Your IT Needs to Help Your People Do Their Best Work

IT is the main tool in any employee’s toolbox, whether they’re in HR, accounting, sales, marketing, supply chain management, or anything else. And when they don’t have the right tech, the employee experience – and productivity – drops like a stone. Now, to put jargon aside for a second, imagine hiring a tradie to dig a trench. Now, give him your kids old plastic beach spade they played with 20 years ago. You’re not going to get the trench you want, and your tradie may very well flip you the bird and storm off. Legacy tech essentially delivers the same result – you’re both pissed off, unproductive, and falling behind schedule.

So, with the basic definition of legacy IT being tech that was implemented so long ago that it’s now embedded in your organisation despite being clunky and unsupported by the company that created it, let’s take a deeper look into how it impacts the asset you rely on the most – your people.

1. Outdated User Interfaces: Legacy systems often have outdated and clunky user interfaces that are not intuitive or user-friendly. This can make it challenging for employees to navigate through the system and perform tasks efficiently. Confusing interfaces can lead to frustration, errors, and a steep learning curve for new employees, hampering productivity.

2. Slow Performance and Downtime: Legacy systems may suffer from slow performance due to outdated hardware or inefficient software architecture. Slow response times can hinder employee productivity as tasks take longer to complete. Additionally, legacy systems are more prone to frequent downtime and technical issues, causing interruptions in work and further reducing productivity.

3. Limited Integration and Collaboration: Legacy systems often lack the ability to integrate with newer tools, applications, or cloud-based platforms. This lack of integration restricts collaboration and data sharing among employees and departments. Instead, employees may resort to manual workarounds or inefficient processes, leading to duplication of efforts, miscommunication, and decreased productivity.

4. Inefficient Workflows and Processes: Legacy systems are often built on outdated business processes that may no longer align with the organisation’s current needs or industry standards. These systems can enforce rigid workflows and require multiple manual steps to accomplish tasks that could be automated in modern systems. Cumbersome and inefficient workflows can slow down employee productivity and hinder their ability to focus on high-value work.

5. Lack of Mobility and Remote Work Capabilities: Many legacy systems were not designed with mobility or remote work in mind. With the rise of remote and flexible work arrangements, employees need access to systems and data from anywhere, at any time. Legacy systems may lack mobile-friendly interfaces or robust remote access capabilities, limiting employees’ ability to work efficiently outside of the office.

6. Inadequate Reporting and Analytics: Legacy systems often have limited reporting and analytics capabilities. Extracting and analysing data from these systems can be time-consuming and complex, hindering employees’ ability to make data-driven decisions. Lack of timely and accurate data insights can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and slower response to market changes.

7. Training and Skill Gaps: Legacy systems typically require specialised knowledge and skills to operate effectively. As technology evolves, it becomes increasingly challenging to find employees with expertise in outdated systems and programming languages. This can lead to a shortage of skilled personnel and make it difficult to train new hires. Skill gaps can hinder employee productivity and limit the organisation’s ability to leverage new technologies and innovations.

As you can see, holding onto “the way we’ve always done it” really isn’t going to do your employees any good. And when they’re not empowered to do their best work, everything else suffers – customer and supplier relationships, service, innovation, cybersecurity, talent retention, profitability… the whole toot.

Let our MSP in Melbourne deliver what you need

At Otto, we’re a people-first tech company. That means we understand that tech forms the foundation of making your company a great place to work – when it’s the right tech. But we also know that addressing the negative impact of legacy technology on employee experience and productivity requires a strategic approach.

Luckily, we’re here to help! Our IT consultants are here to develop a custom modernisation plan for your business, whatever your size or sector. This may involve investing in modernising or replacing legacy systems, providing comprehensive training and support for employees, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning. By empowering employees with efficient and user-friendly technology, organisations can enhance productivity, improve job satisfaction, and attract top talent.