How to Improve Office Efficiency in 2016

It’s a new year and as you wrap up all of your fourth quarter details from 2015 you’re probably simultaneously thinking about all of the ways you want to improve your company over the next 12 months. Obviously you want to improve your company’s profitability. Every CEO wants growth. But how do you accomplish that? Sure there are marketing campaigns you could run and customer retention techniques you could try. Before you can do any of them, however, you need to improve productivity and one of the best ways to do that is to make your office as efficient as possible. So how do you improve workplace efficiency?

Allow Telecommuting
Studies have proven that allowing your employees to work from home doesn’t hinder their productivity; it enhances it! Employees who work at home are happier, more loyal and get more done than those who are required to work on site every day. You don’t have to necessarily send your workforce home this year. Allowing them the choice of working on site or at home, though, will help improve office efficiency and productivity.

Update Your Technology
If you’re going to allow your employees to work offsite, you’re going to have to make sure you’re using the best technology. You are likely already connected to the cloud, but do you have the best cloud system available? Look into upgrades that allow more cloud compatibility.

Another important improvement to make is to switch from traditional landlines to VoIP. There are many benefits of VoIP in the office. One of them is that it is often cheaper–even when you are running multiple lines–than traditional service. You can bundle it with existing Internet service. And–here’s the kicker–it allows you to seamlessly forward an employee’s calls from his or her workstation to his or her work phone or home phone when they are working offsite. Voicemail is so 2015!

In addition to software, you’ll want to update your hardware. Many office places are switching from traditional laptops to tablets in an effort to go paperless and streamline offsite work. Some tablets, like the Surface line from Microsoft are even built as laptop replacements.

Make Employee Health a Priority
Studies have proven that sitting down all day deeply hinders a person’s productivity and energy levels. A good way to combat this and help your employees with their “get healthier” resolutions is to outfit them with standing or adjustable desks. Standing desks have proven quite effective in helping improve office productivity and efficiency because they reduce the amount of time people spend getting up and wandering around because sitting is zapping their energy.

If you have a break room or provide snacks and beverages to your employees, make sure that most of the snacks and beverages you provide are healthy. Instead of candy and cookies, stock up on fruit, veggies and grains. Stock bottled water instead of soda. Leave the coffee pot where it is, though, or your employees might revolt!

Benefits and Time Off
Healthy employees are productive employees. Take a hard look at the health benefits you’re offering and look for ways to improve that package. Consider, for example, adding dental and vision in addition to basic health and emergency care.

Another great benefit to offer is unlimited PTO. That probably sounds counter intuitive but it has proven incredibly helpful for workplace efficiency and productivity. Yes, there are probably going to be a few who will milk the system but you’ll find out sooner than later and can replace them with more dedicated staff. For the most part, when employees are offered unlimited PTO, they actually take less time off because they don’t want to be thought of as slackers. And the combination of the ability to work from home and unlimited PTO will allow them to better care for their kids and family responsibilities without worrying about their job security nearly as much. All good things.

As you can see, the best way to improve productivity and efficiency isn’t so much to hand down a new set of rules and quotas. The best ways to improve productivity and efficiency is to invest in your business and your people. Keeping them healthy, happy, and properly equipped will do wonders for your company’s efficiency, productivity and–most important of all–profitability.

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