Having quality office products, including the right furniture and equipment, can make a huge difference in your business’s day-to-day operations. The right products can improve efficiency, increase employee morale, and ultimately improve your bottom line. But how can you ensure that you’re choosing quality office products? Keep reading to get a few tips for finding the best furniture, supplies, and business printers in Anchorage, AK.
The Right Furniture
Let’s start with finding quality furniture for your office. Furniture is not only a functional part of your office space but can also set the aesthetic for your office’s design. It’s important to find furniture that presents a professional appearance to any customers that might come in, as well as find pieces that function well and are comfortable for your employees to use.
Ask them for their opinions if you’re buying new furniture and already have a few employees on your payroll. Is there a certain type of chair that they find most comfortable? Would they prefer adjustable desks so they can choose to work while standing sometimes? Asking your employees’ opinions shows that you value their input and can help you find comfortable and functional furniture for their work.
It’s important not to cut corners on quality when it comes to your furniture, as opting for the cheapest models often means you’ll need to replace them after just a few years. Plus, you can usually tell that furniture is cheap just by looking at it, which doesn’t create a very professional aesthetic for your customers. Opt for something that shows you care about your business’s presentation and are committed to maintaining professionalism.
The Right Supplies
Office supplies can seem like a minor thing nowadays, with so much work being done digitally. However, your employees will still occasionally need basic office supplies like pens, pencils, notepads, sticky notes, dry erase markers, highlighters, and more. Even though you may not need many of these items these days, it’s still a good idea to ensure you’re investing in quality items that will last a bit longer. This spares your employees the headache of constantly needing to ask for new supplies, spares you from having to restock so frequently, and spares the planet from extra and unnecessary waste.
The Right Computers
Today’s offices rely heavily on technology, particularly computers. Odds are, every employee in your office will need their own computer, so it’s important that you find the right computer for each person. Obviously, quality matters here. You don’t want to spend money on an outdated machine that can’t support the latest software, is prone to viruses and hacks, and operates slowly—thereby wasting your employees’ time. Get a modern piece of equipment with plenty of memory and can quickly process commands.
You’ll also need to decide between laptop and desktop computers. With so many people working from home at least part of the time, laptops are the preferred option for most businesses. It also allows employees to pick up their workstations and move to a new location, which makes it easy to collaborate on projects or simply get a change of scenery to help them refocus. You should also look into getting docking stations for your employees. This allows them to connect their laptop to 1 or more desktop screens, so they can use it much like a desktop computer when desired. This allows versatility, so your employees can work in whatever way is most comfortable for them.
The Right Software
This area is a bit more difficult to address directly, as software requirements are going to vary widely from one business to another. Depending on your industry, you might need very specific types of software that allow you to better manage client accounts, improve the security of client data, and more.
In addition to any specialized software you might need, it’s a good idea to consider software that helps employees collaborate on projects more effectively. Certain document management software will allow workers to communicate about and work on a project in a digital workspace in real-time, rather than needing to schedule a meeting or communicate back and forth with emails. Workplace-approved chat software is also a good idea; just make sure it’s safe and secure and ensure that employees know it’s the only chat software they should download on company computers.
In fact, your employees should be trained to not download unapproved software, regardless of what it is or how they intend to use it.
The Right Printer
Like with office supplies, many people think printers are no longer essential to a modern business. However, that’s not quite true. While most paperwork may be handled digitally now, there are still many uses for a printer/copier in your office space. You’ll encounter many clients who still prefer to sign physical contracts and receive physical invoices from the businesses they work with, so you’ll need to accommodate these individuals. Likewise, these individuals will likely give you physical copies of documents, which you’ll need to scan into a computer to save a digital copy for your files. Additionally, paper can still be an easier option for passing out information in meetings, at conferences, and as a form of advertisement.
The right printer for your office will depend largely on how you plan to use it. If you intend to primarily print text documents (as is the case for most businesses), a laser printer can print and copy much more rapidly and create crisp, clear text. If you tend to print a lot of images, however, an inkjet printer excels at creating beautiful images with bright, rich colors. You’ll also want to look into the printer’s other features, like scan-to-email functions, binding options, and more, to find a machine that provides you with the greatest benefit to your overall efficiency in your office.
If you’re looking for a business printer for a business in Anchorage, AK, contact Arctic Office Products for assistance in finding the right one for your needs.
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