Tech Upgrades Your Office Deserves
Every office occasionally needs to upgrade its tech. But just what tech upgrades make the biggest difference? Beyond having a capable PC, you need to consider all the other peripherals and accessories that are necessary for a productive workspace. Below are just some of the most beneficial office tech upgrades.
Audio visual upgrades
Audio and visual are a good place to start.
Begin by thinking about screens. Determine how many monitors are needed on each desk, whether you can afford to upgrade to a 4k resolution and what size you need (you typically don’t need to go any higher than 32 inches).
When it comes to audio, having some high quality desk speakers could be vital for video conferencing. Some people prefer to use headphones for clarity – noise-cancelling options are typically the best solution.
Think about your audio and visual input too. A high-quality camera will help you to come across more professionally during video calls, while a decent microphone will allow you to be heard clearly. More advanced commercial audio visual solutions can be explored for meeting rooms and event spaces.
Ergonomic upgrades
Ergonomics are important to consider when choosing tech – this is all about how objects fit the human body, and it has a big impact on productivity, comfort and RSI (repetitive strain injury) prevention.
Choose ergonomic low-profile keyboards that don’t make too much noise when typing. Position these directly in front of chairs at desks at a suitable height.
Next, think about mice. You can similarly buy ergonomic mice that can prevent hand strain. Make sure that left-handed workers have space on their desk to place mice on the left hand side if necessary.
Ergonomic height-adjustable office chairs will further help you to get the right setup and stay comfortable. Ideally, the keyboard should be level with your elbows when typing – if it’s too high or low, it may cause arm cramps or back pain.
Connectivity upgrades
Don’t settle for a slow and shaky basic broadband connection. Upgrade to high-speed fibre internet and make sure that you have enough range and bandwidth to support all your workers and any guests.
Wi-Fi 6 connections with NGFWs (Next Generation Firewalls) can provide high speed and robust security. To improve range in offices that are large or that have thick walls, consider setting up Wi-fi boosters in locations with poor coverage.
For home offices, it can sometimes be worth plugging in an Ethernet cable for a more secure internet connection. This will hopefully put an end to those glitchy video calls.
Communication upgrades
Good communication is key to any workplace. Quite often, the quality of a phone system can make or break a business.
A growing number of companies are abandoning traditional landlines and using digital VoIP systems. These use an internet connection, which allows you to record phone call data more easily, as well as reducing phone costs and being able to answer from various devices in different locations (useful for hybrid teams).
With modern commercial phone systems, you can also explore all kinds of advanced features like setting up virtual receptionists, multiple extensions and phone queues. This could help you to organize phone calls more efficiently and deal with busy call periods more professionally.
This is a collaborative post.
