When you think about high-quality software, we often focus on the technical side of things. But the truth is, great software can have a huge impact on your culture and staff engagement. Here’s why investing in software development gives you plenty of benefits beyond the obvious.
Why employee engagement matters
Firstly, let’s look at why employee engagement matters. Companies who don’t invest in the happiness of their employees are in some ways digging their own grave. People aren’t just happy to have a job anymore. These days, staff want more.
Work-life balance, recognition, learning and development and a safe workplace where people can be themselves are just a few of the things that influence staff engagement. It’s been proven time and time again that engaged staff and teams are more productive.
How to increase engagement with software
One of the ways to make staff feel more engaged is to provide them with the right tools. There’s a tendency in business to blame lazy staff, incompetence or mistakes for a lack of productivity. Sometimes, staff are even blamed for lack of revenue.
While there’s an element of truth in that, it’s more likely that processes are broken, not staff. Start by giving your people the tools they need to perform effectively.
Automate repetitive tasks
One of the best things about the right software is it can automate repetitive tasks. Mundane, repetitive and also uninspiring tasks that people usually hate doing. Whether it’s data transfer or endless checking, these jobs drive staff mad, and frankly, they’re probably capable of doing much more.
If your software can eradicate those basic, entry-level tasks, you can give staff more responsibility. And importantly, more chance to show you what they can really do.
Make customer support easier
Nobody likes dealing with complaints, but the fact is, you employ customer support people for that very reason. So, why make an already difficult job harder by not having supportive software. If your team can’t find accurate customer information easily, they lose the confidence of the customer. Often, this leads to more aggression and unpleasant interactions.
Using a CRM helps your support teams log, track and act on issues while accessing the right information easily.
Training and development opportunities
Learning management systems are becoming more and more popular. This is because staff want to learn, but that doesn’t mean they want to sit in a classroom and be read to. Incorporate learning functions into your software, and give teams the chance to take control of their own learning. Staff with access to regular training opportunities are more capable, and happier in their jobs.
Build a great, dynamic culture people want to be part of
Finally, having great software makes you a more dynamic employer on the whole. With clear onboarding processes, easy systems and a supportive, tech-friendly environment, staff are happier. Perhaps more importantly, word gets around that you support your staff with the right tools, and people actually want to work for you. There’s no better way to attract and retain top talent than to build a reputation as a forward-thinking, modern employer.
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