Ideas to Improve Business Productivity

There is nothing more important to many businesses than their employees and their ability to work productively. Providing staff with reliable technology, clear communication and efficient working processes can help employees complete tasks effectively while reducing unnecessary disruption.

Improving productivity does not necessarily require major organisational changes. Upgrading connectivity, making meetings more focused and choosing suitable communication tools can all contribute to a more efficient workplace.

Install Fibre Connectivity

Reliable broadband is essential for businesses that rely on cloud applications, video calls, online systems, file transfers and remote working.

Full-fibre broadband can provide businesses with faster and more reliable connectivity than older copper-based services, although the speeds available will depend on the provider, package and local infrastructure.

Before upgrading, consider the number of employees using the connection, upload and download requirements, cloud services, video conferencing and whether your business needs additional resilience.

Ofcom provides guidance on choosing the right phone or broadband service, including full-fibre broadband and dedicated business connections.

Keep Meetings Focused

Regular meetings can help employees understand priorities, share important information and identify potential problems. However, meetings should have a clear purpose rather than becoming an automatic part of every working day.

A short daily or weekly meeting may be useful for some businesses. It could include:

• Important tasks and priorities
• Key performance indicators
• Project updates
• Achievements and completed work
• Problems that need resolving
• Upcoming deadlines

Keeping meetings focused can reduce unnecessary time away from productive work. Employers should also consider whether every employee needs to attend and whether information could sometimes be communicated more efficiently through another channel.

Further guidance can be found through Acas guidance on supporting and communicating with employees.

Use Effective Communication Tools

Communication platforms can make it easier for employees to exchange information, organise projects, schedule meetings and work together without relying entirely on email or face-to-face conversations.

Depending on the business, suitable tools may include instant messaging, video conferencing, shared calendars, project management systems and cloud-based document collaboration.

A work-focused messaging platform can reduce missed calls and unnecessary desk visits, while shared calendars can make arranging meetings and checking availability quicker.

The ICO provides data security guidance for organisations covering measures businesses can take to protect information.

Review What Actually Improves Productivity

Not every productivity tool or workplace process will suit every business. Review working practices regularly and ask employees which systems help them perform their jobs more effectively.

This could involve assessing broadband performance, unnecessary meetings, duplicated administrative tasks, communication problems and technology that creates more work than it saves.