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When it comes to working with your team, collaborating with another company, or simply working on a project from multiple locations, everyone wants to network and feel connected through their technology. Digital connectedness not only drives productivity, but communication and collaboration in the workplace as well. Gone are the times when technology was used as a tool for efficiency only, your business technology is now a means of driving impactful opportunities.
So, what do we mean by digital connectedness? Throughout a work day, individuals and companies are constantly networking and building relationships through email, chat, phone calls, virtual meetings, etc. During those times, collaboration should be efficient and complimentary to what you are trying to achieve, or else productivity can drastically decrease.
Here's how the right infrastructure can enhance collaboration:
Access to Information. Having the ability to efficiently share and collaborate on certain files or pieces of information is an important part of productivity. If your network is reliable and your infrastructure is set up in a way that can support documentation and the immediate sharing of files, your team will spend less time trying to track down and share files, and more time focusing on business development.
Anytime, Anywhere. Your IT environment must support your users so they are able to do their work anytime, anywhere. According to a Gallup survey, 43% of users said they spent time working from home in the last year, up from 39% in 2012. Remote work is increasing in popularity, and your environment must have the ability to support users collaborating from anywhere.
Collaborative Apps. You might also consider implementing or upgrading to a collaborative suite or software that can allow your employees to communicate in real-time. An example of these applications are Slack, Skype for Business, and Microsoft Teams. These apps are meant to provide an all-in-one platform where users can chat, share files, and keep projects moving. While it's always good to pick up the phone and call, having multiple communication avenues will play in your favor.
Customer Relationships. Putting a focus on collaborative technology and immediate access to information will also help improve customer service standards and customer relationships. Your users can get what they need to service the client within the click of a few buttons, but only if your infrastructure allows for them to do so. The more information they have at their disposal, the better they can connect with and help your customers.
Besides the occasional meeting, a majority of your time is spent behind your computer screen trying to get things moving, mark things off your to-do list, all while meeting the needs of your clients and team members. Maintaining those business relationships is so important, and the only way you can achieve this efficiently is through the right business technology that can aide you in those efforts.
Want to find out how IT can be utilized as an asset instead of a means of stress?
What does it look like when IT becomes an asset? Click below for the free Five Nines Power Hour "IT As An Asset", as we dive into IT responsibilities, service requests and security, as well as technology standards, budgeting, and IT training and knowledge.
