We pay more attention than ever before to the surfaces around us, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doorknobs. Countertops. The tools on our desks or in our conference rooms. You name it, we are way more cautious about it nowadays.
In the modern era, a positive work environment doesn’t just mean preventing workplace injuries or protecting our team member’s mental health 🧠.
It also means making it so that technology in the workplace doesn’t contribute to the spread of diseases.
That’s where touchless technology and the bring your own device (BYOD) program enters the picture.
In today’s guide, we’ll discuss the benefits of touchless technology and BYOD so that you can create a safer office environment.
What Is Touchless Technology? 📱
While we don’t need to tell you what touchless technology is, it’s good to know how you can implement it in your office spaces.
Source: McKinsey & Company
Let’s take a look at some of the most common forms of touchless technology.
- Gesture Recognition 👋: You simply just need to make a gesture to control or interact with devices. It’s completely touch-free and a classic example is in the bathroom. Think touchless hand dryers.
- Touchless Sensing 🚪: This is when a sensor detects the presence or motion of a person. And you’ve definitely encountered it if you’ve ever you’ve walked through an automatic door.
- Voice Recognition 🗣️: All you need to do here is speak to a device to interact with it. Just think of all of the times Siri has said “Sorry I didn’t understand that” when you haven’t actually been talking to it.
- Facial Recognition 🙋: Even more convenient than voice recognition, facial recognition just needs to clearly see your face. Think of the newer iPhone models that support Face ID these days.
- Personal Devices 🖥️: Yes, this method is more a not-so-touchless form of technology. But believe it or not, it still counts. Anything that works by responding to the commands of your personal devices still helps you avoid touching public surfaces. So, essentially, you’re touching your own tech to avoid touching public tech.
The impact of this technology completely removes the need for physical touch when you interact with a workplace device. The result – better hygienic practices for you and your employees!
What Is BYOD? 🧑💻
Let’s shift focus to BYOD.
The bring-your-own-device policy allows you and your employees to bring personal devices to work. So, if you’d like to bring your own computers, tablets, smartphones, or USB drives to work, this policy is a game-changer.
Source: Security Brief Australia
In a lot of cases, the BYOD program has led to massive increases in productivity and morale.
According to a study from Cybersecurity Insider, organizations that implemented the BYOD program experienced a 68% increase in employee productivity.
But that’s not to say that the BYOD policy doesn’t have drawbacks. It does, and you need about them before you introduce the policy into your workspace.
When left unaddressed, a personal device’s access to an organization’s network can leave said organization wide open to all sorts of nasty security risks.
Don’t worry – there are ways around this. You need a BYOD security policy in place that informs and educates every team member on how to use the BYOD program without compromising the business’s data or networks.
There are some elements you should always add to your BYOD security policies, including the following:
- The types of devices approved for use.
- Security and data ownership policies.
- The degree of IT support you’ll grant to the approved personal devices.
When IT leaders decide how much support they can offer personal devices, they must make sure there is a balance between the organization’s security and your employees’ personal privacy.
Treat it like a work-life balance but just for security protocols.
Workplace Improvement: The Benefits of Touchless Tech & BYOD
So, you know about the surface-level benefits of touchless tech and BYOD in that it’s great for preventing the spread of germs and diseases.
But, did you know that there are other benefits too, like providing more opportunities for cost saving?
Below, we’ve looked at some of the most useful advantages to touchless tech and BYOD in the workplace.
BYOD Saves Money 💲
If you work with a large group of people, the cost of providing devices for everyone can add up quickly.
Also, not everyone on staff may be familiar with the tools you give, which can necessitate additional training resources and associated costs.
Source: Training Magazine
But if you implement a bring your own device policy, you can save money on:
- Investing in or leasing personal technology for each worker.
- Assistance in learning how to use novel tools.
- Employing hardware and computer technicians.
Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group estimates that implementing a comprehensive BYOD program amounts to an annual savings of $3,150 per worker.
Up-To-Date Technology 💻
Employees may neglect to update company-issued gadgets routinely. The worst part? Ignoring security upgrades may accidentally put everyone’s sensitive information at risk.
Yet they are more likely to update their personal computers and other gadgets whenever new versions become available.
Source: Okta
It’s also financially impractical for a corporation to keep buying new equipment to accommodate the latest technological advancements.
But you know how it is – when we want the latest iPhone or Samsung model for personal use, we are pretty quick to grab our credit cards.
Just imagine the amount of money the company can save by letting their employees take care of their belongings under the BYOD program.
Contactless Check-Ins Improve Everyone's Health 🥼
Touchless check-in won’t just help your employees avoid the spread of germs; it will also help your visitors. Why?
Because it reduces the likelihood that visitors will come into contact with germs by touching surfaces like door knobs and elevator buttons.
All in all, touchless tech and BYOD make safe, hygienic visitor management much easier to put in place.
Brand Establishment ↗️
As an expanding business, your brand’s identity means everything. What’s more, establishing a resonant brand image won’t just impress your customers, but your employees, clients, and investors.
So, how can touchless technology and BYOD help with that? Well, by using them, you tell everything that encounters your business that you’ve considered every detail of their experience and how you can improve it.
It shows that you care about preventing the spread of disease and removing even the most minor burdens from your employees.
Ultimately, by using touchless technologies and BYOD programs, you will establish your brand as considerate, genuine, and always seeking continuous improvement.
Technology In The Workplace: Final Thoughts
Touchless technology and BYOD programs speak to safety, hygiene, professionalism, and genuine care.
It’s definitely one office trend you don’t want to miss.
On the topic of valuable resources and technology, why not improve your team’s performance by introducing modern messaging software 📳or employee scheduling software 🗓️?
With the right technology, you can define what modern success truly looks like.
For more advice on trending tools and productivity-boosting techniques, check out our blog!
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