Social Distancing: Tech Tips For The Office

Lots of folks are venturing into the world of teleworking as we engage in social distancing practices. Business owners are trying to use any and all resources available to ensure the safety of their employees and the success of their companies. Using technology to telework is generally part of a large IT infrastructure and allows users remote access to their workstations.

Many of my customers’ employees can perform their jobs remotely, but several are essential businesses (utilities, alarm companies, cities) that still must have a subset of their workers onsite. Given this, how can you use technology to practice safe physical distance?

Need to share paper? It can be scanned!

We have seen studies that change daily on how long viruses live on various surfaces. If you don’t pass the paper, you can’t pass virus that is living on it. Your scanner won’t suffer any ill effects if a virus passes through it. Can you be sure that your coworker, or their immediate family won’t?

Online forms or emails instead of manual processes for approvals.

Vacation requests, purchase approvals or even help desk requests often require approval from a higher up, but that doesn’t mean you need to run over to ask. E-forms can streamline this process and minimize in person interactions while we’re supposed to be social distancing.

Online meetings, even when you’re both in the office.

Even for a quick call, Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet can help. You can opt for video chat if preferred, but face to face meetings are a bad plan. Physical distance is the key to making this whole thing work.

Quick conversations can take place with online chat.

Applications like Slack, iChat, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp can assist with lot of those quick questions when you don’t want to yell across the room. These are especially great when you need quick consensus from folks who might not be able to answer the phone or check email due to other calls and duties.

Need a little more help while you’re social distancing?

Many platforms, including Laserfiche, offer comprehensive technology to support teleworking, as well as reducing interaction onsite. Many providers offer methods to get set up fast once workers get used to the technology. Many businesses struggle with the same general processes and template driven solutions let you get up and running fast.

Full blown solutions require deep dives, but in emergencies, solving immediate business problems can be done quickly, and with the right solution, can be adapted over time, because we may not get out of this new normal anytime soon.

Until next time, be well, take care and wash your hands!