Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is becoming increasingly useful within business organisations around the globe.
As technology advances and more efficient communications solutions are introduced to the labour force, companies are finding that production levels are significantly increased, employee satisfaction is at an all-time high and overall, business efficiency is benefiting from the speed at which communications can take place.
From customer satisfaction to improved communications between staffers and management, ICT is accelerating the rate of growth in businesses large and small.
Key Takeaways: Leveraging ICT for Business Efficiency and Growth
- Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: ICT facilitates real-time customer service through emails and live chats, reducing returns and smoothing business operations.
- Efficient Workforce Management: Advances in HR software, like cloud-based solutions, streamline scheduling and tracking, freeing HR staff for more personal employee interactions.
- Cost-Effective Training: Telecommunications and video conferencing allow for flexible, less expensive training opportunities, maximizing employee development without significant expense.
- Improved Staff-Management Communication: Digital communication tools enable 24/7 direct access between staff and management, promoting operational efficiency through instant feedback and suggestions.
- Future of ICT: With rapid advancements, ICT is set to further revolutionize operational efficiency in businesses, hinting at exciting developments like 3D communications and remote printing.
1. Boost Customer Satisfaction Through Improved Communications
Throughout any business, there are probably a huge number of devices that are integral to internal as well as external communications.
Mobile phones, PCs, laptops and any device that allows for communication to and from the home office falls within the umbrella of ICT.
With a customer service department fitted with computers and internet, customers can get answers through emails and live chat in real time.
If problems can be solved with a bit of TLC from the customer service department, fewer items are returned for refund and business flows much more smoothly and efficiently.
2. More Efficient Scheduling of Manpower and Jobs
With rapid advances in HR software solutions, it is infinitely easier to schedule and track both manpower and jobs.
Companies such as www.xcdhr.com have developed HR Cloud-based solutions to streamline many of the tasks that took altogether too many hours to complete manually.
With built-in or bespoke features that allow HR staff to schedule work hours, leaves, holiday breaks and even paid training hours, HR software frees up staff to deal with employees on a more personal, face-to-face level as the need arises.
3. Provide Ongoing Training
There was a time when companies spent huge amounts of money sending employees to seminars and workshops to further their job-related training.
In fact, the more advanced the training was, the more money was spent sending staffers off to a remote seminar or bringing in experts in the field to conduct on-site training.
With the rise in telecommunications and video conferencing, employers can now offer training through internet based devices so that employees can be trained at their convenience and at much less the cost to the company.
4. Open Lines of Communication between Staffers and Management
Another area that often caused a breakdown in operations was due to a lack of communications between management and staffers.
With advances in digital communications, employees can have direct access 24/7 to management to have any questions answered or to voice their thoughts and suggestions on any given subject from improved methods of production to better means of product delivery.
Here again, options for communications are not limited to email and telephone calls but video chats can be set up so that staff can literally ‘show’ what they are talking about and all without leaving their station.
Final Thoughts
ICT has come a very long way within the past few years and is growing exponentially.
As more and more businesses become acquainted with the various aspects of Information and Communications Technology, the rapidity at which advances are made will increase and businesses will find that operational efficiency will increase as well.
Technology in the 21st Century has just entered a new threshold. It will be interesting to see where 3D communications and remote printing take us in the future.