Workplace

The Role of Technology in Business: Examples of Ways It’s Changing the Workplace

Almost half of all businesses plan on increasing their technology expenditures in 2020. The reason being that many have identified tech as the most efficient way to get out ahead of the competition and ultimately, boost profits.

If you’re a business owner that’s looking to make key technological investments, you may find yourself quickly overwhelmed by all of the options you have.

“Which technology in business investments make the biggest impact?” “Where would I be best served to invest my limited capital?”

These are questions we hear all the time as owners of small, medium, and even large companies fumble through how technology is being applied to today’s marketplace and what that could mean for them. To help bring some clarity to your technology questions, below, we walk you through key ways technology is being integrated into company settings in hopes of inspiring you!

1. Improving Accountability

Whether you mean to or not, it can be easy to get complacent when you’re working 5 days a week, 8 hours per day. That complacency often leads to falling behind on projects and costly overtime requests.

As a business owner, it behooves you to know how efficient your team is being and where improvements need to be made. Companies are investing in tools like time tracking software that can analyze employee’s activities throughout a shift and share detailed reports on what’s working and what isn’t.

These reports are instrumental in determining who needs assistance staying on task and who is providing the most value to your organization.

2. Enabling Collaboration

Business success rarely emanates from a single individual. Success almost always comes from a collective of talent that has been assembled and allowed to work together to do incredible things.

Technology in business has made that kind of special collaboration much easier over the last decade.

Several cloud-based applications let employees work on the same files at the same time. Furthermore, sharing files has become as easy as directing team members to a communal “share folder”.

That has eliminated the need to email attachments and manually track updates.

3. Keeping Data Safe

Imagine if all of your company’s key documents, intellectual property data, and customer information were saved on a single computer. Now, imagine that computer was destroyed in a fire.

How would your company recover?

For many, that question is one they’d prefer not to answer and as such, they’ve invested in technology that automatically backs up their systems to on-site and off-site servers. Today’s best backup technology automatically runs backups across all of your company’s machines so team members don’t have to bother with engaging backup mechanisms manually.

4. Getting Paid Made Easy

Sending out invoices can be a hassle. A lot of that hassle comes from having to manually itemize charges in a template, emailing that template to clients, and hoping to receive a response.

Today, companies can integrate with bookkeeping software that lets them invoice straight from within the application. Those invoices are pre-generated per charges you enter into the system and can be tracked to see when they’ve been opened.

Even better is the fact that clients can pay your invoices with their credit/bank cards straight from your digital invoice!

5. Paying the Government Made Easier

No matter how much technology you throw at filing taxes, managing that task is likely to remain a headache. Still, technology has made accurately filling out and filing taxes more streamlined.

Technology in business has integrated bookkeeping and tax filing solutions into all in one systems. That has allowed businesses to use tools like a receipt scanner to automatically track expenses and deduct those expenses from tax documents as well as manage other typically time-consuming tasks.

Even filing your taxes with federal and state authorities can be as simple as pushing “send!”

6. Breaking Down Commerce Barriers

Brick-and-mortar operations used to be limited to selling to people in their immediate vicinity. That’s no longer the case!

eCommerce makes it so even the smallest of businesses can develop a robust online presence and sell to customers all over the globe.

That reality is becoming increasingly important to a company’s bottom line as competition gets to be more global and local consumer saturation starts to be a problem.

7. Engaging Customers Like Never Before

Imagine a world where you’re able to market to a customer based on what they purchase, where they live, and their spending habits? This kind of customized, high conversion marketing is 100 percent a reality.

Over 60 percent of the customers you engage expect personalization to be part of their shopping experience. By investing in technology that enables that end, you’ll meet expectations. You’ll also give yourself a great chance of heightening consumer engagement.

8. Your Office Everywhere

Never before has being able to access your office remotely been more important. Several tools that allow chatting, file sharing, accessing desktops remotely, and more work together to make your office available to your team members no matter where in the world they are.

If you want your company to make it through today’s challenges and tomorrow’s, you’d be well served to have an excellent work from home plan in place. That plan should be powered by cutting edge digital tools.

Technology in Business Defines Success

Companies that embrace technology in business give themselves a much better opportunity of growing and surviving adversity. Keep that in mind as you juggle what your technology budget might look like this year and beyond.

Technology solutions are in a constant state of evolution. Feel free to keep up to date on all things new by browsing the content available on our blog!

Injured on the Job? What to Do Following a Workplace Injury

It is a requirement in every state that employees work in a safe and friendly environment. They should have all the equipment that protects them from injuries and other safety measures put in place.

Sadly, injuries in the workplace are still a regular occurrence. They can still take place despite all safety precautions. Employees can suffer broken bones, chemical burns, and occupational illnesses, among other injuries.

Whether the injury is caused by carelessness on the side of the employer or the employee, there are measures put in place to handle such cases. We take a look at the steps you should take if you’re injured on the job.

Report your Injury

The first measure you can take when injured at work is to inform the employer in writing. Some states have a specified period under which you need to report the injury. If possible, make sure the employer knows about the injury on the job the same day or a few days after the incident.

Sometimes the injury may be so severe that you don’t understand yourself for some time. You may be unconscious or require immediate medical attention. In this case, reporting immediately may not be possible, but you still need to ensure you do it as soon as possible.

See a Doctor 

It is important to seek compensation for any injuries you suffer at the workplace, but don’t forget that your health matters. Even small injuries that may not seem severe can cause a lot of damage, or even death, if not treated as soon as possible.

Some employers require you to see the company doctor for treatment. If you’re not satisfied with the employer’s chosen doctor, you’re entitled to a second opinion according to compensation laws. Getting good treatment is paramount, even if it means paying for the expenses from your pockets.

Report the Injury Extent

Sometimes you may not know the extent of the injury before getting a doctor’s assessment. Get your doctor to examine your entire body to see all the injuries you might have suffered. If you fell on your back and hurt the leg as well, you should not leave such details out.

You should report all secondary injuries regardless of how small they may seem. You should also notify the compensation court of any trauma or emotional injuries. If possible, get a psychological assessment to ascertain whether you suffered any emotional injuries.

File a Claim for Getting Injured on the Job

Employers may be looking for ways not to compensate you for the injury or give less compensation. You need to protect your rights by filing a claim with the workers’ compensation court. This way, you will give the employer and their insurance company a formal notice of your injury.

This puts you to automatic protection of your rights, and the employer won’t be able to interfere with anything.

Consult an Attorney

In other circumstances, reporting an injury or filing for compensation may be a complicated process that requires some professional help. A personal injury lawyer will be at your service to give you the best legal advice and help you follow up with the whole compensation process.

An attorney will ensure you’re not cheated on the compensation and that no one intrigues your rights. Ensure you get an attorney with experience in handling workers’ compensation claims. The attorney will explain the law, the whole process, and the benefits you’re entitled to get.

Go Back to Work

Some injuries may render you useless, and you may not be able to resume work even after recovery. This is a different case which will be treated in a special way. Otherwise, you should ensure you resume your duties as soon as you’re back on your feet.

Failure to show up back to work in a timely manner may lead to loss of compensation or even termination of your contract. You’re supposed to attempt even if you believe that you won’t perform as you used to before your on the job injury.

Understand the Rules

Every state has its own rules about the workers’ compensation for those who get hurt at work. There are guidelines and deadlines put in place that both the employer and the injured employee need to adhere to when filing the compensation claim. 

Ensure you understand everything required of you and get your attorney to explain anything that’s not clear. The worst mistake you can make in such situations is being ignorant about the rules and the guidelines.

Attend the Hearing

If you’re in a position to do this, ensure you attend all the hearings for your compensation. Don’t relax or assume that the lawyer will handle everything, although they do everything on your behalf. 

Attending the sessions will help you understand proceedings better and ensure your rights are not interfered with in any way. Besides, you will be able to pinpoint any foul play during the process and give an immediate notification.

Don’t Represent Yourself

Don’t make the mistake of thinking the injury is small and the attorney will charge you too much. Representing yourself after getting injured at work to escape the attorney charges is the worst mistake you can ever do. You’re allowed to represent yourself, but since you have no legal expertise, things can turn against you.

Remember, your employer and the insurance company both have legal representation, and you will be up against people who understand the law way better than you do. Consulting a lawyer is always a good idea, even when the case looks small.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

Cases of people getting injured on the job and not getting compensated are not new. No employer or the insurance company wants to part with money for this compensation. It is your duty as the worker to do everything possible and follow the required procedure to get compensated.

You need to understand all the processes and guidelines when handling such cases. It won’t cost you more to hire a legal representative than it will cost you to represent yourself and then lose the case.

The law is too complicated, and sometimes you need legal assistance even in cases that look simple. You can go through our website to get the best legal advice today.

Coffee 101: How to Drink Coffee for Increased Productivity in the Workplace

Every year, Americans throw back more than 100 billion cups of coffee. That works out to about 280 million cups of coffee every day.

Some people simply need a cup of coffee in the morning to get themselves up and moving. But others rely on coffee throughout the course of the day to make themselves more productive at work.

Do you fall into the second category here? If so, it’s important for you to learn how to drink coffee to increase your productivity. It’s not quite as simple as just keeping a cup of coffee on your desk at all times to stay caffeinated.

If your workplace productivity could use a jolt right now, coffee might be the answer. Here is how to drink coffee to make the most of it.

Keep a Steady Supply of Coffee in Your Office

Is there anything worse than showing up for work and realizing that—gasp—there’s no coffee? Ugh. It’s the worst.

Rather than risking it, you should always keep a steady supply of coffee in your desk drawer.

In a perfect world, your employer will use this guide to keep the fresh coffee flowing in your office. But in the event that everyone around you drinks it all up, it never hurts to have a backup supply on hand.

It’ll prevent you from ever running out of coffee at work.

Know When to Have Your First Cup of Coffee Each Morning

There are a lot of people who start chugging cups of coffee the second they get out of bed in the morning. They believe that, by doing this, they can send shockwaves through their systems and get their bodies and brains in motion.

You might be surprised to learn that you’re better off waiting for a little while before having your first cup of coffee each morning. In fact, you might want to put it off until 9 or even 9:30 a.m.

Reason being, your body releases a lot of cortisol, which is also often referred to as the “stress hormone,” when you first wake up. It makes it difficult for your body to do much with the caffeine that you put into it.

But by 9 or 9:30, all of the cortisol should be out of your system. It’ll free up space for caffeine to step in and get you going.

It’s why you should always wait on your first cup of coffee if you can.

Avoid Waiting Too Long to Have Your Second Cup of Coffee

Once you take in your first cup of coffee a short time after arriving at work, you’ll feel more productive and energetic than you do at almost any other time of the day. There’s nothing like that first jolt that you get from a cup of coffee.

But within just a few hours, you’re going to start to come down off your caffeinated high. You may even begin to feel sleepy and lethargic.

This happens when adenosine molecules are able to build up inside of your brain. They make you feel very groggy and can drag your productivity way down.

The best way to defeat adenosine molecules is by having your second cup of coffee long before the sleepiness associated with them starts to kick in. Time it out so that you’re drinking your second cup about 30 or even 60 minutes before you would normally begin to feel sleepy.

For most people, drinking a second cup of coffee at around 2 p.m. is a good idea.

Consider Combining a Cup of Coffee With an Afternoon Nap

There are going to be times when you aren’t able to drink a cup of coffee before the adenosine molecules build up in your brain. You’ll feel like you want to take a nap, and you’ll try to drink coffee to combat that feeling.

If you’re able to swing it, you may want to combine your second cup of coffee with a quick nap for best results. Try drinking your second cup and then lying down right away to sleep for about 15 minutes.

During your brief rest, your brain will work to eliminate the adenosine molecules that have congregated in it. The caffeine from your coffee, meanwhile, will work its way through your system and hit just as you’re waking up.

When you learn how to drink coffee and use caffeine like this, you’ll make your afternoons more productive. You’ll achieve an unmatched level of focus and be able to concentrate like never before.

Stop Drinking Coffee Before It’s Too Late

Two cups of coffee should be more than enough to get most people through the workday. But if you find that you run out of steam around 4 p.m., you might be tempted to reach for one more cup.

Be careful! A third cup of coffee can get you up and moving again. But it can also keep you up at night if you drink it too late in the day.

Try reaching for a cup of tea instead. Tea contains caffeine like coffee does, but it doesn’t have anywhere near as much caffeine in it.

You’ll be able to get just enough caffeine to power through the rest of your day without disrupting your sleep cycle.

Knowing How to Drink Coffee Can Make You a More Productive Person

Studies have shown that most people are only productive at work for about three hours every day. They’re not spending nearly enough time focused on the various tasks that they have to get done.

If you’ve found that your productivity levels are low in recent weeks, learning how to drink coffee the right way might be the best solution for you. You can turn yourself into a much more productive person at work and put yourself into a position to advance in your career.

Follow the tips listed here to ensure that you’re using coffee to its full potential. And read our blog to find some of the other ways that you can make yourself stand out when you’re on the clock at work.