Comms4Business News

Recent research carried out by direct payment firm BACs reaveals that the number one cause of workplace inefficiency is technology. Slow computers, crashing IT systems and printer jams mean the average UK worker fritters away up to 48 minutes each day.

Other elements of frustration cited by the 1,000 employers polled are unnecessary phone and conference calls causing staff to squander 26 minutes and worthless meetings leading to the loss of 23 daily minutes. Combined with time spent dealing with annoying colleagues and sifting through unnecessary emails, the study claimed staff are wasting 160 minutes of working time each day - the equivalent of 80 days a year.

Michael Chambers, managing director of BACS, said: "No office can ever be 100% efficient - but it's ironic that so much time is being wasted on the very devices that we trust to streamline office processes."

Psychologist Nicola Barber added: "Most British workers are doing more than their contractual hours - the vast majority without overtime pay. By addressing inefficiencies some companies may be able to reduce the hours employees need to spend at work, and at the same time, keep the workforce happy and motivated."

Nigel Brooke from Mirapoint commented, "the spam hysteria of the last few years has created the impression that blocking unwanted email is the primary concern for businesses with the result that some service providers and companies appear to have lost sight of their users' real needs and requirements. The speed and reliability of email delivery is integral to its value as a business communications tool. Filtering unwanted messages ultimately serves no purpose if it undermines the effectiveness of the overall message network's responsiveness."

Mirapoint recommend that firms create and enforce an effective employee email policy.

According to a survey by Manpower, a balance of +21 per cent of small companies intend to increase staff levels between now and July, compared to just +9 per cent of large businesses. But Mark Cahill, Managing Director of Manpower, says that finding people with the right skills will be a challenge. "The focus for SMEs is recruitment and retention - finding ways to attract the best talent in a tight labour market and keeping them."

Most consumers (60 per cent) polled in the survey from email filtering outfit Checkbridge reckon that their ISP should be responsible for stopping viruses and spam. Only one in five (17 per cent) of consumers believe that it is their responsibility. A quarter (24 per cent) of people surveyed receive 50 or more spam emails a day. Approximately half of the consumers quizzed (47 per cent) said they would be willing to pay between £10-30 per year for the right filtering service. The majority of SMEs (61 per cent) said they would be willing to pay £1-2 per month per user for protection.

Email filtering services have thus far have predominantly targeted the corporate market. Checkbridge's survey suggests consumer ISPs could steal a march on rivals by offering email screening services. As a provider of email filtering services the issue Checkbridge raises is more than a little self-serving but that doesn't mean it's wrong.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ericsson, through its Ericsson Response initiative, and the Swedish Rescue Services Agency will share information and expertise and will engage in joint research and development in disaster response and preparedness.

According to Ericsson, the two organisations will, when called upon by an international humanitarian organisation, provide a fast deployment emergency mobile GSM system for use in disaster relief operations.