How does technology increase productivity? How can we use technology for productivity?

Enhanced by decades of technological and digital strides, we humans are more productive than ever before. But we are far from the finished article, with our brightest futures yet to be imagined by the creative brilliance of science fiction. 

The workplace is particularly interesting, relying heavily on technology for productivity in order to evolve. Technology simultaneously creates work and streamlines it.

As brick covers brick, we climb higher, looking for the next advancement. 

Read on to discover how workplaces are using the latest technology to improve productivity on a daily basis.

1- Technology creates transparency

Transparency is not simply a preferred social trait, but a cornerstone for company policy. By making company operations visible from within, owners promote honesty and efficiency in their employees. Blind productivity is not the aim, rather it is about being productive on the right tasks. 

The best-implemented technology goes unnoticed, slotting into work life like a snug glove. Data management software is one such example.

Seemingly unimportant on the face of it, data management has paved the way for total transparency in the modern workplace. Simply by recording information, leadership gains insight into working habits and can implement changes accordingly. 

Take time tracking tools like Hourstack. Such platforms display employee workload and daily activities on a user-friendly interface. Managers can make changes by observing specifics, like the time taken on tasks. Hourstack is great for office life but transparency across a broader workplace is much harder. 

Delivery companies need to track a fleet of drivers across the globe. Here, the Texaco fuel card steps up to the plate. A Texaco card provides tracking through a fleet manager known as Velocity, allowing owners to monitor routes and evaluate fuel consumption. This grants a degree of transparency far away from the office.

2- Technology allows you to work from anywhere, anytime

Back to the office and we find a constricting workplace, binding employees to the desk.

Change is coming. Many businesses now concede flexibility is conducive to productivity. As long as you have an internet connection, work can be completed anywhere — be it a coffee shop, home office, or the comfort of your bed.

Technology has improved in two areas to make ‘working from home’ a reality: storage and communication.

In terms of storage, simply owning a laptop is one thing. But, accessing physical hard drives is difficult and a bit of a burden.

What if you could access work files via the internet? Cloud storage software like Google Drive allows you to retrieve work from a shared platform. So long as your workplace commits to such a format, an entire database of projects can be shared and retrieved on a whim.

Secondly, keeping communication channels open is key to working away from the desk. Messengers like Slack can be used to communicate with colleagues during the working day. And using organizational apps such as Asana, tasks can be received and set with the click of a mouse. Apps reduce the need for face to face communication to simple social interaction. 

Recommended Reading: 15+ work from home tips to increase productivity and get more work done.

3- Technology is needed for security and protection

There is little doubt we are in a renaissance of the digital age. Since the invention of the internet, computers have developed into a powerhouse of productivity and efficiency. Yet our unified reliance on the internet has also made us vulnerable. 

As technology advances, the complex nature of the web has created its own threats to productivity, one which requires constant attention and investment. In recent years, anxiety around online scams and the unsolicited selling of data has unnerved even the most robust of companies.

What if security is breached? We have seen time and time again, cases of sensitive information being stolen and accounts being hacked. When such an event occurs, work comes to a grinding halt. 

To increase productivity in the workplace, companies must invest in protection; the internet is a lawless land, fast becoming impossible to police. And the development of security software is more popular than ever before. 

The best solutions combine usability and security. Take OpenVPN for example, a figurehead of tunneling software that obscures and creates a secure private network for work.

Additionally, keeping up with security can be tricky and time-consuming. Password storage like LastPass and True Key hide all your passwords in an encrypted digital vault. With the use of just one master password, you can access all of your accounts. Your master password is hashed by the software to prevent hackers from guessing it.

Recommended reading: How To Create A Customer Community For Your New Online Business

Final thoughts on using technology for productivity

The future of work is digital.

Perhaps soon technology will be so advanced, an office can be generated where we stand. Until that day the workplace will continue to improve and productivity will only get more efficient. 

This is a guest post submission on shemeansblogging.

Guest post author: Stevie Nicks is Digital Editor at Just Another Magazine – a website that covers the topics you care about. You’ll find articles about lifestyle, travel, fashion, trends and relationships on our site – each of which is written in our unique style.