How to be more productive and give your small business a boost

Whether you’re the manager of a small business or owner of a small business, you know the importance of keeping yourself and your employees productive. But productivity doesn’t necessarily mean working more. It also means working smarter, right?

Forbes Technology Council stresses the importance of choosing the right technology for your business. This is where the new Dell XPS 15(opens in a new tab) really steps up. Add in the following time-management tricks and put yourself on the fast track to success.

The need for speed

In order for your team to work fast, you need to outfit them with the fastest computers that fit your budget*. The Dell XPS 15(opens in a new tab) jumps into play here with a speedy 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, 256GB of SSD storage, Intel UHD graphics, and a FHD+ (1920x1200) display. If you work for a SaaS startup or just need even more power, you can upgrade to a Core i9 processor, 64GB of memory, and a UHD+ (3840 x 2400) touchscreen. No matter which configuration you choose, the XPS 15 is a razor-thin 18mm, starts at 4 pounds, and goes full-throttle.

Set company KPIs

There’s obvious payoff in setting goals(opens in a new tab) for your company, but to keep things in forward motion, the trick is to keep your benchmarks measurable. While a soft goal of “increase sales” will likely lose its oomph over time, “increase sales by 20 percent” can help keep your team moving toward a definitive finish line. Think of it as applying your pickiest client’s KPIs to your own company. So, for instance, consider setting larger goals — like "increase sales" — with more actionable items below them: "prospect 10 new clients," "follow-up with 5 lapsed accounts," and so forth. It might seem overly simple, but setting yourself up for measurable mini-successes will pay off with big successes in the process.

Minimize downtime

Any device with a slow-charging battery will obviously drag down productivity. Keep your team powered up with the fast-charging 86WHr battery in the Dell XPS 15(opens in a new tab), as an upgrade. With this battery, the XPS 15 has the longest battery life of any 15-inch laptop at up to 25 hours* of runtime.

Protect your data

Over 40 percent of all cyberattacks involve small businesses(opens in a new tab) and even a minor data breach can throw your company into a time-consuming tailspin. The new Dell XPS 15(opens in a new tab) is a great example of a laptop that takes your company’s security seriously. As 95 percent of breaches(opens in a new tab) happen at the endpoint (with your employees), it’s vital to have security tools that get used every single day. The Dell XPS 15 beefs up endpoint security with a fingerprint reader built into the power button, and a security chip.

Use apps to organize your time

Sometimes even the most secure, fastest tech isn’t enough to boost productivity — it’s simply a time-management issue. Thankfully, there are apps(opens in a new tab) for that. Freedom(opens in a new tab) reigns in the urge to check your Twitter every second by blocking apps and sites for the hours you chose. Focus Keeper(opens in a new tab) (aka: the Pomodoro timer) helps keep you from burning out by divvying up your work sessions into 25-minute stretches. When the session is up, you’re rewarded with a refreshing break.

The right setup

In order to keep workflow moving, you need a workspace that allows you to think and act quickly. Using multiple monitors can really up your multi-tasking skills, and the XPS 15(opens in a new tab) has two Thunderbolt™ 3 ports that combine data, video, audio, and power in a single USB Type-C connection. Whenever you’re working off the XPS 15 display, Eyesafe® technology reduces blue light to help keep you, and your eyes, focused.

CRM is your friend

If your company isn’t using a customer relationship management database (CRM) (opens in a new tab)yet, it’s time to start. CRM allows you to keep track of contacts, spreadsheets, and documents — it basically automates all of your data entry into one fast, seamless process. Many of these databases are cloud-based, so your entire team has access to the information, too. CRM can even help boost your bottom line. One study (opens in a new tab)estimated that businesses saw a return of almost 800 percent on investments made into CRM.

Click here to learn more about the Dell XPS 15.

Written by

Shelley Kehm
Art by

Ruby Lambie
*The Dell XPS 15 starts at $1,299.
* MobileMark 2014 battery benchmark: XPS 15 tested with 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Intel UHD graphics, FHD+ display and 86WHr battery. Based on testing using the Mobile Mark 2014 battery life benchmark test in April 2020. For more information about this benchmark test, visit www.bapco.com. Actual battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on product configuration and use, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time.

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