Technology has changed our lives altogether from home to our workplaces. These changes took place over a decade. Still, technologies are evolving, new inventions are happening and old technologies are becoming obsolete. This evolution and advancement in technology have a deeper impact on our lifestyle. There are so many gadgets available in the market to help us in enhancing and improve our work experience. In the modern world of business, people are capable of working with a laptop from anywhere in the world. He doesn’t need to go office and held meetings with staff. He only needs a smart device and an internet connection and the whole business is in his hands. However, we are paying some costs for this advancement in technology.
In this article pros and cons of smart devices in the workplace and their impact on business are discussed.
What are Smart Devices?
Smart devices are electronic gadgets available to enhance your business experience. These gadgets create ease in doing and managing a business. You may improve your communication, increase your production, manage your costs, and manage your workforce by using these gadgets. For effective communication, video conferences may be used. For remotely managing the workforce online attendance system may be used and by the involvement of technology, optimum utilization of production may be attained.
Impact of smart devices in the workplace-Advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
A time saver:
Using technology in routine work tasks may save you time. You may use gadgets such as laptops for managing and keeping records of your businesses. Your data is secure and available to you in the blink of an eye. You may use video conferencing tools for virtual meetings, it saves your time and resources. There are so many gadgets enhancing your work experience such as printers, networking devices, scanners, etc.
Quick and reliable communication:
Advancement in technology is improving the ways of communication. With modern tools of communication, a businessman may manage their business from anywhere in the world. Software developers and IT experts may deal with an intra-continental client without any hassle. These devices provide secure and cheap ways of communication and it makes it easy to trace your previous records.
Sharing business data and reports:
By use of communication devices, it is convenient to share your business data, reports and other information with your clients, subsidiaries and branches located anywhere in the world. It provides a secure way to share your data and business reports. Different server computers and clouding facilities are available for this purpose as per the need of the business model.
Keep data safe and secure:
The use of modern gadgets and technology makes it possible to keep your data safe and secure. Different devices and cloud technologies are available in the market capable of storage of huge amounts of data in the most secure way. This data is accessible to authorized persons from anywhere in the world. In small businesses flash drives and personalized data storage setups are prominent. In large-scale businesses secured servers and cloud facilities are available.
Energy efficient:
The use of modern devices decreases the costs of your business. Modern devices consume less energy and give an optimum output which ultimately saves your resources. Laptops and smartphones use lithium batteries. Nowadays, entire business setups, offices, and even production units are powered by Solar Systems. It decreases business costs.
Energy ability:
The use of smart devices at the workplace enhances your work experience and increases the ability to do the work and enables the staff to work remotely at their convenience.
Save time and resources:
The use of modern gadgets also helps in saving your time and resources. Most of the business meetings are conducted remotely without physical visits. These devices enable you to communicate with, your staff, clients, and other businesses around the globe without using a single paper. This communication is available with a single click on your laptop or a tap on your smartphone.
Multitasking:
The use of smart devices also enables you to multitask at your workplace. At the same time, you may send e-mails, print important documents, and extract specific reports. With help of smart devices, your can manage your staff, mark their attendance, and keep their leave record up to date automatically.
Healthy work environment:
The use of smart gadgets creates a healthy work environment for businessmen and their staff. It creates ease and multitasking in performing routine work activities. Ultimately it leads to a healthy work environment.
Direct customer engagement:
Using advanced gadgets of communication increases interaction with customers and leads to satisfies customer retention. In today`s world, the market is so competitive and big fishes spend millions on diverting customers to their brands. However, retention of existing customers is cost-effective and ensures the long-term success of the business. Customer retention and satisfaction can be obtained by listening to customers, understanding, and solving their problems.
Disadvantages:
Technologies are costly:
When it comes to cost, it is necessary to understand that new technologies are always costly. To purchase new and technologically advanced gadgets businesses have to spend heavy resources. Mostly, small business setups cannot afford these costs.
Complex working environments:
The use of multiple devices in the workplace makes the working environment complex physically and mentally for employees. Long working hours in presence of advanced gadgets and multiple screens left the employees tired and exhausted.
The threat of security breach:
Despite all the advancements in technology your business data is not secured. There is always a chance of data theft. Hackers may intrude into your system and breach security protocols. Business secret data and information could be sold to competitors and other stakeholders on the dark web.
Special training and skills are required.
To grasp the fruit of modern technology and devices staff must be well versed with the skills required there. For this businesses have to spend resources to develop the skill set of employees.
Less human interaction:
The involvement of smart devices and technologies in workplaces creates a smooth environment but it decreases human face-to-face interactions. Lack of human interaction causes communication barriers and it leads to wrong decision-making by management.
Technology becomes obsolete:
One new invention took place or generation upgrades, previous technology becomes obsolete instantly. Graduation into new technology is expensive and requires continuous investment.
Maintenance costs:
Using advanced gadgets and technology at the workplace requires high maintenance costs which lead to higher operating costs.
Conclusion:
Undoubtedly, the use of smart devices in the workplace enhances your capabilities and flourishes the business. It provides a secure environment to manage your business with ease of doing multiple tasking. It decreases costs and increases the operational efficiency of staff allowing them to communicate from remote locations. A businessman may manage their business operations and hold meetings with staff and clients without going anywhere. Modern data also helps in securing large scales business data and trade secrets of business models. However, it’s a journey toward perfection. It is an evolution of technology taking place and humans are continuously learning through experiences. In this modern world, businesses are more concerned about the data security of their business and clients. With the passage of time, these issues would be resolved and it will lead to more reliability.
