By 7 min read

If you are struggling to develop a productive hybrid working model, then tech could be your problem. In today’s blog post, we will take you through the three key tech areas to implement and how to do it effectively.

Let’s start by looking at what those three tech areas involve.

 

3 areas of tech that will help you create a productive hybrid working model

How you put your tech stack together matters because what applications your team have access to and how they work together, directly affects output.

A great place to start is by looking at tech from a people perspective. That will look something like this.

 

  1. Tech for employees – the systems and process management of departmental tasks
  2. Tech for management – the systems that give oversight to departmental tasks, plus staff engagement and productivity
  3. Tech for leadership – the systems that give “bigger picture” oversight to company goals and KPIs

 

Let’s look at these tech stacks individually.

Graphic showing an employee using a laptop and mobile phone while coming up with ideas (light bulb in on hand to represent idea)

 

Employee tech that creates a productive hybrid workforce

Technology can make a workforce more effective in several ways. Firstly, it can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing employees to focus on more valuable and strategic work.

It can also facilitate communication and collaboration, breaking geographical and cultural barriers by allowing teams to work together more efficiently.

Your tech will also give your team access to real-time data and insights, enabling more informed decision-making and agile responses to changing circumstances.

Finally, good tech can enhance employee engagement and motivation by providing personalised learning and development opportunities, facilitating flexible work arrangements, and fostering a positive and innovative work environment.

Ultimately the right tech can improve work processes’ speed, accuracy, and efficiency, allowing your team to achieve more with less effort and resources.

What does this tech look like?

It’s often cloud-based software services (or “SaaS” as they are known) and can include a combination of cloud data storage, video and chat tools, sales and CRM software, logistic workflow systems and more. They often integrate to allow your team to perform and manage aspects of their job functions effectively.

Some of our favourite products include Slack, a fantastic comms tool which seamlessly integrates with other software, Notion, which is great for task and project management and Google Workspace, which is excellent for cloud storage and organisation.

 

Management tech that creates productive oversight

While managers have task-based job functions in their own right, often, their job is to oversee employee productivity. To achieve this, there are many forms of tech that can help.

 

  • Time Tracking Software allows employees to track their time on tasks and projects. Managers can then view reports showing how much time employees spend on each task and whether they meet their goals. Something like HourStack integrates with various software, like Slack and Google.
  • Project Management Software helps managers keep track of tasks, deadlines, and milestones. It can also provide insights into team productivity and workload. Notion is an excellent tool for this.
  • Employee Monitoring Software tracks employee activity on company devices and monitors internet usage. While this can be useful for identifying productivity issues, it’s essential to balance that with privacy concerns. The UK’s PC Mag recently voted Teramind and Veriato Cerebral as their favourite tools here.
  • Communication Tools – Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom can be used to communicate with employees in real-time, share updates, and check in on progress.
  • Performance Management Systems – Performance management systems like OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) can be used to set goals, track progress, and evaluate performance. You could use Notion or Hubspot for this. In fact, Hubspot has a specific forecasting tool just for sales goals.
  • Wellbeing tech – Well-being tech, like Kind Mind, can help create a more productive hybrid workforce by promoting employees’ physical and mental health, improving their work-life balance, and enhancing engagement and motivation. By prioritising employee well-being, organisations can foster a more positive and productive work environment, reduce absenteeism and increase turnover, and ultimately improve the overall performance and success of the hybrid workforce.

 

It’s important to note that while technology can help monitor productivity, you must remember that monitoring must remain a positive and productive process that enhances output and promotes a strong company culture (here’s our guide to hybrid working and company culture).

 

Leadership tech that creates productive KPI management

As a leader, you will need the “bigger picture” laid out in real-time. You need to understand your KPIs to do this in a hybrid working environment and remain productive in that monitoring. This means looking for tech that can help with the following:

 

  • Financial performance
  • Employee satisfaction
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Productivity
  • Product or service quality
  • Innovation
  • Compliance

 

Leadership tech doesn’t need to be a standalone tech stack unless your employee and management software can not provide real-time reporting and forecasting on critical topics. Because software is often designed with one task or set of tasks in mind, it cannot offer a blanket approach to business on all levels. Understanding what you need will be critical to choosing the right suite of tools for you.

Ok, let’s give you an example here to explain.

Hubspot is great for employees and management working to lead conversion and sales goals. But its reporting doesn’t go as far as helping you prepare a cash flow forecast or a budget, something you could take to the bank when asking for a loan. Integrating Hubspot with a dedicated tool like Xero will help with that.

However, if you are looking at sales productivity, Hubspot has specific templates that can create reporting-style dashboards to oversee stats at a glance. In this case, you wouldn’t need a secondary tech tool.

 

How to choose and implement the right tech for a productive hybrid working model

When choosing a tech stack for your business, there are several factors you should consider to ensure you make the best decision for your needs. Here are some steps you can follow to help you look for the right tech stack for your business:

 

  1. Define your business requirements – Start by identifying the goals and requirements of your business. What features and functionalities do you need? What are your performance requirements, scalability, and security concerns? Once you understand your business needs, you can narrow your options.
  2. Assess your team’s skills – Consider the skills and expertise of your existing team. Which programming languages and frameworks are they familiar with? If you have a small team or plan to outsource development, consider the availability of talent and resources for the technologies you’re considering.
  3. Evaluate the technology stack options – Research and compare different tools based on your business needs and your team’s skills. Consider factors such as the tech’s popularity, the quality and frequency of updates and support, the level of community and documentation, and the overall cost of ownership.
  4. Consider vendor lock-in – Consider where switching products, later on, becomes impractical or too costly for your business. Some tech stacks are proprietary and have a higher risk of vendor lock-in, limiting your options for customisation and upgrades in the future. Future-proofing your tech now will help you avoid this problem.
  5. Test and validate your tech stack, considering hybrid working ROI – Once you’ve narrowed down your options, test and validate your tech stack by building a prototype (MVP). This will help you evaluate the technology in a real-world environment and ensure it meets your business and investment requirements before implementing it.
  6. Implement tech whilst you train your staff – training staff to use new tools will be critical in how successful those first weeks are in using your new hybrid technology. It will also affect your roll-out process, so think about what components come first and if you need personnel to switch from daily tasks to digitalising company records and to set up your infrastructure.

 

Remember that the right tech stack for your business will depend on your needs and goals. Take the time to carefully evaluate your options and make an informed decision that will support your business’s success in the long term.

If you are looking for the wellness arm of your tech stack, book a software demo with us here at Kind Mind and let us show you what we can do!

Categories: ProductivityTags:

Want to Help Your People Feel Better, Faster?

Explore Kind Mind’s suite of solutions, crafted to enhance wellbeing the wellbeing of those in your workplace. From pay-as-you-go personalised therapy and individual self-care recommendations to data-led insights for HR leaders. We’re here to guide you and your staff towards a healthier, more productive future.