Industry Technology | Technology Network

Using Technology to Boost Employee Morale

Nothing can hinder the operations of a business like employee morale. Employees making a dart board out a picture of the boss is just bad for business. Being unhappy breeds carelessness in the workplace, and a worker that is careless at their jobs can cause substantial problems for a business, especially one who that manages a carnival ride while falling asleep or flies a plane after putting a few back in the executive lounge. Fortune 500 companies like Google have become more conscious of the well being of their employees, providi

ng luxury perks to make them happy to be at work. And turning out to be the greatest tool in fighting postal office shooting sprees is technology.

As every pseudo-psychologist knows, before there can be healing, there has to be venting. Many companies today have incorporated open forums for employees to post their concerns and suggestions. To encourage honesty the general protocol is to post anonymously. Forum networks also allow employees to better become familiar with each other and share media and stories. Instead of congregating and goofing off around the water cooler, lazy procrastinators don’t have to even leave their desks.

Another boost for morale is technology that is suited for leisure. This can range from televisions to video games. Having a few minutes to unwind at the office can surprisingly boost employee creativity and release stress. Nothing gets a worker motivated like blowing away a few digital Nazis away.

Stories of failing work equipment are as old as the fist caveman that got another to kill his lunch. Being held back from working effectively because the printer won’t stop jamming or the computer keeps crashing can make any employee go crazy. Outfitting the office with the latest technology can build confidence in workers to do the best job that they can. Top of line equipment also gives employees a sense of prestige and pride about where they spend 8 hours every day.

Filed Under: Computers, Industry Technology, Technology Tagged With: Employee Morale

15 Habits to Keep a Secure Business Network Secure

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It’s rare to find a business owner that hasn’t had some sort of financial dip during the US recession. Many of them are going broke, being hacked, broken into by thieves, and they even become victims of ID fraud as well.

There are easy things to do that will ensure a higher sense of security for the business as a whole.

Trusted and Secure Business Habits

1. Require photo ID for all employees, even new hires. No ID, no entry.

2. It isn’t advisable to allow strangers into the office without someone who works there.

3. No holding the front door open for others to enter (piggyback entry), no matter what the weather is like or who is in a hurry.

4. Be aware of strangers without ID, especially if they don‘t seem like they know where they‘re going.

5. Any offices or rooms that are unattended should be locked.

6. It’s foolish to store passwords where someone else may stumble upon them, like taped to the bottom of the keyboard.

7. Wireless devices must be monitored for rogue devices regularly.

8. Administrative access to secure programs should be kept to a minimal few. And don’t use one password for more than one program, either.

9. Nobody should be allowed to download or install anything on the computer except the IT department.

10. Do not store usernames and passwords on a list unless it’s encrypted.

11. There should only be one person who is authorized as a domain administrator with stricter password restrictions.

12. Intrusion detection and network monitoring will alert the security administrator as intrusions are being attempted.

13. It’s best to have a plan for emergency procedures before they happen.

14. Video surveillance is worth every penny for a good system. Simply having cameras installed isn’t good enough, they have to record, too.

15. Do background checks on employees, see who has documented experience in certain areas of secure information.

Filed Under: Industry Technology, Office Technology Tagged With: Data security, Password, Photo identification

Getting a Competitive Advantage in Business

When it comes to owning and operating a business, it’s very important for you to have a competitive advantage. If you don’t, you aren’t getting the benefits that you could be seeing as a business owner. Instead of lamenting that, it’s time to take action and find something that can help make you more competitive. Look around at what your competitors are doing, and pay close attention to the areas where they are falling short. Those are areas you’ll want to explore and investigate, so you can have a better understanding of the kinds of things you want to do in order to move your business forward.

One of the best ways to get a competitive advantage in business is through selling something for a lower price. Of course, you still want to offer quality so that you don’t disappoint your customers, but you don’t need to charge a lot if you buy your goods at a low price and don’t have a lot of overhead to pay for. Not every business can beat others on price. For small businesses, this is especially difficult because there are in and outs of buying in bulk that they might not yet be familiar with. Some of the discounts that are offered to big businesses that buy in bulk may also not be available to companies that buy smaller quantities.

If price is not an area where you can get a competitive advantage for your business, it’s time to look around and see what other options you have. You may be able to provide faster shipping time, better customer service options, or some other kind of perk that you can tell your customers about. Many people buy based on price, but that’s not the case for everyone. Some people are focused on what they’re getting for the money and/or how they’re treated when they’re making a purchase – so base your business advantage on those factors.

Filed Under: General, Industry Technology Tagged With: Business, Competitive advantage, Customer

Software Technology Creates a Horizontal Workforce

It was once rare for a company to have employees jumping to other divisions, some of which are completely different to that person’s past training. Today it is a common experience to have employees starting new careers or taking on new responsibilities that were at one time out of their role. It is one reason why internal job boards are popular among larger companies in which current employees have the first crack at open positions.

What’s spurring this recent horizontal business phenomenon? The ease of using software technology. Since just about everyone uses a computer for their position, employees could feasibly learn how to do another person’s job just from knowing what software is used to perform their tasks.

Software technology in particular is increasingly designed to be used by a larger section of the population, thus designed for beginners to start using products right away. This emphasis on usability has opened the doors to new job markets for employees. For example, an accountant may find out they have a passion for advertising art. By learning the ins and outs of Adobe Photoshop they could make the jump to their company’s marketing division.

The proliferation of software technology is also making people in the workplace much more well-rounded with a more balanced skill set. Instead of specializing in one thing, employees on average become familiar with a lot of different duties from their interactions with software. While someone that handles data entry won’t be required to put together presentations, they most likely will have encountered presentation software like PowerPoint through their use of Microsoft Office.

Many businesses have recognized this horizontal movement, and have even catered to it. Larger organizations will offer classes, or will reimburse employees that sign up for them, that cover a specific software program. As long as they stay with the company, businesses will promote each employee’s development.

Filed Under: Industry Technology, Technology Tagged With: Software Technology

Small Business: Competition

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The world is not defined by the massive manufacturers, the endless cubicle aisles. It’s instead shaped by the small business owner, by the success carved from living rooms — but this is a truth too often forgotten.

Competing with other companies is difficult. They have funds you can’t imagine and laborers you can’t afford. All of your transactions take place from your home, with a computer as your only aid.

It’s necessary therefore that you understand the importance of business technology and how to choose it. All decisions must be able to support you and your products. This is the only way you can hope to succeed.

When considering software, remember:

One: All Things Essential

It’s tempting for small business owners to be swayed by the endless varieties, the always-evolving applications. That’s a luxury you can’t afford, however. Find only what is relevant to your company. Choose functions that reflect your goals. Don’t waste hard-drive space with programs that will never be used. This will cause your system to lag and your memory to fail.

Two: All Things Affordable

Budgeting is an unfortunate word and an even more unfortunate reality. Small businesses lack the funds of their larger competitors. This means that all software must be cost-effective. Select only what can be justified, sparing yourself high prices and too few rewards. Tailor your system with good sense and put the savings toward areas such as online advertising.

Three: All Things Universal

The world is your client. You must seek out new cities, new countries, new ideas. It’s wise therefore — when trying to battle others — that you choose programs that can be applied to all platforms. Use office suites that have recognized formats, keeping you from being unable to properly communicate with consumers, which would only tarnish your reputation and cause distrust.

You cannot compete through size. You must instead compete through wisdom. Use software to improve your business and your life.

Filed Under: Industry Technology, Office Technology Tagged With: Insurance, Office suite, Percentage