(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 — A New Microsoft Excel update will give power users plenty to dig their teeth into.
Microsoft Excel’s desktop version will begin supporting task automation, a feature that was previously only made available to web application users. The new desktop feature will enable users to create, edit, and run Office scripts through the All Scripts task pane and Code Editor. The update will become available sometime next month. (Source: Tech Radar)
Why this is important for your business:
Scripts can be used in all sorts of different ways. According to Microsoft, some examples include parsing web traffic records to determine a user’s country of origin, managing interview meeting times and making a flow to schedules meetings in Teams or validating an instructor’s record for their class’s grades. With a little bit of training (or outside help) scripts like these can make your spreadsheets be more an even more productive tool for your people.
2- Paychex is launching the industry’s first voice-activated payroll solution.
Paychex recently announced the rollout of a new payroll solution known as Paychex Flex. Paychex Flex will include Paychex Voice Assist, a conversational AI feature. The feature will let payroll administrators run payroll through any devices compatible with Google Assistant, which will hopefully help to automate and simplify the payroll process. (Source: PRNewsWire)
Why this is important for your business:
Paychex is a current client of my company. The reason why this news interested me though is because it is just one of many up and coming voice activated applications and tools that will make big changes to our office workflows.
3-Betterworks is promoting employee performance in the flow of work with new frictionless integrations with Office 365 and G Suite apps.
Performance management company Betterworks announced this past week that it plans to integrate with several G Suite and Office 365 applications. The integrations will enable employees to quickly and efficiently manage performance using plug-ins for productivity tools such as Workspace, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. The goal is to promote more productive conversations between managers and employees. (Source: PR Web)
Why this is important for your business:
Betterworks is one of a number of performance management platforms that can help employers of all sizes make sure their workforce is motivated and managed based on their strengths. The platform’s features include helping with employee/manager conversations, feedback and goal-setting. Many of these applications appear geared to enterprise-level organizations so they might not be cost effective for smaller companies. But I believe that as they become more popular, versions suitable for smaller organizations will become more available.
4 — Zoom’s evolution from video app to communications platform.
Zoom recently announced an evolved “visual identity” and new appearance, as well as re-branded names to familiar features. Zoom Chat will now be known as Zoom Team Chat to promote more collaboration, and features such as Zoom IQ for Sales, Zoom Contact Center, and Zoom Whiteboard will also continue to evolve to better meet the needs of remote teams. (Source: Zoom)
Why this is important for your business:
There’s no question that more people are finally coming back to the office. Zoom, which literally saved the world during the pandemic, now must adjust to the new workplace. And it’s doing so by trying to compete with Microsoft, Google and Slack. One thing in their favor: Zoom has consistently been more reliable — and easier to use in my opinion — than most of the other collaboration applications available, so this may help sell some companies on these new features.
5- Logitech’s new webcam has a neat built-in privacy shutter. |
Logitech introduced its new webcam called the Brio 500. The new camera — which comes in a compact, sleek design — also contains a physical shutter for privacy. To operate the shutter, users simply turn a dial on the right side of the webcam. (Source: The Verge)
Why this is important for your business:
Or you can use a piece of tape.
