5 ideas for giving your employees the tech they need to succeed

Tech in the workplace isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore. That’s especially true as Gen Z is entering the workplace, and as both they and Millennials have high expectations for their on-the-job technology needs. What’s more, a report from Qualtrics shows that employees who have the tech they need to better do their jobs are 230 percent more engaged. And they’re 85 percent more likely to remain loyal to their job for more than three years.

With data like this, it only makes sense to give your employees exactly what they need to perform their best. Not only will it keep them excited about their work, but it will drive them to stay engaged for the foreseeable future. The following 5 examples can help you power your team for a modern workplace.

Streamlining tasks in a day is critical when you’re counting on productivity to get the job done. If you can offer tech solutions that can simplify their day, it’s a win-win for both you and your team. I’m a big fan of gifting my team members the reMarkable tablet to help with these efforts, and an iPad Air or Kindle Scribe are similar options. These devices allow you to hand write notes, sketch and read, then convert them into files that are easily accessible when you need them. 

Does a tech solution like this seem cost prohibitive? Keep this in mind: it will so clearly simplify their day that it pays off to give them a tool like this. It will streamline their notetaking and allows them to spend more time being innovative and creative.

Between remote work and more distractions in today’s world, it’s more important than ever for your team to remain undisturbed when they are doing deep work. They need collaboration tools. Sometimes a simple chat program or a face-to-face option is the right solution.

Consider adding a chat program for your employees so they can get questions answered without even leaving their desks. Programs like Slack and Discord, as well as programs within Google Apps, can help your team organize ideas, communicate, meet, and collaborate easily, even when on the go. These programs can even help your team automate routine tasks to help make their day more focused. And make sure you have Zoom for calls and video conferencing to keep those face-to-face interactions an option.  

Gone are the days of writing down a to-do list. Today’s teams need the right tools to help them manage their day-to-day projects, plan and collaborate, and manage workflows. That’s where tech solutions like Asana, Monday.com, or ClickUp can help. Many of these tools are designed featuring Kanban methods and Gantt chart tools, and the result is a more efficient and effective project management system within your organization. They are there to help not only manage your projects, but build the appropriate plan for your team to follow.

This software can be a game-changer, particularly for project-heavy businesses that need a way to stay on track, monitor progress, and coordinate with team members. It keeps project details in one location so that your team can focus on their tasks, check in at their own convenience, and keep their productivity flourishing.

Today’s workforce, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are looking for ways to build their expertise, gain new skills, and build upon their current capabilities. In fact, 7 out of 10 Gen Z employees and 87 percent of Millennials rate workplace learning a top priority. Workforce training is a great way to create a culture of learning within your organization. Giving your team access to online learning is a great way to increase their skills, improve employee retention, and lead to a happier workforce.

There are numerous ways you can provide your team with online learning options. Whether it’s through partnerships with local universities, rewarding them for earning HubSpot certifications, providing access to LinkedIn Learning Courses, or allowing them to attend digital conferences that inspire them, it’s well worth the cost to provide them with the training they need to grow.

The Jim Allen Group is filled with real estate agents who rely on mobility and flexibility as they host open houses and are out touring homes with clients. It’s why we have a critical need for tech as they need to remain agile on the road. If you have a team in a similar situation, you may need to incorporate tools that will manage their productivity, automate schedules and communications, and allow your teams to stay connected.

Tools like Evernote, Google Workspace, and Jira have apps that can be used on an iPad or phone to make it simple to collaborate while sitting in a car, in a home office, or from a coffee shop. When you can empower and connect your team while they’re away from the office, it leads to more success from your team.  

At the Jim Allen Group, we’ve found huge success by providing our team with the tech they need to get the work done, which is why I’m such an advocate of utilizing it for any organization. It always pays to invest in your team, and my hope is that giving your team the tools they need to flourish will help you find similar success within your organization.

Have you tried any of the tools I mentioned here? Did they work for you? Let me know! I’d love to hear about what tools and processes have worked for your organization.

Jim Allen is a business leader and entrepreneur who has built one of the top-producing real estate groups in the Triangle. He is President of The Jim Allen Group, which is consistently named one of the top real estate teams in North Carolina and even North America.