Back in 2014, the Chelsea Apps Factory published findings that outdated, lacklustre workplace technology was negatively impacting productivity. A decade on, Tech.co’s Impact of Technology on the Workplace Report shows that, at least in the US, today’s employees are more productive than ever before, thanks to new technologies like AI.
But that’s not the case for every business. Smaller companies still often struggle to improve their team’s productivity, despite – seemingly – having all the right gear – and there could be several reasons why.
IT Overload
The first reason IT is slowing you down might be overprovisioning. In the rush to modernise, businesses sometimes implement new systems that replace familiar workflows without considering the full impact. Instead of streamlining operations, these changes end up adding unnecessary steps and complexity.
As small business IT support experts, we regularly encounter situations where companies have overinvested in an abundance of shiny new solutions – when simpler, properly configured tools would have served them better.
Buying into hype without doing enough research isn’t a smart use of your IT budget. And often, you might need to throw a lot less money at the problem than you think.
Lack of Training
It’s not that your team doesn’t want to embrace change. According to the 2024 Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey, 77% of employees feel ready to adapt to new ways of working – they just need to be shown how.
No matter how “intuitive” a platform claims to be, there’s always a learning curve. Without adequate training, your team’s productivity will inevitably suffer as they struggle to master new tools alongside their regular duties.
System Misalignment
Individual applications might excel at their specific functions, but if they don’t integrate smoothly with your existing systems, they can create more problems than they solve.
Consider a modern project management platform that can’t sync with your time-tracking software – instead of streamlining workflow management, you’ve just doubled your team’s administrative burden.
Poor Communication
Often, productivity suffers because business owners implement solutions without consulting the people who’ll use them daily. Your team knows exactly where the operational bottlenecks are. Their insights will be essential for improving productivity.
Before investing in new technology, take time to understand their challenges and suggestions. This way, you avoid wasting time and money looking for fixes to problems that either a) don’t exist or b) you’ve misinterpreted.
Small Business IT Support Can Change Things
All of the causes we’ve just outlined lead back to one vital misstep: a strategy that doesn’t make sense for your business.
This is where the right IT support makes all the difference for Lichfield SMEs. Today’s IT service providers do so much more than rebooting your Wi-Fi. They’ll use their expertise to help you create a complete implementation strategy for new technology (and ensure it’s carried out with minimal disruption to your business).
How To Improve Productivity Without Overhauling Your IT Environment
Start with assessment over investment. Conducting an evaluation of your IT environment will provide you with a clear picture of the tools you have, the places they’re underperforming, and the opportunities you have for improvement.
Although you might find some equipment or software that does need replacing, it’s likely that your team’s productivity could be improved with a few adjustments to the technology you’re already using.
Identifying and carrying out these optimisations is the hard part – and it’s something we can help with.
How to Maintain Cyber Security When Introducing New Technologies to Your Small Business
When introducing new technology to improve productivity, avoiding added security risks is crucial. Make sure you’re up-to-date with relevant cyber security incidents and trends, and make sure the same is true of your team. Our friends over at PAQ IT have some great content around social engineering and the importance of threat awareness to get you started.
The key is to be proactive about prevention. Don’t just brush cyber defence under the rug and hope it won’t be a problem (your customers won’t appreciate that approach when their data ends up in a breach). Have your Lichfield IT support provider configure any new tools for optimal security and compliance, and keep you informed about useful resources and training programs.
Making Your Technology Work for You
Sometimes, the most effective solution isn’t the most expensive or newest option – it’s the one that best fits your team’s actual needs and workflows. Improving productivity through technology is about having the right tools, properly implemented and supported by experienced professionals.
As Dame Diane Coyle, a professor of public policy at Cambridge, put it: ‘It seems to be that if you have highly skilled people, you know how to use the sophisticated software, and you can change your processes so that people can use the information [available], your productivity is going through the roof.’
So, let’s work together to ensure your IT investments truly deliver on their productivity promises.
MT Services: The #1 IT Support Partner for Lichfield SMEs
For over 50 years, businesses across the West Midlands have relied on us for fast, personal, and effective IT support, cyber security, and IT infrastructure – all delivered by our friendly team, from our Tamworth HQ.
Our mission is to unlock your business’s potential through tailored technological solutions. By understanding your unique objectives, we craft strategies that propel you towards your goals. Our forward-thinking approach ensures we deliver cutting-edge solutions, fostering growth and innovation for any project in any industry.
Ready for exceptional IT support? All it takes is a conversation – book a complimentary discovery meeting with our experts today.
