small companies fail to consider the importance of managing their IT systems strategically to avoid downtime, unnecessary distractions, and burnout.
