We’ve been reading the results of a recent survey carried out by OnePoll, which highlighted the consequences of outdated and inefficient processes within UK businesses. The study explored the impact technology is having on the administrative efficiency of businesses, and employees were asked questions specifically about their time allocation during a typical working day.
The results revealed that whilst the majority of business practices are now digital, there are still many areas of administration in a significant number of workplaces that remain stuck in the past. It stated that manual and paper-based processes continue to be commonplace and nearly half (44%) of UK respondents considered their company’s office technology to be “‘woefully outdated”.
It also demonstrated a message that we are repeatedly telling customers – that productivity is hugely impacted by outdated processes and administrative inefficiencies. The areas identified as being the most significant timewasters on a daily basis by the employees surveyed were “needless administration tasks and tasks using outdated technology”.
More than a third of the employees interviewed said their work days are typically wasted on outdated processes and completing unnecessary tasks and, on average, 26% of an employee’s day will be spent on “avoidable administrative chores, unnecessary tasks and outdated ways of working”.
The digital transformation
The emergence and continuous progression of office technology and cloud-based processes and real-time information management tools have virtually removed the need for these traditional forms of administration. The problem though? A surprisingly large number of businesses are still to make the transition and discover the benefits of these solutions, which include faster and more streamlined processes.
Another benefit of cloud-based technology is remote access and the fact that it enables information to be accessed from anywhere with an online connection. This is game-changing for businesses, particularly those with flexible workers, which is now extremely common with an increasing number of companies employing home-based and remote workers.
The digitalisation of process creates a fast, scalable and flexible way for businesses to manage their information, one that’s certainly not possible with paper. Digital processes allow data to be seamlessly shared between various systems and eliminate the need for large amounts of information to be manually inputted, which is a slow and potentially inaccurate task.
In summary, the survey shows the sense of frustration that exists with employees who have no choice but to use systems which, in today’s digitally connected world, are becoming increasingly inadequate and detrimental to an efficient workflow. The digitalisation of processes significantly reduces the time it takes to carry out everyday tasks and results in streamlined workflows, which instantly delivers a return on the investment that’s been made.
The positive news for businesses is that the time being lost, as reported in this survey, is completely avoidable. We offer a range of solutions which have been designed specifically to replace traditional systems – for streamlining and improving every area of business administration.
Our services completely transform the way companies operate by simplifying and automating processes with innovative technology that can handle the demands of today’s digitally focused workplace.
Take a look at our case studies to see how we’ve helped other businesses and get in touch to find out how we can support your business through the digital transformation – call us on 01344 303200 or email hello@www.bts-ltd.co.uk.