3 Ways to Improve Efficiency in Your Organization

Modern organizations face a growing number of challenges in 2023. The last three years have been extremely difficult for many businesses as a direct result of the 2020 covid-19 pandemic. Almost all businesses were affected by the lockdowns and restrictions on movements that were imposed by governments to slow the spread of the virus. However, the retail and hospitality sectors (especially firms relying on physical premises) were hardest hit, and many did not survive. Subsequently, the last year has seen high levels of inflation coupled with a cost-of-living crisis that is making it exceptionally difficult to remain profitable.

Put simply, businesses need to strive to improve the efficiency of their operations to remain competitive and ensure longevity in this challenging financial landscape. In this article, three distinct ways in which organizations can improve their efficiency will be explored in detail.

Move to the cloud 

Traditional local based servers are simply not efficient in the modern world of business. They are costly to use and maintain, with upgrades and maintenance leading to downtime and productivity losses. It is far better to make the move to a cloud based system for your firm’s applications, programs, and software platforms. Today, there is a range of api management platform solutions that can control and manage the diverse selection of programs that can be run from the cloud. Cloud based systems are also an integral part of facilitating remote and hybrid models of working. Staff can access these systems remotely if they have a reliable internet connection. There is no longer a need to constantly work from a shared physical workspace. It is recognized that hybrid models of work can boost productivity in organizations, as workers can manage their time more effectively without losing time to commuting. Put simply, cloud based systems can be a key driver of improved working methods and increased productivity.

Less meetings lead to increased productivity 

Millions of office workers will have vivid recollections of attending meetings that were a waste of time. Some meetings may have had no clear objective, or they may have stretched on for hours and produced nothing in the way of actionable outcomes. Such meetings only serve to demoralize and reduce productivity in the wider workforce. It is important to take a critical look at the meeting schedules in your teams and departments. Make the decision to cancel meetings that have no firm agenda and are not time limited. This can lead to an increase in time that is dedicated to completing tasks and projects and can have a significant positive effect on productivity.

Encourage regular breaks 

While the concept may sound counterproductive to some staff, it is important to encourage regular breaks while working. Taking a short break every hour can help to lower stress levels in the workforce. Over time, this can reduce the likelihood of “burnout” in the workforce and minimize time lost to stress-related illness. In addition, regular breaks can allow staff to come back to tasks and projects with renewed focus and concentration. Business leaders are beginning to understand the value of regular breaks, and many leading firms now have dedicated rooms for relaxation or recreation.

 Related: Report: 92% of all U.S. jobs require digital skills