What can companies do to help their teams this year?

With so many generalized tips around, sometimes it’s difficult to filter out the right information. We’ll provide some actionable tips rather than pointing out the obvious.

First off, there seem to be 2 urgent points of interest: digitalization and the shortage of frontline employees.

Needless to say, neither is a simple matter to solve. A viable strategy, well-drafted and customizable, is needed in this regard. It should include a number of approaches, the most critical ones of which we’ll address below.

Let’s get started!

Streamline Processes

There are too many repetitive organizational processes (manual processes, as the most obvious example) that still haven’t been streamlined. This is also where operational processes can come into play.

One common example is time tracking, which can nowadays be automated rather seamlessly. With so many relevant tools around, there’s no excuse not to pick one and allow the employees to concentrate on important tasks instead.

Additional departments can benefit from new technologies. Listed below, you’ll find some of the most urgent ones.

Deploy New Tech

In today’s world, new technology can scarcely be disregarded. The busy workplace is in need of automation, while hybrid work models demand flawless connectivity and reliable communication technologies.

We’ll briefly mention a couple of notable departments of interest.

Goal-Setting Software

As the name implies, goal-setting software is any software or app that enables users to create objectives and follow them all the way through.

Some employees also require assistance in defining their objectives, particularly when the workspace is too hectic. It would be a shame not to incorporate goal-setting apps into the daily operations, as they can assist with this issue as well.

Most significantly, goal-setting software makes the processes engaging and leads to actionable results.

Onboarding Software

Onboarding training gets overlooked way too often. Improving the employee onboarding experience is actually very crucial.

This important step is, actually, the first point of contact for new hires. It is essential that they get accustomed to the company culture, procedures, and best practices early on so that they can easily fit in.

Therefore, it would be wise to implement onboarding software capable of assisting businesses in every step of the process. Specifically, these tools can help with:

• Outlining employment duties, responsibilities, schedules, and compensation
• Submitting the job requisition to the relevant managers
• Gathering forms for new hires
• Selecting devices and tools to be provided to new hires
• Setting up appropriate accounts and logins for new hires  
• Scheduling orientation sessions

As you can see, there are quite a lot of items to keep in mind, so do consider onboarding software. 

Team Management and Project Management Software

Apps for team and project management are a necessity for every organization — no exceptions.

Google Calendar, Asana, and Trello are a few standard free management applications, but they’re by no means the only ones. Look into Weekdone (team management with the OKR methodology), Infinity (team management), and Clockify (time management with time clocks and timesheets) for more sophisticated choices.

Additional ideas may come to mind as you get accustomed to the offer. Compare offers and be persistent in finding the best tools, especially when it comes to project management or project budgeting for construction and frontline teams. Make sure they’re user-friendly and provide the necessary training as well.

Time-Tracking Software

While something called a “standard” hasn’t been established, suffice it to say that there are multiple options available when it comes to time-tracking apps, as follows:

• Standalone time-tracking apps
• Apps are integral to project management software
• Apps integral to accounting systems
• Automatic time-tracking apps
• Real-time monitoring apps
• Clock-in and clock-out apps
• Location-based apps
• Enterprise apps

Time-tracking software is not new, yet it is tragically underused. These tools significantly reduce the amount of time needed to manually log employee time.

Cloud-based software may prove a decent option in this regard. They allow employees to use their devices to clock in and to clock out with ease.

The three options available are manual, digital, and software clocking-in systems. A number of solutions — including biometrics, proximity clocks, swipe clock time cards, and PIN clocks — are integral to both manual and digital time clocks.

Time-tracking software records data and keeps it on a server in the cloud. The main benefit of cloud storage is that it is available at all times and from any location.

Contact Center Automation

Contact center automation can be quite helpful, since it can be utilized for every stage of the process, including but not limited to process automation, employee empowerment, and customer engagement.

Choose automation software that has integrated RPA and deploys conversational AI capabilities for optimum results, as these functionalities allow for quick and efficient process optimization and procedure streamlining.

Additional cutting-edge technological solutions to consider include VoIP protocols, IVR systems, and ACD systems.

Focus on Targeted eLearning

Since everyone knows the importance of continual education, we won’t beat around the bush. Straight to the main challenge: how to pick the optimum eLearning platform?

With so many options available, settling for a single one may seem impossible, so here are some points of interest.

Have you heard of the Kirkpatrick model?

Finding a course based on this methodology is always a good idea, as the Kirkpatrick model has four tiers: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. All these are coupled as to produce a thorough understanding of the training material in question.

Another type of course to consider is those based on the Training for Impact (TFI) model. TFI course can be tailored to specific organizational needs and has 12 steps, as follows:

• Identify business needs and clients
• Form a collaborative relationship
• Conduct initial project meeting
• Conduct performance assessment
• Conduct cause analysis
• Tabulate and interpret data
• Report results to client
• Design evaluation system
• Design tracking system
• Conduct training
• Collect, tabulate, interpret data
• Report to client

Finally, deploy a methodology based on the Success Case Method, which assesses how training affects target business goals. The model consists of 5 steps:

• Focusing and planning
• Creating an impact model defining “success”
•  Designing and distributing a survey to search for the best and worst cases of program success
• Interviewing the participants
• Preparing a report of the findings

Keep Them Healthy and Happy

Creating a workplace where your team feels cared for does not have to be complicated. Offering healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, nuts, or a colorful veggie tray can boost energy, focus, and overall morale. Pairing that with giving your team plenty of time for lunch and regular breaks sets the stage for sustained productivity and creativity. Whether they’re reheating some rice or running out for a quick meal, this time to create energy for the rest of the day is crucial.

When people know they are supported and not just expected to power through the day, stress drops, collaboration improves, and the office atmosphere becomes more positive. Small gestures like these show employees that their well-being truly matters, which often leads to higher engagement and a stronger sense of loyalty.

Set Up a Knowledge Management System

Lastly, a knowledge management system can help you with the management of the frontline team, among its other benefits.

Since frontline employees are in high demand, businesses should focus on how to make them happy with their jobs.

A knowledge management system is a platform that brings together individuals and processes. Its main benefit is that it collects and saves data in one place, which helps its circulation and access.

Contemporary knowledge management systems interact with organizational procedures and collect information from various sources.

In hopes that these actionable tips will help you see a bigger picture, we’ll leave you with a final thought: which apps can you ditch? We may live in the age of big data, but infodemic is a huge issue. Make do with only the tools you need without overcomplicating organizational processes.