To build a resilient work environment, one that stands the test of time - even in the face of recessions and other periods of uncertainty - you need to eliminate obstacles to operational efficiency.

‍

The more efficient your organization is, the more value you produce from less input.

‍

Some of the biggest challenges to operational efficiency include overreliance on awkward manual processes, ineffective data management protocols, and clunky communication and collaboration methods.

‍

To avoid these issues and boost operational efficiency in 2023, read on to discover 11-must have tools in 2023.

‍

1. Customer Support

‍

Customer support is an important aspect of any customer-facing business, but it can also be a drain on resources.

‍

Each call, message conversation, and customer exchange can be time-consuming, and without the right automation and communication channels, can create inefficiencies across the board.

‍

Tool: Zendesk

‍

Zendesk can help you streamline your customer support with plans for small and medium-sized businesses. 

By simplifying information sharing and allowing agents to categorize and organize requests, Zendesk ties up loose ends and provides a framework for effortless customer support.

‍

2. IT Services Management

‍

Your IT department often has to work to put out fires on many fronts. There are internal network issues to contend with, external cyber threats, and general troubleshooting problems to clear up.

‍

With their attention pulled in many directions, the need for a centralized IT solution couldn’t be clearer.

‍

Tool: NinjaOne

‍

NinjaOne provides just that: a one-stop shop for IT services management.

‍

With this centralized platform, you can monitor IT assets with endpoint management, automate patching, and backup critical data across your systems. NinjaOne offers IT workers a straightforward way of monitoring, assessing, and neutralizing IT issues as they arise.

‍

 3. Process Automation 

‍

With so many workflows and processes spread out across various teams, the amount of time you could save with automation is staggering.

‍

Whether it’s triggering email notifications or task dependencies, the right process automation system can vastly improve operational efficiency among your teams.

‍

Tool: Zapier

‍

Zapier is an automation platform that allows you to automate tasks in every department, from marketing to sales.

‍

You can streamline the lead capture and management process by automatically adding new leads to your email list. Or you can have an email sent out to customers who recently purchased one of your products.

‍

Whatever industry you’re in, Zapier can help you save time and energy through smart automation.

‍

4. Project Management 

‍

Project management can take a huge amount of planning, which is why technological assistance can go a long way.

‍

Streamlining the way you plan and execute projects can make a significant difference to your productivity and efficiency.

‍

Tool: Trello

‍

Trello allows you to set up cards and lists in Kanban boards so you can systematize your processes according to each team.

‍

Project managers can switch from one workspace to the next and monitor progress on various tasks and projects, while employees can benefit from customized workflows.

‍

5. Employee Monitoring

‍

Workplace monitoring is crucial for learning where your employees’ time is going. The best pc monitoring software can help you with monitoring computer activity and tap into your workforce’s potential with accurate time data.

‍

Activity monitors for pc can help you identify and address time theft and idle time, but also provide you valuable productivity statistics in the workplace about individual productivity and performance.

‍

Tool: Insightful

‍

With app for logging hours worked Insightful, you can leverage software that monitors employee activity in real time so you can pick up on trends and identify processes that may be inefficient.

‍

Through employer internet monitoring, you can track app usage and office productivity, and see if the amount of time employees spent on them is proportional to the amount of work produced. If not, it may be an inefficient use of time or simply the wrong app for the job.

‍

Using a pc monitoring tool like Insightful can help you identify opportunities to boost operational efficiency and track workforce data.

‍

6. HR Services

‍

The HR department has to manage an entire workforce and the fallout from all internal changes, as well as deal with freelance hires. As such, relying on antiquated systems or tools can render certain tasks overly time-consuming and create a backlog that breeds inefficiency.

‍

Tool: Worksuite

‍

Worksuite provides your HR department with a variety of features aimed at onboarding, integrating, and managing contractors. With more and more companies looking to the freelance market to plug skill gaps, it’s as good a time as any to invest in software that streamlines this hiring process.

‍

7. Password Management

‍

In a world where most companies, agencies, and even freelancers have tech stacks complete with more than a few apps, it’s important to keep your passwords close by - yet secure.

‍

If you need to limit who can access certain apps, but you also want to be able to quickly share login information, you could benefit from password management software.

‍

Tool: LastPass

‍

LastPass is an effective solution for creating a password management system for your business that safeguards your sensitive data. In a world where forgetting passwords has become second nature to many of us, LastPass provides a valuable safety net.

‍

If you have software that you want to share with employees or contractors, but you’re not sure how to provide access while keeping the information safe, LastPass is the perfect solution.

‍

8. Network Monitoring 

‍

Network monitoring goes hand in hand with IT services management - and it’s equally as important.

‍

When your network goes down, it can have a huge knock-on effect on every department and negatively impact productivity. As such, having a reliable system in place can be a lifesaver and simplify the process of network management.

‍

Tool: Auvik

‍

A cloud-based network management solution, Auvik allows you to monitor network performance, troubleshoot potential issues, and automate security updates to safeguard your data.

‍

9. File Sharing 

‍

If you work with a lot of information - which is likely - you need a robust system for storing and sharing files.

‍

Be it process instructions, company guidelines, or even individual project files, it’s important that you have a way of maintaining documented information that scales along with your business.

‍

Tool: Dropbox

‍

Dropbox is a scalable file storage solution that allows you to move your documentation to a secure cloud-based location.

‍

With this tool, you can easily transfer files among teams and departments and create a streamlined file-sharing process.

‍

10. Communication

‍

Communication is a cornerstone of efficient work processes.

‍

When communication lines are strong, information can travel faster and more effectively. If you still rely on email or just video calls, you could be losing out on a lot of productivity as a result of miscommunications or misinterpretations.

‍

Tool: Slack

‍

Slack provides context-specific channels for work-related conversations so you can keep everything organized.

‍

No more searching through long email chains to locate key information, as Slack supports categorized chats and prioritizes fast communication. 

‍

11. Email Marketing

‍

If you rely on email marketing in your business to attract and convert leads, your ability to be efficient is determined by the tools you use.

‍

No marketing team can succeed in this medium without the right system, as it would be nigh-on impossible to track email addresses, schedule campaigns, and segment messaging.

‍

Tool: Mailchimp

‍

Mailchimp acts as a streamlined email marketing solution allowing you to set up automation, target your audience with segmentations, and set up email marketing campaigns.

‍

With it, you can overhaul your email marketing strategy and execute it on a larger scale as your business grows.

‍