There are often cases where businesses will implement solutions based on what they believe will be a benefit to their operations without consulting those who actually use the solutions. When implementing a new IT solution, be sure to consider the feelings of someone who is on the user end of this technology, as it might make all the difference when using it for the benefit of your organization.
Consider your employees the “customers” who should ultimately be satisfied by the tools you provide them. To this end, you should collect information on solutions in the following ways:
Methods of Data Collection
You’ll want to take a deep dive into your business’ operations to gather data on what kind of technology your organization will be most successful with. Here are some of these methods:
- Employee surveys: Anonymous surveys can be used to discover ways that certain departments can be more effective.
- Data analysis: Check on the time spent on various tasks around your office, as well as why these tasks took that amount of time. Consider if this is an issue that can be resolved through implementing a service or solution, then look into what your options are.
- Face-to-face discussions: Try holding a meeting to discuss what tools your departments need to do their jobs more effectively via an open forum.
Ask Employees Directly What They Need
Nobody knows the jobs your employees do like your employees. If they ask for something that can make their jobs more efficient or effective, it’s your responsibility to investigate the solution and decide whether implementing it will be a benefit for operations. Furthermore, opening up this line of dialogue will show your staff that you care about making their jobs easier and less stressful, which can work wonders for morale.
Respond After Careful Consideration
This isn’t to say that you should go along with any and all ideas that your employees have, as they might suggest ideas that sound great on paper, but simply don’t pan out in reality. You should first consult your budget and operational goals before committing to any new solutions, as any solution you implement should have a net value to gain for your business’ bottom line. It should be able to increase revenue or decrease operational costs.
As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to listen to any problems that your employees might have with their technology and make their jobs as easy as possible. This will, in turn, create a situation where they will be more successful in their day-to-day responsibilities and produce higher quality work. To learn more about how your organization can adopt this consumer-based mindset when implementing technology, reach out to us at (215) 853-2266.
