Outdated and Ineffective Business Applications: A Frustrating Challenge for Employees

It’s not always the boss why teams build up anxiety & frustrations at the workplace. Major workplace frustrations may be because of outdated, slow and inefficient business applications. 

The problem is much bigger than it appears to be, let’s pull up some facts and technical challenges blocking simple executables of a team, amplifying the frustration and dissatisfaction level while using a Business Application. 

Companies using the same legacy system for months, years or even a decade in some cases, lack the agility and responsiveness required to meet the demands of modern workflows and technology. Issues such as slow response times, system crashes, and confusing user interfaces impede the ability of workplace employees to perform tasks efficiently and effectively. It contributes to dissatisfaction and hinders productivity. 

A recent study of 9000 employees

A recent study where 9000 employees were surveyed in different industries across the globe, shows that 9 out of 10 employees worldwide are annoyed with their work tech, and almost half of them are thinking of quitting. Outdated & bloated technology costs money. In the US alone, it wastes over USD $84 billion worth the time each year. That’s like throwing away USD $10 million every hour, every day! 

To mitigate these challenges, businesses must prioritize the modernization and optimization of Business Applications. Updating to more advanced and responsive software solutions addresses the shortcomings of legacy systems and enhances the user experience for working professionals. By investing in software agility and usability, companies foster a more productive and satisfying work environment for their technical workforce.

According to a report by freshworks

According to a report by Freshworks, 89% of IT professionals waste time every week because of bloated applications. On average, they lose about a full workday : 7 hours and 19 minutes, diverting them from their main tasks. Digital workers spend around 9% of their time each year just switching between different applications. Think about all the productivity lost!

Here are some major thorns of work tech that pinch the team every day and cause  workplace frustrations: 

1. Slow Response times

Slower response times in an outdated Business Application puts employees in a situation where they find themselves waiting for tasks to get executed due to inefficient software performance. It disrupts workflow continuity and impedes real-time collaboration, hindering overall efficiency. These delays lead to frustration and decreased productivity at the workplace. 

2. Silly bugs and glitches

In addition to slow response times, outdated software is  troubled by silly bugs and glitches that disrupt workflow causing system crashes, data corruption and interruptions which impact productivity. Resolving these issues in bulk proves to be time-consuming which intensifies employees’ frustration. 

3. Confusing User Interface

Outdated business software presents a challenging user interface, complicating navigation and task execution for employees. This complexity results in user errors, increased training needs, and lower adoption rates. Employees find it difficult to locate key features or perform routine tasks efficiently, ultimately leading to frustration and diminished productivity.

4. Poor Navigation, unnecessary layers and clicks

Inefficient navigation, marked by excessive layers and clicks, worsens the usability hurdles of obsolete software. Employees frequently encounter the need to navigate numerous menus and screens for fundamental functions, fostering frustration and perceptions of inefficiency in task execution.

5. Inadequate training

Inadequate training worsens workplace frustrations due to outdated business applications. Frustrated users lacking sufficient skills and knowledge, stems from the inability to utilize the software’s full capabilities, hindering productivity and efficiency within the workplace.

6. Unresponsive tech support

Limited technical support worsens problem-solving delays for Business Applications, extending system downtime and hindering productivity. When workplace users face prolonged periods of system unavailability and recurrent issues, it impedes their capacity to execute critical tasks efficiently.

Simple Steps to Address the issues

The frustrations with outdated work tech are common but there are effective solutions to address and manage them. By closely monitoring the usage patterns and collecting data-driven insights, organizations can identify the areas of improvement and prioritize updates accordingly. Paying attention to the finer details of business logic enables quick assessment of issues while regular feedback facilitates continuous improvement according to the evolving business needs. With these measures in place, businesses can effectively tackle the thorns of workplace technology and foster a more satisfying and efficient work environment for their technical workforce.

At Himcos, we’re dedicated to tackling the challenges of outdated Business Applications head-on. As the use of these apps grows, many are showing issues with usability, system reliability, and data security. Some have even caused compliance problems and financial losses. Our approach to updating these apps includes fixing old features, upgrading code to meet modern standards, and aligning changes with the app’s goals. Need to revamp your business app? Talk to our strategist today.