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24/03/2016 - Posted by Emily Healey
Last week we went over some of the reasons why more and more companies are choosing to use apps to improve their business practices. This week we are going to take a closer look at common features of apps designed for your employees to use. Every business is different, so while the examples below offer a great starting point, there’s really no limit to how you can tailor your app for your employees’ specific needs.
Creating an app is one of the easiest ways to improve your businesses communications. Businesses suffer when staff aren’t on the same page. For example, it can create a really awkward situation when customers bring something up that your employee has no idea about, because they forgot to check a noticeboard or have been away from the office since the change was made. You can ensure that never happens again with an app that allows your staff to leave notes for shift handover, or mark when they have seen an important notice so you know whether it has gotten to everyone in time. Other features you could utilise include a newsfeed of important updates and upcoming events, a messaging system, the ability to attach files for download, and push notifications for urgent messages from management.
Using an app for timesheets is a really great way to keep track of your staff. If they do shift work they can use the app to clock in and out, if they work offsite you can use GPS to monitor their location and travel time for accurate ETAs for deliveries or other mobile services, you can encourage accountability and time management with timestamped logging upon completion of tasks, easily see who is currently clocked in and available for new job assignment and more. You can even use the data you collect to quickly and easily process payroll upon your approval and make sure your staff are always paid accurately and on time.
Scheduling with an app that all your staff have can really help keep your business running smoothly. Whether using it to create rosters for shift workers or letting employees plan their own schedule to stay on top of projects and tasks, it’s a simple and easy way to work. If designed for rostering, you can allow employees to see each other’s schedule to make it easier for them to swap or cover their shifts, and you can even view your labour costs for each day or week to ensure you don’t roster too few or too many people on. If designed to be used as an employee calendar or task manager you can allow employees to share files, mark off tasks as they are completed, schedule meetings if working with a team, all of which can be overseen by you, the employer.
Apps can assist with procedural consistency and job training for new staff by making manuals and guides accessible for all business tasks. This can be anything from introducing your new staff to all the products and services you offer, administering quizzes on everything they need to know before starting their job or moving to the next level, keeping a database of product information and instructions for things like company recipes, ingredient lists, equipment and software, or anything else your staff need to know.
When you have your employees use an app you can ask them to set up a profile that will make it easier to organise everyone, see how they’re doing and get a better idea of their place within the company. As well as their personal details and contact information, you can include their job title, areas they are trained in, any qualifications they have such as specialist licences, tertiary education, RSA or first aid training, their availability, their history with the company, including their job progression, any significant accomplishments, the date they first started, or any other information you’d like to have.
These are just a few of the features that can be included in a business app to help improve the relationship between you and your staff and empower you both to work better. If you are considering designing an app for your staff to use you should consider asking them what features they would like to see included. The benefits of choosing a custom designed app are limitless and if you include your employees in the process they will be just as excited as you are to begin using it once it has been developed.
When you’re ready to start building an app to empower your employees and benefit your business, Pascoes Software Engineering can help. You can find further information on the range of mobile application packages that we offer in the link below.
