Nowadays, technology is advancing in a dramatically fast pace. Technology has also become more powerful when it is combined with the power of the internet, thus the creation of the Internet of Things (IoT). It is being used in almost all fields in society, like medical, educational and industrial. When it comes into the industrial field, what are the effects of using technology in the workplace? Here are some advantages and disadvantages of utilizing technology in the workplace.
Advantages
Makes Work Faster
One of the main advantages for using technology in the workplace is that it makes work faster. Computers combined with corresponding updated softwares help make an employee’s work easier. Also, thanks to computers, we can now store gigantic amounts of data files in databases, so we don’t need to keep hard copies in file cabinets. Now, if we need to find a file from a few years back, all we have to do is click a few folders and voila, you have a soft copy of your file.
Encourages Us To Be Updated
Being updated with new trends is always good for any employee, especially engineers. Once there is a new technology in the office such as a new software, a new computer, a new tool or equipment, we would want to tinker with it and learn how to operate this new tech. This gets our creative juices flowing.
Remote Connectivity
This is the ultimate advantage for me. Thanks to teleconference technology, the internet’s virtual meeting room apps like Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype, we are now able to connect with absolutely anyone in the world as long as we have internet. No matter where you are in the world, you are able to check on your work.
Disadvantages
Social Media Abuse
Social media is both a blessing and a curse. If it is used for the right purpose, the right frequency, and at the right time, it is a blessing. However, more often than not, it gets abused and becomes a curse. Because of its addictive topics, features, and ads, we get hooked to social media and sometimes when it is used inappropriately in the workplace, it can cost us our productivity.
High Maintenance Costs
Maintaining new technology can be expensive. Getting new software for our work computers can be very pricey. Maintenance for new equipment can be expensive as well, this is why many companies send some employees for maintenance training for new equipments so as to lessen the labor cost of hiring outsiders to maintain new equipment.
It Makes You Lazy
Since, technology makes things easier, it has the tendency to make us lazy. If we need to talk to a person in a different floor, all we have to do is call or send an email.
Find the Balance
Technology, just like everything else in this world, has its perks and its flaws. It’s a package deal that you can’t separate. That is why it’s important to find the balance between.
