How Technology Is Making The 9-5 Easier For All

For all of its promise, technology within the workplace has always come with the threat of usurping the average worker and taking their 9 to 5 positions. While this has happened in some industries, the overall impact of technology on the workplace has been to streamline processes and make life easier for everyone. But in what exact ways?

Transport

The commute to and from work has become just as much a part of our working lives as sitting at a desk and making small talk by the coffee machine. It’s no surprise then, that technology has had an equally large impact on what we do during rush hour.

The advent of transport technology has led to improved mass public transport systems that have shaped commuting in big cities. From buses to subway systems, this mass movement of people is something we heavily associate with a 9 to 5 workday, and has dramatically improved our ability to get to work and home on time every day, whatever you think of your local service.

While we wait for a fool-proof self-driving car, many of us are still driving personal vehicles into the office every day. Technologies such as fuel cards have dramatically changed how we’re able to pay for fuel at the pump, massively streamlining the process not just directly, but down the line during the admin procedures. iCompario stock a range of cards (including Tesco fuel cards) for different fuel types, allowing individuals and businesses to make the tedious task of paying for fuel as simple as possible.

Home-bounding it

Homeworking is one of the biggest labor innovations technology has ever brought about.

The development of personal computers and communication methods has made the process of working from home easier than ever before. While previously you would be required to be in the office, with your designated machine and your boss peering over your shoulder to complete your everyday tasks, you can now do so with your own laptop in the comfort of your personal office. You can even instantly email the work over to your boss when you’re done.

The accessibility and user-friendly nature of advanced technologies is the primary reason for this development. The growth of home working has not just impacted the individual but changed the ways businesses hire and manage their office space, opting to use freelance staff for particular jobs and creating more spacious working environments for reduced teams. In essence, technology has brought about a revolution in free time and productivity through home working.

Communication

Communication is a key part of a successful working environment. A 9 to 5 role demands that tasks are explained clearly and concisely, company announcements are easily accessible and colleagues can be reached immediately. Technology has allowed for that on a greater and more streamlined level than ever before.

Instant messaging and email services have made communication between teams possible without the need for continuous meetings or even getting up from your desk. These services allow colleagues to easily share files, while video communication means meetings can be conducted remotely when essential.

With company files held in easily accessible cloud servers, there’s no confusion surrounding company messaging. This assures the average 9 to 5 worker that they’re up to date on important announcements and allows them to do their job with a more holistic view of the overall project.

Improving training

Considering the cost of training the average 9 to 5 staff, the development of training technology has been a huge asset for companies looking to retain and improve their current teams.

Training key workers on new skills no longer brings entire teams to a screeching halt or demands extensive time away from the role. Video technology and cloud services storing years of internal systems and information makes everything a new employee could want to know about a role accessible at a few clicks. This doesn’t just massively save on time, but ultimately training costs, as new starters and employees looking to advance themselves can access this information in less time and even train themselves outside of allocated hours should they so wish.

Much in the same way it has impacted communication, technology has made training more accessible and the recording of training material easier than ever.

Entertainment

Work and play demand a balance. Well, less play and more how we keep ourselves occupied and focused at work and during our commutes.

The accessibility of recording technology has caused a podcast boom, with millions listening to their favorites during their commute. Likewise, thanks to streaming technology, offices have traded in radios for personalized office playlists and allowed workers to escape into their headphones. This has, for better or worse, impacted the community aspect of a 9 to 5 lifestyle.

Not quite the keys to productivity that communication and training technologies are, but an essential part of the 9 to 5 workday.

These are just a few elements of this type of workday that have been changed forever by technology. They won’t be the last either, as new developments will transform how, where and if we work.