How Technology Can Benefit Business

In a world that is becoming increasingly digitized, it is important for businesses to keep up with new technologies in order to stay relevant and competitive. There are many different ways that technology impacts communication within businesses and the workplace. In fact, some researchers have stated that “workers will soon choose to conduct all personal and professional activities from their individual homes, rendering the workplace obsolete”, which could change how we view the modern-day workplace completely. Some factors within organizations have shifted due to technology, include: 

1.  Media Richness - Media can differ in “richness” based on how much information the receiver is provided from the context. For example, the most “rich” form of communication is face-to-face communication because you are able to get context like nonverbal context that enhances your understanding of the message. When looking at technology, it is important to match the correct richness of message to how you will communicate it. For example, negotiating tasks is best done via face-to-face communication and generating ideas and plans could be best done via computer generated communication. Knowing how to communicate which messages is vital to successful understanding and less ambiguity. 

2. Internal communication – Since people are shifting towards using technology to communicate with colleagues, it can extend the number of people involved in decision making at a faster rate and lower cost . Internal communication can also increase the frequency and duration of messages to employees which can make groups more cohesive, productive, and collaborative. 

3. Telecommuting – Telecommuting occurs when individuals are allowed to work away from the office in a space of their choice. This practice can allow the organization to grow and adapt to modern needs while being flexible, reducing costs, and placing value on the employees’ quality of life.  Telecommuting gives employees the ability to have more work-life balance and work during their peak efficiency hours. There can be negatives of this because employees can experience a higher feeling of professional and social isolation. Professional isolation includes missing out on promotion whereas social isolation means missing out on building relationships with coworkers and leaders. Due to the ambiguity around telecommuting, some employers are still hesitant to adopt.

4. Culture – Technology has changed workplace culture greatly in some organizations. It can allow for employees to interact with their superiors more frequently. Although, the adoption of technology is greatly impacted by these leaders. If a leader uses certain technologies to communicate, their employees are more likely to use those forms of communication as well. 

Some recommendations in order to best utilize telecommuting in the workplace are adding training for both employees and managers. Employee’s training should include topics such as clarity on what telecommuting is, what the expectations are, and best practices from the organization. Manager’s training should be such as ways to be inclusive of telecommuter employees, ways to incorporate internal communication, and being aware of varying time zones (if that is applicable). Getting continual feedback about how internal communication and telecommuting is working in the business is important as well.

Technology can be a huge benefit to the business and allow for the hiring of talent with fewer constraints!