Looking for ways to cut waste and boost your IT business’ productivity? Use these 7 tips based on the 80/20 rule for maximum effect and efficiency.
The waste of time and resources has been described as an “epidemic” in today’s business world. From device-distracted employees to resource mismanagement, there are almost always ways for companies to cut down on waste and boost productivity.
The IT industry is no exception. Finding ways to sustainably and productively utilize time, energy, and tech resources can help your IT business achieve better results, higher revenue, and a more optimized work environment.
Want to boost your business but not sure where to start? We’ll help you by exploring the different ways IT businesses can improve efficiency using the 80/20 rule as well as providing a string of other effective tips for streamlining operations.
What Is The 80/20 Rule?
The 80/20 rule is a productivity formula which asserts that 80% of all outputs (or outcomes) should result from 20% of all inputs (or causes) for any given project or event. In other words, a small percentage of causes have the potential for an outsized effect.
This concept can be used as a template for understanding which initiatives your business should prioritize to make the most impact—with the least amount of effort or resources. The 80/20 rule is also sometimes known as the Pareto Principle, named after its creator.
There are several benefits to using the 80/20 rule as a guide for reducing waste and enhancing productivity, such as:
- Improved time management – When you know exactly how and why your resources are being used, it becomes easier to allocate time towards them.
- More sustainable use of company resources – The biggest cause of waste in any industry is usually down to a lack of understanding aboutwhat the real waste actually is. With an elevated knowledge of resources, businesses can distribute them more sustainably.
- Boost sales and revenue – With better use of resources and time management comes increased productivity – and that generally contributes to a higher revenue output.
- More effective leadership – The 80/20 rule can also be used to collaborate and connect on a deeper level with employees, thus building stronger relationships and facilitating trust between leaders and employees.
To gain a broader perspective of resource allocation and enhanced internal operations, we’ve compiled a list of seven ways to boost productivity in the IT world through minimizing waste, maximizing output, and promoting the highest level of efficiency possible.
1. Optimize And Automate Your Processes
Before you start making any big changes, take a hard look at your current business processes and identify any major bottlenecks. Streamline your workflow systems, automate as many tasks as possible, and eliminate unnecessary steps from your operations.
Shedding unnecessary practices is a simple act that every company can benefit from. This will not only save time, but also reduce waste and improve accuracy.
2. Embrace Cloud–Based Technology
Cloud-based systems can help you to reduce hardware costs (which already tend to be higher for IT companies), increase scalability, enhance security, and improve collaborative processes. By moving your data to the cloud, you can reduce the amount of physical infrastructure you need to maintain.
Embracing centralized data portals like the cloud will help you trim the fat off of a variety of different processes and costs. This ultimately contributes to a more efficient business model.
3. Build A Hybrid Workforce
There are numerous reports to show that a hybridized workforce is the key to developing a well-balanced and optimal work environment. IT companies are in the perfect position to adapt to this kind of system, because virtually all roles can be accomplished remotely.
Remote work can not only help you reduce costs associated with maintaining a physical office space, but it can also improve employee engagement, promoting more productivity. It allows employees to work from anywhere, at any time, on any device.
4. Utilize Open–Source Software
Open-source software is software that has been developed and can be maintained through open collaboration. It’s available for anyone to use, modify, or distribute as they like. Some examples of popular open-source software are Mozilla Firefox and VLC Media Player.
Open-source software can help you increase flexibility and significantly reduce licensing costs. By using open-source software, your business can gain access to a wide variety of tech solutions for common IT infrastructure, such as web servers, operating systems, databases.
5. Invest In Onboarding And Upskilling
Investing in employee training can help you improve productivity and reduce errors. There are multiple studies on the effectiveness of onboarding and upskilling as productivity and engagement-enhancing processes, both of which can be of benefit to IT companies.
By providing new employees with thorough onboarding training, you can not only build a stronger workforce, but you can also reduce the need for replacements and refreshment training later on down the line; thus saving on resources and time.
Upskilling is also a highly effective way to strengthen your staff body and expand the variety of services you offer clients. You can provide training on new hardware or software, as well as training on best practices and workflows.
6. Continuously Analyze And Monitor Your Data
Collecting and analyzing data can help you identify needless inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and general areas for improvement. And, if you know how to calculate profit margin, you can use the data you collect to determine where you’re losing out financially, and how you can change this.
You can pretty much never have enough data, especially as an IT company whose work focuses on providing accurate technology services to clients. You can also use analytics tools to monitor your IT infrastructure and make smarter, more data-driven decisions.
7. Use Environmentally-Friendly Hardware
Using energy-efficient hardware is important for a number of reasons. Most notably, it can support you in the process of reducing your energy costs and minimizing your digital footprint – something which is often of hot debate in the tech and IT industry.
Taking your environmental impact seriously is also simply better for the planet. Aim to choose hardware that is Energy Star certified or on par with other energy efficiency standards.
Final Thoughts On Boosting Productivity In The IT Business
By implementing these tips, you can reduce waste, increase productivity, and improve the efficiency of your IT business. In doing this, you’ll reduce your costs and increase your profits—which is exactly what every business aims for.
