subject: Training Properly On Technology Can Save You Money [print this page] Training is a significant issue for small businesses. This is particularly true for organizations that dont possess their own training department and those that struggle to maximize software programs, applications and technology capabilities or even determine what tools are available to help their offices work more efficiently.
- It is estimated that most office workers understand less than 20% of the available features in the software packages they use.
- Inefficiencies often result, as processes and tasks that could be completed in seconds automatically if users understood the features are performed manually instead.
Computer Troubleshooters can assist organizations in teaching staff the skills they require to ensure office personnel maximize existing technology investments. Often, training commitments prove a much better "upgrade" for businesses than a faster PC or more memory.
Here's but one example from the real world: A Computer Troubleshooters office helped maintain high-powered computers for 12 highly talented engineers. The engineering firm employed a single administrative assistant who prepared all the organizations quotes, proposals and estimates.
Once, when this admin was on vacation, the Computer Troubleshooters' technician was called to assist in locating a critical proposal spreadsheet.
The admin had prepared the proposal a few weeks earlier, but no one could find the file on the admins PC and it was urgently needed.
Ultimately, it was discovered the administrative assistant only maintained one "proposal" spreadsheet. Each time a new proposal was needed the admin just typed over the single file with new information (thereby losing any record of previous proposals). Further, the admin didnt know how to perform calculations inside a spreadsheet, so all sums and totals were completed manually using a hand calculator.
Like too many small business employees, this staff member was entirely self-taught, so while she knew how to function in her job, her limited skill set meant she was working harder than she should have in order to product results that were less than they should be.
