Are you planning a return to the office after deciding to switch back from going remote? Perhaps your business is growing, and you need to move from a home-based setting into a more legitimate one. Whatever the reason, you are gearing up to move your work into an office.
To make this transition a successful one, you have to put together an effective plan. You don’t want to suffer any time-consuming or costly errors due to the wrong approach. This is where software can offer a large slice of help. By embracing modern technology in full, you are able to improve efficiency, boost employee engagement, work safer, and enjoy many other benefits.
There’s just one question: What software should you focus on?
That’s where this guide steps in. Below are six highlighted software solutions that you need when planning to move your work into an office setting.
Picking the right office space
Forget about those software solutions for a minute. This is because one step is more important than any other when making the move: selecting the right office space for your business. Get this part of the process wrong and it will negatively impact the rest of your plans and could even result in your business failing.
Of course, the first part in picking the right office is getting the location right. You want a convenient location for you and your employees, both in terms of getting to and from, and with nearby facilities like shops and eateries. You also have to select a space with enough room and the right configuration to match your company’s requirements.
Say you are searching for office space in Islington. While you know this suburb is great in terms of nearby amenities and being in close proximity to Central London, there is still work to be done when picking an office. You have to ensure you select an office that meets your needs and falls within your budget, as well as providing fast internet and comfortable spaces. The good news: Islington is home to many different offices, covering a wide range of configurations and rental prices.
1. Security and protection tools
It’s no secret that security should always be a priority when running your company. Yet due to how sophisticated and prevalent cyberattacks are in the current climate, it is more essential than ever to put the best possible defenses in place to keep your business data safe.
This extends to when moving into an office. No, this doesn’t mean getting an extra secure lock for your office door – although there is no harm in doing so! What it does mean, however, is that you should be extra vigilant in ensuring all devices – particularly those that are brought to and from the office by employees – are protected against threats. This can be supported with the use of a business VPN.
2. Cloud-based software
Cloud-based software offers a wealth of advantages for a company that uses it to its full. You can store files securely, create backups with ease, reduce your requirements for physical servers and equipment, and so much more. This can all assist with improving performance, offering greater flexibility, and lowering your IT bills.
As for making the move to an office, the primary benefit of cloud-based software is the ability to communicate and collaborate. For example, if employees are still working remotely during the transition stage, a cloud-based solution – like Slack – makes it easy for in-house teams and off-site workers to collaborate. This is aided by the possibility for multiple users, in real time, to view and work on projects together.
3. HR software
When returning to an office setting, it could lead to feelings of worry and apprehension within your employees. This is why you must collect feedback on the regular from employees. Along with learning about their current thoughts, you are able to better engage and manage your workers.
This is especially the case if you use specialist HR software. With this software, you are able to better gather feedback, analyze it with accuracy, and respond in the right way. This results in happier employees who feel their comments are valued and respected by your business.
4. Project management tool
You should already know the importance of managing projects effectively. The problem is this task can become more difficult when some employees are in your office while others remain working off-site. This is where a project management tool like Trello can make all the difference.
Using a project management platform makes it simple to delegate and assign tasks, keep track of everyone’s workflow, and ensure each employee knows their role.
5. Employee wellbeing software
Adjusting to change can be tricky. If employees have been enjoying a remote working lifestyle and are being asked to return to the office, this could have a detrimental effect on their mental health. Fortunately, technology can help with enhancing the wellbeing of your employees.
One software solution is Headspace. This app is both for fitness and meditation, and it is a leader in supplying mental training and mindfulness. As a result, it can assist with the tricky transitional period for employees when moving to an office. However, you should also talk to your employees to find out why they are reluctant to come back to the office – there may be other procedures you can put into place which help.
6. Automation software
Whether you are in an office or not, your business should prioritize automation software. Automation comes with an assortment of benefits. Some of these benefits include the ability to increase your production output, lower operating costs, improve your ROI, and ultimately make your company more competitive against bigger rivals.
The reason for this is that automation assists with completing a range of business tasks. It can do everything from tracking your revenue and expenses to sending out email newsletters to customers. Plus, automation is only growing in what it can achieve due to advancements in AI technology. Now it is possible to automate the production of content and have unmanned website chatbots – and that’s just the start.
