Andrew Jackson, CEO of Intercity Technology

The word ‘disruption’ often brings negative preconceptions to the fore. Businesses tend to be uncomfortable with change, particularly when they feel like they are already able to compete with the best. But with automation, cloud technology and IoT devices all changing the business landscape, embracing disruptive technology is no longer just beneficial – it’s a necessity.

The introduction of disruptive technology doesn’t have to mean expensive or extreme change. Often, the most effective solutions use simple technology to address issues. The most obvious example of disruptive technology is Uber, which has achieved global success by simply cutting out the need to call a taxi company and have money in your wallet to pay at the other end. And in the healthcare sector, high-quality video technology has allowed clinicians to diagnose, treat and support patients remotely, removing the need for unnecessary travel and saving both valuable time and money.

Disruptive technology has a place in every business, from removing menial tasks to revolutionising the way people work, and it should be embraced if companies what to overtake their competitors by boosting productivity in the workplace.

What does the data say?

In a survey of over 200 IT managers and 500 IT users, we found that 79% of IT users believe that technology can make them more productive, whilst 75% of IT managers believed that productivity is a main priority.

The link between productivity and technology is clear but the survey also found that this wasn’t being put into practice by businesses. Worryingly, the results showed that only 8% of IT users believed that their company’s IT strategy was supporting the overall business success. This shows that whilst businesses desire to move forward and invest in technology that can encourage growth, their IT strategies don’t support this.

The importance of investing in efficient and fit-for-purpose technology isn’t going anywhere. Research by BT and Avaya found that 62% of employees under 35 years old were frustrated with the technology available to them at work. Employees spending half their day trying to get their desktop computers to work results in low productivity levels, which ultimately can stop the business from moving forward.

But are we ready for disruptive technology?

Disruptive technology is needed now more than ever. It may sound cliché, but in business time really is money and so anything that helps to boost efficiency is certainly worth investing in.

Imagine a solution which redirects a caller from your direct number to your mobile when you’re out of the office. Or a phone display which shows you whether your contacts are available and seamlessly diverts an in-progress call to your mobile when you move away from your desk. It sounds so simple, but solutions like that already exist and, if embraced, can reduce the amount of time wasted each day, significantly enhancing productivity. As well as improving communication between a business and its clients, or improving customer service, disruptive technologies can also aid internal communications. This can be especially beneficial for companies with offices overseas – having a universal communications system can help things run much more smoothly.

The benefits are dependent on the business, but there is no doubt that there is technology available to suit every organisation and improve the way they work.

So, how can companies embrace disruption?

Our research shows that if business leaders really want to get ahead, its important that they can change their perceptions of what disruption means and look to invest in tech.

Whilst they may have short-term concerns with regards to training and budget, organisations should rest assured that once employees have got used to new technology, they will be able to change the way they work for the better, reduce wasted time and significantly boost productivity.

As technology is developing more rapidly than ever, and with competition becoming fiercer in every sector, businesses need to evolve in order to keep up. Without adopting new and disruptive technologies, companies risk standing still in a world that is changing around them.