5 Ways Bad Technology Is Turning Away Employees
Updated: March 17, 2020
Accessibility. Reliability. Usability.
Three words of many that absolutely must relate to the technology in your agency in order to attract any new talent.
The most valuable asset to any business is its people.
You want to try attracting the best and brightest to fill those empty seats in the office, but it’s becoming increasingly challenging to do so, especially when your technology is off-putting, to say the least.
The majority of people entering the workforce are digital-savvy and have expectations for the technology they will be working with.
If they walk into your agency for the first time and see technology that they could potentially be using that is too old, it very well may deter their interest.
In fact, 80% of millennials say workplace technology will influence their job decision (Techvera).
If you don’t take the above stat seriously, that means you are limiting your talent pool to 20%.
Now try finding the top, qualified talent to work for your agency during a talent shortage in the insurance industry.
5 Ways Bad Technology is Turning Away Employees
Not only is the first impression of clunky technology a turn-off, but the daily use of it can really take a toll on the happiness and success of employees.
As a business owner, you want your employees to be happy and efficient in their use of office technology and systems because that kind of care reflects on the success of the company as a whole.
When you take good care of your employees, they will take good care of your clients and the cycle comes full circle.
Everyone, including your agency benefits.
But clunky, cumbersome, outdated technology can be a real challenge and become a source of frustration that leads to employees thinking about other places of employment.
Again, accessibility, reliability, and usability are just three words that need to represent your agency’s technology.
In order to allow employees to shine and grow, your technology needs to do the same.
Sometimes it’s hard to understand a problem from the inside.
So, instead of scaring away potential talent with clunky technology, here are a few things you can do to make your agency look more enticing to your talent pool.
Check it out: Office Technology: Then and Now Video
1. Replace that Fax Machine
First off, that big, loud machine taking up space right in the middle of your office, is an unnecessary hassle.
You have the option to fax documents right from the comfort of your own computer, using the proper software.
2. Get Away From the Desk
Yes, of course, your employees need a workspace, but what they don’t need is that to be the only place they have to get their work done.
Flexibility is so important today.
Mobile technology and remote devices are great tools to have on hand for employees to continue their work and stay productive.
Think about how much more could get done if there was an option to work on the go.
In the car, on a plane, even a train. (haha).
The possibilities are endless with today’s technology.
Or say a client needs to speak with their agent, but the agent is away from their desk.
Lucky enough, our smartphones can provide us with the ability to access AMS software, make audio or video calls, text, and email the client.
This type of accessibility and reliability is a great asset to your agency's customer service.
Check it out: Risks of Using Outdated Technology
3. What’s With the File Cabinets?
It’s 2020, reducing paper consumption is easier than ever before.
Not only are there other options for storing important files and documents, but the risk is way too high to have all of that work on the most flammable and vulnerable thing in the office; paper.
File cabinets don’t do anyone any favors.
They’re in the way a lot of times, and they’re no longer the most effective way to store and organize files.
Aside from the nuisance of filing papers correctly and having to sort through them to find what you are looking for, they can cause compliance issues.
The safety of yours and your client’s information is at risk with the use of filing cabinets if the proper procedures are not in place.
Check it out: Going Paperless In Your Agency
4. No Elbow Space
Having some old, clunky, heavy machine sitting on your desk, can get in the way and make productivity much harder.
Odds are, that big computer is running too slow anyways.
Replacing that equipment with slim, multi-surface monitors, will allow employees to be more productive by working on more than one thing at a time.
Engagement is a huge factor in productivity.
If your employees are spending a few minutes waiting for documents to open, close, save, etc. they are losing valuable work time and mentally checking out each time.
Think about this.
When you are on a roll with an idea or project you are working fast, but each time you have to stop your train of thought to wait for your computer to load it kills your momentum.
Not great, right?
Check it out: 6 Technology Trends for 2018 Infographic
5. Can’t Keep Up
There simply is no need for computers that run too slow.
Talented employees can’t shine while they’re waiting for their computer to load or reboot for the 5th time of the day.
Bulky technology is often just not compatible with updated software and programs that successful agencies need to run.
According to Why Meridan, Computers 4+ years and older cost 21 hours of productive time a year because of repairs, updates, maintenance, and security fixes.
That’s insane!
If you think you’re cutting costs by not upgrading your outdated hardware, think again.
Outdated technology actually increases your costs.
From maintenance, security fixes, higher electricity bills, increased downtime, less employee satisfaction and motivation, to more employee turnover, your agency is losing more money, better talent, and customers by not investing in technology upgrades.
Luckily, some managed service providers, like Omega Computer Services, have a solution for that.
Every three years, our full clients can get hardware refreshes included in their flat-rate monthly fee.
Visit our Get More Information page to learn more.
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