The Tech recap

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had a focus on the digital intelligence age. After our rather exciting partnership with Microsoft and their intriguing AI hub it makes sense for us all to stay updated with technological advancements and the array of benefits we can utilise and learn. Having racked your brains with concepts that may be new, or concepts that you might have already heard about,  here’s a little tech recap to keep them at the forefront of your mind so that you can think of how you may want to integrate them in your work.

Starting Small

Integrating technology to aid your business processes is something everybody has been making use of if they’re not living in the dark ages. Making use of technology doesn’t have to mean employing state of the art processes and robots to do your dirty work though. There are plenty of small technological changes you can make use of to streamline your work. Whether it’s testing the water with project management programmes like Asana or Jira to make sure you’re all on the same page, or familiarising yourself with big data (and smart data) to ensure you really know your consumers. It’s stripping back and funnelling your focus that will allow small changes to shed their benefits.

Time is of the essence

Like any worthy investment there is of course an investment in time and money, so it’s important to know what you really want, and calculate the balance you need. Knowing your budget is key, and although it might be costly at first, you’ll get more bang for your buck afterwards. You’re familiar with your office assistants and now we’re faced with artificial assistants. By no means could an AI assistant ever replace a loyal, happy and witty employee, but what they can do is streamline and aid the process between your colleagues and the work that you do.  Introducing smart assistants to your workflow can give you time to focus on your personal interactions and free up some time to focus on challenges that you once considered low priority.

Keep your people competitive

At the heart of any business is people power. No logic board or screen can replace the integral foundations of the people that make it work. In a time where it appears that people are being passed aside for tech, it’s important to keep people working hard, and their efforts high, as well as being recognised. This is where we touched on the tactical topic of Gamification; the application of gaming techniques to other areas of work. Team leaderboards, story-telling and a gentle reminder that we’re in dire need of more girl geeks!

Whatever aspects of the evolving tech world you decide to dabble in, keep updated so you know how to progress and a gentle reminder to take a step back from your screens.

Coming up: Spaces Schiphol Airport

Spaces is landing at Schiphol Airport; taking off with a new inspiring way of working for our community with the rest of the world on our doorstep.

Spaces will combine strengths with Microsoft Netherlands and offer a place for everyone to share knowledge and tech skills, business and opportunities, talents and visions. It will be a breeding ground for the creativity and serendipity needed today to add value tomorrow.

• A new place where we invite people to be part of the energy and buzz of like-minded others.
• A new place where we join Microsoft in reimagining the empowerment of their staff, partners, clients and our community.
• A new place where growth is not limited by digital technology nor by expanding horizons.    

> Get your office and join us.