Workplace Technology in Lincoln, Nebraska

Modern technology has advanced to the point that its uses are numerous, which means that businesses have many options as far as how they wish to integrate and make use of it in their daily operations and in serving their clients. As it’s become essential for most businesses to incorporate technology, as well as advantageous to do so for many reasons, it’s of the utmost importance to use it wisely. We’ve covered just a few ways that local businesses have incorporated technology, or conversely, local businesses that are able to help with incorporating technology into your workplace.

First and foremost, it’s important to recognize that the businesses that come to mind when we think of technology aren’t the only ones that can benefit from it. In truth, every business has the potential to benefit from technology, no matter the industry or offerings. As a perfect example, BLINK!, the newest fast casual eatery in the Haymarket, has leveraged technology to enhance many aspects of operations and the customer experience.

“Our concept began with how we could serve customers ‘in the blink of an eye,’ and from there it developed into incorporating technology that would allow us to deliver exactly that,” explains Kevin Knudson, co-owner of BLINK! and QTEQ Computers & Repair (www.qteqcomputers.com) . “On the operations side, we have implemented a point of sale system that is highly intelligent. It has the ability to give us great information in order to effectively manage our business, such as reports for labor, sales, and inventory that we can access through any device with an internet connection from anywhere in the world. In addition, we utilize digital menu boards so that we can change anything from price to items listed remotely at any time. With digital screens in the kitchen, it not only improves accuracy with customer orders but also our efficiency with order times so that we stay true to service ‘in the blink of an eye.’ Although we pride ourselves in our chef-driven menu that is indeed complicated, we’ve been able to employ technology to deliver gourmet quality in a timely fashion. For our customers, we focus on how technology can enhance the overall experience. We have incorporated technology into the atmosphere of the eatery with a 79’ 4K television, offering internet from one of the fastest providers in the area, we are rolling out complete online ordering with the ability to pre-order and pre-pay through our website at www.blinkeatery.com, and we have plugins complete with USB ports in our booths for easy charging of devices, just to name a few of our key tech-friendly offerings.”
He adds, “Technology truly is impacting every business in the world, and if you don’t think it is, I encourage you to think again. As I’ve been involved in the food service industry and the technology industry for my entire career, I’ve been able to offer a unique point of view in assisting businesses with implementing technology as it has evolved. There truly are more ways than ever before that technology can be incorporated into a business.  At QTEQ, we come alongside our clients and learn about their business to find out what their needs are in the technology world. While we are all looking to utilize technology to improve performance, today it is much more about utilizing devices wisely. From computer networks to tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, and all of the new technology on the horizon, there is certainly no lack of viable options. With a good understanding of the business itself, what impacts your field, and your goals, you’ll be able to implement and manage technology more effectively. Top requests recently have been creating a wireless environment, getting everything on the cloud, upgrading offices to the new Windows 10 operating system, ensuring proper security measures and firewall protection, setting up support and back-up systems, as well as our standard repair and tech support services. Now that technology is so accessible, the cost of these items has also gone down significantly as well and with our extended hours until 8 p.m. at one central location, our focus is to keep our customers informed and keep their technology up and running so it is maximizing their investment and operations. Technology is a resource that can elevate your business when implemented strategically, so focusing on how it can add value to your business is a great place to start because you’ll then have the questions and we can help you find the answers.”

For those who are utilizing a Mac-based platform, there are also local resources that specialize in integrating this specific technology into a work environment. Computer Hardware is a full-service Apple retail store that is elite in the industry as a “Premium Service Provider,” which accounts for less than 6% of Apple-authorized service providers worldwide. The Apple specialists at Computer Hardware are experts at integrating these products into any business environment. This includes providing customized solutions along with offering pre- and post-sales support, training and installation that makes for a quick learning curve. The goal is that business owners are comfortable with utilizing the technology so they are able to maximize their investment in it and their benefits from it.

“We are able to come in to your place of work and do an assessment of what your needs are and how we can help by integrating new technology into the workplace,” explains Jeremiah Tripp, Business Development Manager at Computer Hardware’s (www.computerhardwareinc.com) Lincoln location. “Apple products play well in all kinds of different environments. Currently the questions most asked by business owners are about the cloud, mobile technology, archiving data, social media marketing, back-up options and security.  We live in a different world where technology is everywhere and its applications are far-reaching, but as it’s always evolving, it’s also important that assets, private communication and proprietary information are protected. So therefore it’s just as important to focus on what technology can do to help your business but also to be aware of how it can hurt your business and take precautionary measures to eliminate, or at least mitigate, that risk. Apple products bring to the table a different way of thinking with a lot more flexibility plus no viruses.

What we call BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device, is also far more common in modern work environments. This is especially common for those who prefer to work on Macs as opposed to PCs and vice versa, and allows for mobile computing for those who aren’t always working in the office. As everyone is so busy, time is a precious resource which makes accessibility and speed critical. By either providing or letting your employees use their own mobile devices it allows for more productivity on-the-go.

Overall, my advice is to look at all options in the tech world.   Educating our clients is of the utmost importance to us, so we are always here as a resource for those who are looking to incorporate technology into their work environment.”

The wide range of mobile devices available and their enhanced capabilities have indeed created even more ways that technology can be incorporated into a business, and your building’s security system is yet another example of how technology is continuously evolving. “Mobile access to surveillance has been game-changing in our industry,” emphasizes RJ Lipert, owner of AlarmLink USA (www.alarmlinkusa.com). “With remote services such as Honeywell Total Connect, you can monitor the activities at your business at any time of the day, no matter where you are. This includes receiving important alerts, viewing live video, and controlling your system while you are away. For example, you can arm and check the status of your security system, disarm and silence your alarm, bypass a door for unscheduled maintenance or service, and even turn lights on and off remotely to make your building appear occupied. For business clients, mobile surveillance allows you to observe employee performance, productivity and behavior or to oversee cash register sales, providing the added benefit with having peace of mind that your business is running smoothly.”

As business correspondence has evolved, with so many more options thanks to technology, it’s also important to know what would be of best service to both your business’s and clients’ needs. “Software is now a large part in controlling the process of what our customers want to communicate to their customers, from data integrity to output,” explains Tom Nottleman, CCM Specialist at Claritus (www.claritus.com). “Our Customer Communication Management is essentially a group of information technology solutions that together provide organizations with the ability to advance the way in which they communicate with their customers. We specialize in assisting business owners with software solutions that enable them to better manage and distribute customer communications in the customer’s preferred platform be it mobile, web, cloud, or physical document. For example, one of our large insurance company customers is using our enterprise solution to convert their legacy documents to automated marketing products that are distributed to their customers by each department’s delivery preference.

In our industry technology has allowed us to help our clients reach more people than ever before, in more ways than ever before. Therefore, a good starting point is to evaluate how you are currently communicating with your customers and your goals for building upon that or beneficial adjustments. We then determine how your current communication strategy could be improved to benefit your organization and work to structure how you plan to communicate with your customers throughout your entire organization so that everyone is on the same page and systems are fluent.

Employing current technology in our field, we are able to utilize a multichannel delivery process to create personalized, interactive experiences. This results in faster delivery of customer communications, enhances the customer experience, and can also significantly reduce production costs. Your communication process should be seamless and integrated into your operations for the best results; technology plays a major role in making that happen.”

Technology truly has opened up a world of possibilities in the workplace.   As such, investing in technology that will benefit your business is well worth it and there are plenty of local experts who can assist you in deciding what would work best for your particular work environment and specific needs. The important thing is to make use of those resources so you can really maximize what technology can do for you!