Technology has changed our world significantly - especially in how we manage inventory, communicate, and do many everyday tasks. Back in the day, we only got phone calls when we were at home, now we just take the phone with us everywhere. Thanks to smartphones, we essentially have a computer with us at all times as well. We can check our e-mail, visit websites and even write and edit on the go. While this can be a great benefit, it does have a downside. We can work from anywhere, which easily becomes working from everywhere. As a society we find it hard to unplug. We like the connectivity, being reachable and able to reach others. The problem lies in the fact that when we don’t unplug we risk work encroaching on our leisure time. We may be pulling employees away from their friends and family when we text or call with a work question. This constant state of being ready to shift into work mode can be detrimental to our health and morale. We have to remind ourselves that given that our online inventory system is always available and being used. Literally, we could work all the time!
It’s great to not be tied to a desk. Who doesn’t enjoy being able to work from a table outdoors or the local coffee shop from time to time? On the other hand, no one likes having their lunch or their family time interrupted by a work call. That’s why it’s important to establish boundaries. For instance, you could decide that anything that arises during your typical work hours will be addressed as it comes in, however if a problem arises outside work hours you will wait until a convenient time to look into it. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. We’re all a little like Pavlov’s dog, we hear that ringtone or text alert and we automatically reach for our device of choice. It’s habit. It chirps, we answer. When that interaction is taking us out of the moment with our friends and family it can be the start of larger problems. It’s hard to feel valued and important to someone who is always pushing pause with you to look at their phone. Do this too often and you could find your friends and family putting you on pause permanently.
When technology, like our online inventory system, eliminates wasted time by allowing us to continue to be productive while waiting at an appointment or provides the ability for us to leave the office to attend an event, it’s great. When it pulls us away from our friends and family and won’t allow us to enjoy our free time freely it’s a detriment. There’s also the issue of technical glitches. It can be very frustrating when our electronic devices don’t work the way we want and expect them to. It’s a fact of life, the power goes out, the computer gets a virus, the network goes down. Suddenly our convenience tools are a big old inconvenience. The benefits far outweigh the occasional hiccups though. These days its an accepted part of doing business. No one likes it but everyone understands that these things happen and are usually quickly resolved allowing us to get back to “business as usual.”
It’s important to take the best of the benefits that technology, such as our online inventory system, can provide while minimizing the negative effects that we allow to encroach on our lives. We should own our technology, not allow it to own us. Focusing on people first, and treating technology like the tool that is will allow us to maximize productivity while still minimizing stress. Use technology to untether when it works for you, but unplug when necessary so that you can recharge.
Try our free online inventory system today!
A great way to put technology to work for you, is to use Stockpile to manage your inventory. Our robust software solution works as well as any expensive online inventory system but it’s available for free because we believe that every small business should be able to manage their inventory anytime from anywhere. Don’t take our word for it, try Stockpile today!
