Productivity. It’s becoming a popular buzzword amongst businesses of all shapes and sizes, and for good reason. Traditionally, the mathematical calculation for productivity is the average output divided by the total cost of consumed goods, both for a given period. However, productivity has taken on new forms in today’s businesses, becoming a multi-faceted menagerie of tasks required to produce goods and services alike. Business tech has generated new avenues of productivity. These are some of the best technologies for improving overall output by employees.
To-Do List Apps
Todoist, Trello, Evernote, and Google Keep are just four of the big players in a sea of to-do list apps. Accessible from computers, phones, and smartwatches, these pieces of software offer all the benefits of sticky notes without the waste of paper (and desk space). Though many of these services offer budget-friendly premium capabilities, the organization available in the free version is perfect for any professional who must balance different tasks and projects at once. Tasks can be organized by priority, type, category, and due date, helping you stay on track and see just how much you can get done in the day, month, or year!
Instant Messaging Apps
Internal communications can make or break the productivity of a business; even with the instantaneous nature of email, there are chances that an individual is away from their inbox or doesn’t have notifications on. This is where messaging systems like Slack, Skype, and Basecamp come in. Instant messaging apps allow for various servers to quickly group together employees from one team or department and send a mass-message, one that allows everyone to participate in the conversation. Some, like Basecamp, allow for assigning tasks, but in general, the key benefit of such software is the ease and clarity of communication. And, since these apps allow for file transfers, they’re highly flexible and can encourage timely communication to help smooth out operations.
Productivity Analysis Software
Perhaps some of the aforementioned software has been utilized, but productivity is still not what it could be. Thankfully, product analysis software exists. Such software works behind-the-scenes to measure how much time is spent on certain tasks, and the data is synthesized to offer suggestions for streamlining operations. Products such as Toggl and Kickidler do just that, offering flexibility to professionals who would otherwise have to run fine-tooth combs over day-to-day operations to find bottlenecks. While licenses for such software comes at a cost, it may be worthwhile to pursue, especially if reasons for productivity concerns have evaded your company’s management staff.