But they also require some unique equipment and office supplies that businesses in other industries may not need. Without the right office supplies, your tech business is at a severe disadvantage. And that means potential lost sales, longer product development time, and disgruntled employees. Not sure what supplies you need? Don’t worry if you haven’t decided yet, we have the guide for you. Here are the top office supplies every tech business should have.
Standing Desks
Manual labor isn’t the only type of work that leads to health problems. Sitting for eight hours or more a day can lead to some serious health problems and side effects. That’s why more employees are choosing to work with a standing desk. Standing desks force the user to stand and engage their muscles throughout the day. To make adjusting to a standing desk easier, pair it with a floor mat to make it more comfortable for your feet. You can switch over to a standing desk gradually over time by deciding to work part of each day at your new standing desk, and the rest of each day at your old desk. As you get more comfortable and your body gets less tired from using the standing desk, ramp up the amount of time you spend working there. Pretty soon you will be able to go standing desk only for most of the day.
Comfortable Chairs
When you do decide to take a seat (or when you have visitors to your office) you want something that’s going to be comfortable for hours. Good chairs are essential office equipment pieces. Look for a chair that offers lumbar support and encourages good posture. The lumbar support should fit into the natural curve of the spine. Most office chairs will have lumbar support built into them, but some offer pillows that attach to the chair. The chairs you choose should also be adjustable and sturdy for a variety of heights and sizes. Look for a model with armrests. These should be adjustable too. Overall, you want an office chair that is ergonomic. Ergonomics is the science of fitting a workplace to a worker’s needs. That means ensuring your employees are comfortable and able to produce focused work.
Telephone Service
Telephone service may seem old-fashioned, especially for tech companies, but odds are at some point someone in your company will need to solve a problem fast. Picking up the phone and calling someone is often the quickest way. There’s the old-fashioned landline, or the more modern (and more fitting for a tech company) mobile phone. Shop around every year or two for different services. You may be able to find a better price, and it’s better than being locked in a long-term, multi-year contract. Even if your current phone service is affordable, you may want to change it if you experience poor reception or bad customer service.
Noise Canceling Headphones
Few things will distract and annoy your employees like a noisy environment. To some extent, you may be able to control the noise level of your office. But some factors, such as the outside noise of busy traffic, may be beyond your control. Fortunately, it’s nothing some noise-canceling headphones can’t solve. Get some wireless, rechargeable ones and your employees won’t have to worry about replacing disposable batteries or getting tangled up in cords. They can listen to their favorite music or podcasts in peace while staying focused on the tasks at hand. By giving your employees noise-canceling headphones, you’re sending a message that you appreciate them and acknowledge that they need to focus in order to be successful. Noise-canceling headphones also make great travel gadgets. Take some on your next flight, listen to an educational audiobook, and block out external nuisances. Not only that, but if used properly noise-canceling headphones can protect your employees’ hearing. And really, who doesn’t love a good pair of noise-canceling headphones?
Printer
No matter how online and always connected your tech business is, at some point you may need to print something and have a physical copy of it. That’s why it’s important to have a printer in your office. But not all printers are created the same, so it’s important to choose the one that will best suit your needs. Printers are generally designed for either home or business use. Make sure you are purchasing one designed for business use. Business model printers generally use laser instead of inkjet technology, since they are often used for printing text instead of a few photos. Laserjet printers are usually faster than their inkjet counterparts. Many printers also come packaged with other features such as copier, scanner, or fax functionalities. If your business requires these features, even occasionally, it may be worth the extra cost to upgrade to an all-in-one printer. Think about what the needs of your business are. Do you require high-volume print capabilities? Do you need the ability to send and receive faxes? Do you desire the ability to connect to your printer wirelessly? Take a moment to consider what your printer needs are. That will help you determine what type of business printer you need.
Shredder
A shredder is an inexpensive way of increasing your information security. It’s easy to use and requires no special training. Once you have one set up you can create an office policy for what paper gets retained and destroyed, and by whom. Different shredders offer different levels of security depending on how they cut the paper. For maximum security, look for a micro-cut paper shredder. Micro-cut shredders are as effective as they sound. They cut the paper in a cross-cut fashion, diagonally from both directions. They cut the paper so effectively that you can’t read a single letter on a shred of paper. If your tech business handles physical media like disks, you need to look into a shredder that offers the additional function of being able to shred discs. Sometimes these shredders can also handle plastic cards such as credit cards.
Whiteboards
Whiteboards or dry erase boards are staples of any office meeting room. It’s for a good reason too. They serve as great blank slates for brainstorming and visualization sessions. Or maybe you just need to write down a quick note or create a to-do list for your team. Maybe you just want to create a welcoming atmosphere by greeting your staff with an encouraging message or an inspiring quote every morning. Whatever your use case is, you can’t go wrong with having a few whiteboards around the office. For best use, place some in common meeting areas, as well as other high traffic areas where employees tend to congregate. If your tech business needs something a little more sophisticated than a traditional whiteboard, spring for a smartboard, or smart whiteboard. Smartboards are interactive whiteboards. Many smartboards have Microsoft Word and PDF capabilities, allowing you to write and revise documents.
Labeling System
A labeling system can be used across many industries. Wrap-around labeling is common in the food and drinks industry, where the labels cover cylindrical products. And of course, many products we buy have multiple labels on them that provide safety and warning information or instructions for use. In the tech world, labeling systems are often used in conjunction with RFID (radio-frequency identification) labels. RFID uses wireless radio frequency waves to transmit data. RFID labels are tags that allow the tracking of assets and inventory. By implementing RFID labels, it’s possible to track your business’ inventory and prevent lost or stolen goods by triangulating their location. This process involves RFID tags, an RFID reader, antennas, and a computer database. RFID tracking can prevent expensive tech devices like laptops and hard drives from going missing, as well as any sensitive data they may contain. If you find your business will need to print labels regularly, look into a commercial labeling system. Commercial label applicators are designed for high-volume label printing. A commercial label applicator will print high-quality labels at a fast rate.
Global WiFi Hotspots
If you or someone else in your office is a frequent traveler or globetrotter, invest in a global hotspot service. Global hotspots provide wifi connectivity when traveling, even in areas where internet connectivity is slow or unreliable. Instead of using your phone or device’s data, you connect to the hotspot. Hotspots are designed to be portable, so they easily fit into your luggage. Many are small enough to fit in your coat pocket. There are a few things to consider before purchasing one. One is the battery life. The last thing you want is for your WiFi hotspot to die in the middle of an important business meeting. Check the terms and cost of the hotspot. There’s the initial upfront cost of the device itself, and then there is the cost of using it. Some global WiFI hotspots offer a flat rate fee per month. This price may be lower if you lock in a long-term contract for one or two years. Others use a pay-as-you-go business model, meaning you don’t pay for the months you aren’t using the hotspot. Finally, check the speed and connectivity of the hotspot. Some allow multiple devices to connect, meaning you could connect your laptop, tablet, or phone to one hotspot. However, some lower-end hotspots may not be adequate for connecting multiple devices. Overall you want a global WiFi hotspot that will balance cost, performance, and portability.
Power Bank
In a device-connected world, batteries have become essential. But when your batteries run low, you risk losing your work. Plus, you have to stop what you’re doing and find an outlet for charging. With a power bank, you can quickly recharge your connected devices. Power banks are basically large portable batteries that you charge in advance. Then when your device’s battery is low (whether it’s your phone, tablet, or laptop) you connect it to the power bank to charge. When buying a power bank, there are a few things to look for. One is the size and weight. This is especially important if you will be traveling with it. Another is the number of ports. Simpler power banks may offer only one charging port, but more advanced ones are capable of charging multiple devices at once. Also, some ports have different output charge rates. The output charge current is the rate at which a power bank will charge your devices. The lower the maximum current, the more time it will take the power bank to charge a device. Then you need to look at the charge capacity. This is measured in mAh, or milliamp hours. The charge capacity is the overall battery of the power bank, so the higher the capacity the more it can charge. Larger devices like tablets will require more mAh to charge. Likewise, if you are trying to charge multiple devices, like several smartphones, or a smartphone and a tablet, you need to purchase a power bank with a greater charge capacity. One last word on power banks: if you want a more environmentally friendly solution, look for a power bank that charges via solar power.
Buy These Top Office Supplies Today
These top office supplies will help keep your tech business employees happy, healthy, and productive. No business is without risk, but if you make sure your employees have the best business equipment available to them, you can increase your odds of success. If you operate or are considering operating a tech business, buying these top office supplies should be a priority. If you liked this article be sure to check out other articles in our Technology section.
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