Lisa Hunt
Former Surface Business Group Lead
First Impressions Count – Increase New Customers Through the Face of Your Business
In such a fast-paced world, it really does all come down to first impressions. When you are running a company, it is crucial that the first interaction that your customers have with your business is a positive one in every way. That is why your priority must be making your Firstline Workers feel satisfied in their job which ultimately will increase productivity.
Firstline Workers are the face of your business. They are the people behind the counter, on the phone, and managing the day-to-day operations. They are a crucial representation of your brand. However, they’re often the last to get access to new technologies to improve their performance. 62% of information workers agree that using next-generation technologies help to make them more productive. But how would a new device make your staff more effective?
In a modern working environment, mobility is one of the top demands from staff. As they are constantly on-the-go, this is a necessity for Firstline Workers. Strong battery life, portability, and weight are so important to consider. In this sense, a Surface device can really help to breed productivity on-the-move. Mobile workers now need to have secure access to information, documents, systems, and people from anywhere. With built-in LTE technology, your team can stay connected to email even without Wi-Fi. This comes in particularly handy if your staff need to drive to rural areas for work such as taking surveys.
Travelling for your job is now the norm and whether your staff work in an office or a retail environment, they are tied to their desk less and engaging with colleagues more. Ease of communication is key for this type of collaboration. Device displays need to be designed for working and interacting with people simultaneously. Taking notes or quick searches can be easy even in a busy environment, however you must invest in the appropriate technology to aid your staff. For example checking stock levels can be a tedious and time consuming job, but using Surface Go, floor staff can now capture an image of a barcode, send to that department and see stock availability immediately. The best way of encouraging cross-collaboration in any industry is to make sharing work, information and ideas seamless. New technology inspires these creative solutions and can usher in a new era of teamwork to drive business forward.
Along with encouraging collaboration, it is still essential to be managing the time of your Firstline Workers effectively for business growth. Nearly five hours of productivity a week is gained on common daily tasks using Microsoft 365 on a Surface device. The time saved can be spent in a more productive way or give staff a much needed break from a busy period, making their work more manageable and enjoyable. In this way, you can also address staff retention in industries where turnover is generally high. Staff report higher satisfaction when their job is more streamlined. Three out of four managers agree that Microsoft 365 powered Surface devices have helped improve employee satisfaction and retention. This is a very sensible goal. If you lower re-employment costs you also position your organisation as a top employer. In fact 71% believe that Microsoft 365 with Surface has single-handedly achieved this in their company. Have a look at this great video showing how you can empower your staff too.
Staff habits can also effect the security of your data. Many workers often use their own tools when attempting to communicate quickly. If an official work-related device is not provided, staff communicate with each other on non-secure third party platforms which could lead to breaches in your IT security. Once this “dark IT” becomes habit, the organisation loses control of its information and can no longer prevent sensitive information from being leaked. With cybersecurity attacks on the rise, it is essential to focus on reducing the risk of a security breach. By connecting your firstline workers digitally and using specific business devices you gain peace of mind.
Regardless of their location, there is a way for Firstline Workers to feel fully included in the organisation and in touch with their colleagues. When employees operate remotely and don’t have access to email, it is even more important for them to feel connected to the organisation as a whole. Surface and products such as Yammer can help them feel involved, setting up a direct link for conversations and queries to their colleagues.
Being thoughtful about using technology in a different way – with Firstline Workers on the ground of your operations – can have huge benefits throughout the whole business. A Surface device streamlines operations, saving time, money and resulting in happier, more efficient staff, satisfied customers and a more efficient business overall.
Lisa Hunt
Surface Business Group Lead
