The basis of business is profitability. If, at the end of the day, your company’s bottom line is struggling, it’s time to make some changes. Brilliant products or top-notch service are all well and good, but efficiency is the key to unlocking a new level of productivity—specifically your IT team’s efficiency.
The IT department is often the unsung hero within a company. A well-oiled IT team can keep the internal workings of any business running smoothly. If various departments’ IT-related needs are being met fully and promptly, those departments are better able to do their jobs, which leads to company-wide efficiency and, ultimately, more profitability as a whole. If computers are offline, emails are down, or a website crashes, operations will come to a screeching halt. That’s why it is vital to have specific structures (such as ticketing software or joint collaboration sites) to ensure your company performs optimally.
A capable IT team’s impact can be far-reaching within your business. It can increase employee morale, boost employee mental health, help companies pivot on a moment’s notice to keep up with market trends, aid businesses in customer retention, and even expedite the onboarding process for new employees – all of which mean good things for your business’ profit margins.
Happy Employees Means a Happy Bottom Line
Let’s start with happy employees. Employees who get the support, tools, and training they need to do their job and do it well will almost certainly feel appreciated and satisfied in their choice of employment. The best way to get your employees to that delighted state is through an effective IT team. An IT department integrated seamlessly into your employees’ everyday work lives can substantially impact job satisfaction, which means higher office morale, better employee retention, and thus less turnover. Efficiency can minimize frustrations over simple tasks and needless hassles when a quick fix is all that’s needed.
'An IT department integrated seamlessly into your employees’ everyday work lives can substantially impact job satisfaction, which means higher office morale, better employee retention, & thus less turnover' #business #leadership Click To TweetAdditionally, happy employees are less likely to quit and pursue other opportunities. Employee turnover can be incredibly costly; some studies estimate it could cost roughly 6 to 9 months’ salary on average. For an employee who makes $60,000 annually, that would be approximately $30,000 to $45,000 in training and recruiting expenses.
Not to mention, happy employees are far more likely to work harder than dissatisfied employees and just trying to run out the clock. Everyone wins when employees are excited to come to work each day.
Add Structure to Avoid Employee Burnout
Part of employee happiness can also come from good mental health practices, which, once again, are often made possible courtesy of an efficient IT team. Established practices for maintaining reasonable workloads can do wonders for employee mental health. The key is giving your employees enough time to do their tasks properly but not so much time that they become bored and unproductive. Ticketing programs that provide internal visibility to all team members and help balance workloads can be a game changer.
According to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM), organizations that considered physical and mental health and took steps to address related issues experienced reduced absenteeism and presenteeism. (Presenteeism is when people are physically present at work but unproductive.)
Additionally, having proper service management tools in place to handle things like vacation days (especially around the holidays!) and even coverage for a vacationing employee can also make a drastic difference. Too heavy a workload combined with a reluctance to take a vacation for fear of falling farther behind can quickly lead to employee burnout, job dissatisfaction, and turnover – none of which benefit efficiency and your bottom line.
Efficiency: Automated Business Processes Mean Adapting Quickly to Market Trends
Finding tools and tech processes that support business modernization and digitalization will help your company keep pace with customer demands. A team that is properly equipped to pivot on a moment’s notice to meet the needs of their market will come out ahead, often beating competitors to the punch.
However, to have the time to tackle that sort of strategic work (rather than being bogged down by the day-to-day, mundane grunt work that could potentially be automated), your teams will need the backing of a capable IT team. IT teams can help design technology so your business processes are clear and automated. Thus, your IT team’s efficiency translates to your company’s efficiency.
Even though 67% of US companies have invested in tools to automate their business processes, 45% of these lack the necessary expertise to use them. Don’t skimp on training & skill-building! #business #leadership Click To TweetEven if you have purchased the software to enable efficiency, you must also train your IT department to use it properly! It sounds obvious, but a recent survey conducted by OTRS Group found that even though two-thirds of U.S. companies (67 percent) have invested in tools to automate their business processes, 45 percent of these lack the necessary expertise to use them. Don’t skimp on training and skill-building.
Customer Satisfaction = Customer Retention
At the end of the day, you are nothing without your customers, regardless of your industry. Keeping your consumers happy is the quickest path to client retention. While it’s not always obvious, your IT team can also make things easier on this front. Competent IT teams will often have systems in place so customers can have their issues taken care of more quickly or even escalated if needed.
Additionally, it can be beneficial to have a process by which your company can receive customer feedback – just be sure to take the feedback into account and adjust accordingly moving forward!
Your IT team becomes a business partner in this regard as they help to evaluate software to support request management, implement workflows to route incoming requests, and establish communication tools to support the exchange between the business and customers.
Efficiency: The Faster the New Hires Are Settled, the Faster they Can Contribute to Revenue
Finally, the onboarding process is an area of business often overlooked. Getting new employees acclimated and ready to go as soon as possible can minimize time lost and, thus, lost productivity. Having a process that ensures the new hire’s computer and email accounts are set up before their first day is a great start. Additionally, having a set training procedure and a support system for the new hire will help get them up to speed and ready to contribute to projects sooner. It also sets the tone of the workplace – providing new employees with a sense of structure sets the expectation that your company means business. It sends the message to be ready to work when you show up.
'If you’re looking to boost your company’s efficiency (&, of course, your bottom line as well), you simply must invest in top-notch IT team members, & high-caliber training for said IT team." #business #leadership Click To TweetAt the end of the day, if you’re looking to boost your company’s efficiency (and, of course, your bottom line as well), you simply must invest in top-notch IT team members, high-caliber training for said IT team, and quality technology that can help automate your company. You’ll be amazed at how quickly efficient practices will spread throughout your organization.
Jeffrey May
Jeffrey May helps businesses improve their workflows and service operations. He has extensive training in IT Service Desk and Sales Management, and has a background in travel and hospitality technology. A former Marine, Jeff is personally invested in the successful development of teams towards a common goal and the importance of education.
