The business world is a world of high-end technology and dead-on-trend strategies. It is difficult to imagine that a business that runs on outdated methods could continue to be successful in our fast-paced market. But it is just as difficult to picture that there could be business approaches and facilities from the previous century – that would be the 20th century, not the Victorian period – that are still beneficial to the workplace processes and success. Here are the top three business facilities that your parents enjoyed in the workplace and that Millennials could still make the most of. Sometimes, there’s no point following the individualistic and digital trends when the old way presents a better solution.
You Need To Work On Prints
Nowadays the idea of printing document sounds almost ludicrous in modern workplaces – and in startups too. With the rise in digital technology and the increased awareness about the environment, more and more companies are monitoring the print ratio of their employees. In some cases, employees are not allowed to print more than a specific amount of copies per period – weekly, fortnightly, or monthly – and can face a form of business fine if they do. Admittedly the fine doesn’t have to be of a monetary nature, but it is worth asking yourself whether companies have got the right end approach about prints and copies.
Pros
There is no denying it: Your brain is better adjusted to read on paper rather than screens. While there is an obvious comparison to make, between digital content and printed ones in terms of interactions – the digital version offers a better range of interactions – your reading experience is more enjoyable with printed texts. Why? Because your brain can absorb the information of a printed document faster and more effectively than for digital content. ScientificAmerican.com presents a comparative review of the reading speed and comprehension scope between digital and print. In the end, the digital interaction provides a less intuitive experience when it comes to read or analyze long texts.
Cons
Nevertheless, while the brain prefers the tactile experience of a printed text, the office budget and the environment tend to disagree wholeheartedly. Most business interactions can occur in a digital form without the need for prints, if the user experience on screen is maximized, such as for the signature of legal or commercial documents with an app, or for analysis of business data using graphs and charts. Additionally, working with a prints and copies specialist can help your business to limit its environmental impact – visit ScopeBI.com.au for more about business print solutions. You now live in an area where, while you can’t move to a fully digital exchange of information, you can rely on experts to help you reduce your printing costs and usage.
You Need A Knowledgeable Secretary
The concept of an office secretary feels like a blast from the past. While large companies and client-facing businesses such as medical surgeries still have a secretary who sits within the reception area, most businesses have moved on. The role of a secretary, or even an office administrator, is a distant memory. The lady with her narrow glasses – as the cliché goes – who arranges meetings and looks after your business expenses is something that young generations of employees only know from films. One can’t fail to ask whether losing secretaries is a good or a bad thing in the overall workplace management.
Pros
A secretary is the person in the office who knows where everyone and everything is. While it is a role that is carried out by a woman, there is no rule against a male secretary. The role focuses on managing the office supplies – from coffee in the kitchen to the supply of ink and paper –, taking and chasing appointments on behalf of their colleagues, assisting in a variety of sub-project tasks from printing out information to putting files together, and finally organizing all social events for the office. In other words, the secretary is the knowledgeable person in the office who can help newcomers to fit in and who can arrange meetings and support for those who need it.
Cons
With the apparition of more and more digital facilities, it feels unnecessary to rely on a secretary when all meetings can be arranged digitally. The motto in most workplaces is about becoming self-sufficient and independent. Consequently, Google calendar is now used to replace the secretary. While this is saving a lot of money, it is true that mishaps are more common too, whether it is a last-minute meeting or a twitch in the management app. Indeed, the main reason for getting rid of the secretaries was to save money. This takes no account of their knowledge of the company and its employees, on their additional support to tackle difficult clients and partners, and on their personal touch when it comes to preparing for a tricky deal. Without a secretary, your business loses essential personal knowledge.
You Need A Car To Make A Good Impression On Clients
It’s odd to think that until a few years ago, the idea of a business car was something of a luxury. Professionals who drove business cars were seen as respectable and highly valuable. The business car was indeed a quality make that was designed to represent the company. In other words, it was shiny, maintained, and costly.
Pros
Admittedly, a company car is advantageous for your employees, as it means that your employees can save a lot of money on car-related costs. You can be assured that there is always a maintained and performing car, which means that the broken car is not an excuse anymore to be late to work. Additionally, business cars are perceived as a luxurious item: Employees feel valued and respected and are therefore more likely to want to stay with the company. Finally, you control the impression that employees who face clients make.
Cons
For a lot of employees, the choice of the business car can feel a little limiting. Indeed, the car is often imposed on them, and it can be submitted to a reduced mileage over the weekends and the holidays. In other words, the business car is for business, and the employees still require a second car for their social life. In most cases, defining choices and practical options with your employees is the best way to introduce business cars that work for the company and the employees.
If you get any value from this post be free to comment or share. Also feel free to connect with me on Facebook or Twitter!
text me: +385/9193-55474
email: hrvojeh75@gmail.com
skype: hrvojeh75