‘Office automation’ is a term that arose in the 70s and 80s to describe the way that computers were revolutionising workplaces. These days, our computing power is taken for granted, and office automation now refers to a range of new technologies that are already extremely popular in homes and offices all over the world.
If you’re not up to date with everything that new technology has on offer, then here’s an introduction to some of what’s possible with modern office automation.
Impress clients and customers
With a combination of technologies and products, you can create a boardroom and presentations that are sure to impress your clients.
For example, you could use a voice command to simultaneously dim your Wi-Fi enabled smart lighting, start your presentation, and turn up the volume on the sound system. You’ll need to back this up with a good presentation and high-quality information, of course, but there is value in having an impressive board room.
As any marketing professional will tell you, the psychology behind gaining the trust of your prospective clients and customers can be very powerful. Using technology to impress them is one way that you can achieve this.
These products can be used in any number of creative ways to achieve a result that is valuable for your business. They could even be used to automatically change the smart lighting and music atmosphere for different courses in a restaurant to create a dining experience worthy of Heston Blumenthal.
Improve efficiency
Just like the advent of computers in the workplace, modern office automation has the potential to greatly improve efficiency for your business.
There are a range of products that will yield improvements to office efficiency. There are software solutions that you will interact with on a daily basis while the hardware infrastructure takes care of things behind the scenes.
When it comes to hardware, it is essential that your office is correctly wired so that each desk has power points and ethernet connections. You’ll need a high-speed internet connection and Wi-Fi network to ensure that your employees can work effectively.
In terms of software, there is a huge number of apps and programs that are designed to improve the way you manage your normal business tasks. These can help you easily keep track of multiple projects, the time spent on different tasks, and maintain a cloud-based file management system. There is also software that makes financial tasks such as accounting, payroll, and inventory management much easier.
The programs that you will get the most value out of will depend on the needs of your business. If you put a bit of thought into where time is being lost in your business, you’ll be able to find a piece a software that will solve the problem. In many cases, there is innovative business software that is designed to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ which may have everything you need.
Office amenities
Managing your employees effectively isn’t just about making sure the work gets done. Creating a positive working environment is one of the best ways of ensuring that your employees to do their best work.
There are many things you can do to make your office an enjoyable place to work. The most important thing is that you foster a positive office culture, but there are also systems that you can provide to improve the work life of your employees. Even simple things like being able to control the music for the office from their computers can go a long way towards creating a positive work environment for your employees.
Improve security and save energy
Another system that can be great for both employers and employees is access control. These systems have a range of features that will improve security, including tiered access permissions, real time permissions management, and remote monitoring of security cameras and activity.
These systems can also give your employees more flexible work hours, allowing them to come in early or leave late, while also maintaining the security of your premises. You can even integrate your access control with other systems designed to reduce energy consumption such as smart climate control and lighting so that they turn off automatically when nobody is in the office.
About the author
Mike Andrews is the Director of Integrated Technologies Australia. Mike and his team are experts in automation technologies for the home and office.
