The importance of technology in team management

Managing a team and having effective communication between all members is not an easy task. Technology plays a very important role in this area as it helps to reduce communication noise, encourages good communication among all, and reduces costs. In today’s article we will address the importance of technology in team management!

How does technology improve team management?

Using the right technology allows employees to stay productive and connected throughout the day. The right tools help to define priorities and track tasks, as well as manage relationships within the team, avoiding conflicts and minimizing communication errors. Using software and applications, managers are able to communicate more easily their strategy and objectives and define KPIs for employees.

There are several tools that help managers communicate more effectively with their team. Let’s find our top 4!

Instant Messaging Tools

Tools like Skype and WhatsApp are very important for team members to keep in touch and to communicate with each other. Although these applications are used for professional purposes, they are also important for creating cohesion and linkage between the group.

Video conference

This tool is very useful for group meetings and allows even the team members who are far away to participate in the meeting. The manager can share presentations and reports with all participants. In addition, videoconferencing helps reduce travel and accommodation costs and helps reduce lost productivity.

Cloud

Cloud storage is already seen as a competitive strategy that responds to the needs of small, medium and large companies. Companies like Google and Microsoft provide servers where files are stored the same way if they are stored on a computer or mobile device. Files are stored for miles, but over the Internet, through a login and password, you can connect to your account and access all of your files. This facilitates sharing of documents by all members of a team.

BAM tools for real-time data analysis

The business world is increasingly accelerated and it is essential that a manager knows, at every moment, what is happening in the company. Analyzing reports with a few days means to have a reactive action to the events, which can bring losses to the company. Thus, real-time data analysis is increasingly essential in the business world. Multipeers is a BAM system that allows you to analyze the business to the minute, through a platform where all the information of the company, from the diverse sources of data is found. This allows for faster, more effective decision-making and an in-depth knowledge of each employee’s work.

The main technological evolutions of 2017

In the world of technology, every year is important, because the evolution in this sector is a constant and what today is a novelty, tomorrow may already be outdated. The end of the year is always a time of balance and it is time to analyze the main technological developments of 2017 and the impact they had in the business world!

Artificial intelligence

Who doesn’t know robot Sophia? This humanoid was developed by the company Hanson Robotics, of Hong Kong, and is able to reproduce 62 facial expressions. It was created to be able to learn, work and adapt to human behavior. The fact that this robot has received the citizenship of a country this year is a very important step for the world of artificial intelligence. The great goal of this new form of intelligence is to make the life of corporate employees easier by performing repetitive and more bureaucratic functions. 2017 was a very important year for this area and it is expected that in 2018 the trend will evolve further.

Cloud storage and software

It is no longer new that the use of Cloud has been growing in recent years. The increased security of information and the ability to access data from any device and anywhere in the world are factors that have led companies in 2017 to opt for these solutions. This was the year in which Cloud’s position was strong in the business world, and today there is no longer any mistrust of cloud solutions, but rather a growing need and demand.

Bots

The bots are systems that can simulate human actions, played the role of virtual assistants. The main purpose of using this technology is to make the user experience more interesting. The bots are programmed to give information about products and services without having to do research (good examples of this are Ikea’s Anna’s assistant and Apple’s Siri). In 2017, bots have become better at interpreting human language, and more and more companies choose to use these small robots, especially in the after-sales service areas.

Mobility

The present is mobile and there is no doubt about it. In 2017 it has been proved that mobility has to be part of companies’ lives. A recent IBM study reveals that we spend 90% of our time next to our mobile phone. Over the course of this year, technology companies have become aware that if they are to win in today’s competitive world, they must adapt to mobile devices. Having a mobile-friendly website and software that works on mobile phones and tablets is a must to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Internet of Things

This year, the number of devices sending information has grown dramatically. It is estimated that by 2020 there are between 20 and 30 billion connected devices. The great goal of the Internet of Things (IoT) is to make objects more efficient. For example, in a production line, through this system, it is possible to detect possible problems in machines before causing damage to the whole production.

The importance of information: tips for never losing your data

Business information is one of the most important assets in companies today. Business data consists of information about suppliers, customers, competition, strategies, among other documents that must be kept confidential. If these data are not stored properly, they may be lost or exposed to the outside, compromising safety and confidentiality. This type of situation is very damaging to the image of the company, so it is necessary to follow rules and strategies that allow to keep the data safe and private. Find 5 important tips to never lose your company data!

Make backups frequently

Nowadays all the information (or practically all of it) is digitized so it is vital to reinforce data security. It is necessary to keep backup copies in at least two different locations and it is advisable that one of these locations be in the Cloud because it is very unlikely to lose data that are hosted on the web in this type of services. Establish a backup routine so you don’t run the risk of not recovering the latest documents. Cloud services let you set the backup frequency you want in a timely manner.

Automate everything you can

If you have well-defined processes and well-established rules, it will be easier to optimize the work and leave a part of it delivered to the machines. Repetitive work is boring for the developer and to free him from routine processes is a way to leave him free to perform other functions. In addition, automated processes are faster than manuals. Automate backup and recovery frequencies.

Create a security policy

A survey carried out by the Ponemon Institute states that 73% of information technology users ensure that exposure of company data is due to internal errors, negligence or deliberately by employees. To avoid this, it is fundamental to create a security policy that includes e-mail retention (a good example is Office 365), that is, you can define that all emails that contain the word “login” must pass through a Moderator before being sent. Another important point is to define which documents are public, confidential and secret. It is also important that this policy includes penalties for those who fail to comply. In this way, employees of the company will feel more motivated not to make safety mistakes.

Use encryption in files

Files containing important and confidential information must be encrypted in order to ensure that only authorized persons can access the information. There are free solutions that allow you to put this functionality in the files, but it is advisable to do an exhaustive search on the best and safest ones, in order to choose the right tool.

Use VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is a type of private connection that uses a public network to access your company data. It contains a connection encryption that prevents data interception and IP tracing. This is the safest way to access corporate data through public networks such as hotels and airports.

Learn about IT PEERS security services and ensure the confidentiality of your information!

5 Advantages of digital transformation for your business

Find how digital transformation can help your business

Digital transformation is revolutionizing the business world and goes far beyond of eliminating paper in companies. This is a technology-enhanced process that should fit into the company’s strategy. Digital transformation is a complex and time-consuming process, but the advantages it brings to companies are vast. In this article, we will explore the top 5 advantages of digital transformation for your business!

Increases efficiency and productivity

Entering data manually, lack of inter-departmental communication, and delayed processes limits final production. These aspects are conditional for efficiency and can be eliminated with the use of appropriate technologies. Replacing manual processes with automated workflows ensures complete control over business activities. Adopting tools such as Multipeers that allow you to analyze business data in real time will eliminate delays in the reports and productivity will be greater.

Increases competitiveness

Digital transformation makes processes more fluid and managing all departments of the company becomes an easier and more intuitive task. The definition, implementation and improvement of business processes for a more practical and facilitative approach is the goal of adopting new technologies in business. With a more organized and fluid structure, the company will gain a competitive position compared to its direct competitors.

Improves customer satisfaction

Technology enables customers to become closer to brands and establish a stronger loyalty relationship. With the use of social networks, nowadays it is possible to make a presence in the daily life of potential clients through sharing on social media and special offers. Companies are also adopting the sending of special offers by SMS and e-mail, which makes the customer feel special. On the other hand, e-commerce also makes the customer more satisfied. Anytime and anywhere, we can easily purchase products, so adopting online stores is an essential strategy for anyone who wants to win in today’s competitive and digital world.

Opportunity to innovate

When companies implement digital transformation in their business, they are able to include improvements in their processes, thus promoting innovation. They also have greater scope to innovate their products and services because the inclusion of new technologies allows them to include significant improvements in their offer.

Reduction of costs

The main concern of managers is always to find ways to reduce business costs. Digital transformation, particularly the use of cloud services, enables companies to significantly reduce their operating costs. Using this technology allows you to reduce or even eliminate your local IT infrastructure, decrease the volume of impressions and hold meetings via Skype, eliminating long travel expenses.

Technology has come to stay and if we know how to use it, we can make the most of its benefits. A company that doesn’t adapt to the digital world we live in, will see its success quite compromised!

Get to know Multipeers and implement a change in your company today!

How to use Cloud for a more efficient management?

Learn how to get the most out of Cloud

Cloud Computing is a model that allows full access, through network, to a set of shared computing resources (networks, datacenters, storage, services, applications, among others) that can be quickly made available with a minimal effort and without interaction with the supplier. In this article, we’ll present you 5 tips to get the best out of Cloud.

Working socially

More and more companies have an advanced vision and take collaboration to another level by using Microsoft OneNote as a central and shared document where they can share all the information of the project. OneNote syncs every 5 seconds and automatically saves the new updates. Yammer connects employees remotely and increases their collaboration, and consequently the efficiency of the team.

The future is mobile

Mobile technology multiplies 5 times faster than the world population. Thanks to the Cloud, it will be possible to view and to edit all Office 2016 documents, from any mobile device. This makes business more and more efficient, as it’s no longer necessary to wait to be in the office to change important documents.

Synchronize the business

It’s difficult to find a business these days which has a fixed schedule from 9am to 5pm. Nowadays, companies are more flexible regarding schedules and due to the use of Cloud and mobile technology it’s possible to work from any location and at any time. Cloud storage synchronizes information between different devices, so everyone is able to work on the most up-to-date version of a particular document, regardless of which device they are using and where they are. The Cloud guarantees high level security and privacy.

Simplifying Meetings

Meetings are an important part of any business, providing a valuable opportunity for people to discuss, collaborate, and strategize. However, there are many meetings that aren’t productive. New communication and collaboration tools such as Skype for Business make easier to host meetings that are more efficient and productive and don’t require everyone to be in the same place.

Documents shared by all elements

Today’s markets move quickly and to keep up with their pace, a company’s employees need to work simultaneously on the same documents, such as sales reports, marketing plans, and more files. Collaboration with productivity features such as Office 2016 and Office Online makes possible for a team to edit documents at the same time. These features are supported by Cloud and are therefore automatically saved, and you it’s always possible to check the history of changes.

The present is already mobile and it is expected that this will be a trend in constant growth. Working in the Cloud not only ensures better collaboration between all the elements of a team, but at the same tile helps to reduce costs and to increase productivity.