Washington Works Blog

Unfortunately, most people can relate to the feeling when you’re busy, but you really aren’t getting anything meaningful accomplished. Imagine a workplace where being busy actually means brilliantly productive. If that is the sweet spot you’re looking for, this blog is for you.

You hear a lot about Artificial Intelligence these days. It can sound a bit like something out of a sci-fi movie, maybe even a little daunting. However, what if I told you AI could be working quietly behind the scenes in many businesses, acting like the most efficient, data-savvy coworker you've ever had?

Think about those frustrating workdays when a server goes down, or the daily drag of slow computers and glitchy software. These aren't just minor annoyances; they are significant productivity drains. Research shows employees can lose an average of 10.5 workdays per year due to IT downtime alone. Multiply that across your team, and the financial impact becomes clear. This month, we go through the numbers to see how you can build a more productive business through a well-thought-out technology strategy.

The point-of-sale system is the hub of your business operations. It is a prime example of a mission-critical system that could benefit from some proactive consideration. Choosing or upgrading one isn't just about processing payments; it's about future-proofing your success. With that in mind, let's go into five things you need to consider about your business' POS system to make it beneficial to your efforts. 

What opportunities is your business leaving on the table by not adapting to cloud technology? There are plenty of benefits your business can take advantage of if you’re open to embracing new possibilities. Today, we want to share some examples that will have you excited to implement new cloud-based infrastructure solutions for your business.

Your desk can either help you get stuff done or totally drain your motivation. If your desk is messy, uncomfortable, or just boring, you might find yourself checking your phone every five minutes or suddenly deciding it’s time to reorganize your sock drawer. With a few simple changes, however, your desk can become your productivity power zone. Let’s break down how to set it up right.

Want to run a business without technology? You’re in the wrong line of work; technology is so deeply ingrained in business that it’s not going anywhere. From your communication platform to your point-of-sale software, you need technology, and where there’s technology, there will inevitably be a need for technicians.

You’ve probably been told that multitasking is the ultimate skill. Employers love it, schools encourage it, and everyone seems to brag about how they can juggle ten things at once. But here’s the truth: multitasking doesn’t actually work. In fact, it makes you slower, more stressed, and less productive.

Have you ever used Google to look up something, played a game that remembers your high scores, or checked your messages on Instagram? All these apps work smoothly because they have something called a Database Management System, or DBMS, working behind the scenes. In this month’s newsletter, we take a look at the DBMS and how it works to improve user experiences. 

Have you ever had things not go according to plan? It can be an incredibly frustrating experience, especially when assets and business resources are involved. This is also true in the realm of business technology, so today, we want to cover how you can invest in the future of your business without getting too far ahead—including with your IT resources.

Being a green business is a great thing. It not only helps your company become more environmentally friendly, but it can also attract customers who care about the environment. What’s less talked about is how being green can actually give your business a competitive edge in certain situations.

Downtime is easily one of the most prolific reasons small businesses take in less money than they otherwise could, making it an existential threat to many if a certain threshold is met. Making a bad situation worse, there is no shortage of reasons a business may experience downtime. Let’s examine some of these causes to better understand how to minimize this universal issue.

Data fuels business, but we also share a large amount of data even in our personal lives. Even the most benign communications, like chats, requests to stop by the store on your way home, and even memes or pet pictures, are considered data—and where there’s data, there’s a place where it’s stored.

Today’s question: do you know where your data is being stored? And do you know the impact of that storage?

For modern businesses, staying as efficient as possible is mandatory for optimal productivity. By eliminating inefficiencies, small businesses can stay competitive. One effective strategy is to streamline processes through implementing tools that fuel automation.

Making decisions is a big part of running a business, but relying solely on gut feelings can sometimes backfire. Back-end analysis allows business owners to gain insights they might not have considered. This can lead to more money through better sales, customer relationships, and efficiency. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss how AI enhances business intelligence.

"Quit." The q-word is often seen as one of the worst four-letter words in business. However, there are times when quitting can actually benefit your operations.

Imagine you have a project consuming all your resources with no real returns. What should you do?

With remote and hybrid work models becoming prominent parts of the business world, it’s time to start considering the challenges and benefits that such work can bring about for your own organization. Specifically, you want to examine how engagement is affected by these workplace models. How can you ensure employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention even while utilizing a remote or hybrid workplace model?

In 1987, the United Nations defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Today, almost 40 years later, businesses have various options to help promote their own sustainability. Let’s discuss just a few options and how we can help you enact them. 

One of the most important considerations that a business that relies on technology needs to make is how efficiently its technology works. Let’s discuss some ways to measure this benchmark and ensure that it is optimized to meet your business needs.

Information technology—IT—is a necessity for the vast majority of modern businesses to function. For the sake of these businesses and their operations, it pays to optimize this IT by any means available.

Let’s go over the benefits that a relationship with a managed service provider gives businesses, particularly regarding the overall efficiency these businesses see as a result.