Are your employees still using one-monitor workflows? If so, your business could be missing out on a simple approach that significantly improves productivity.
Just adding a second monitor to a desktop or laptop computer can make a big difference in all types of tasks, from comparing documents to how you take notes during video conferences.
According to a report by Dell, users that switched to a two-monitor workflow increased their overall productivity by 44%. They were also able to accomplish a series of tasks (collecting text and images online and from documents) by an average of 2 minutes less than those using single monitors.
Other benefits noted by participants in dual-monitor studies included:
- Increased user satisfaction
- Takes less time to find information
- A more pleasant configuration to use
Why Your Business Should Consider a 2nd Monitor for Employee Workstations
Increased Productivity
Multiple studies show that when people have the additional space that a second monitor provides, it’s easier for them to work. This leads to a big increase in productivity.
In addition to the Dell study, a study by Jon Peddie Research found that users changing to a dual-monitor setup reported a 42% increase in productivity.
Why does an extra monitor make such a difference?
Because it impacts everything you do, thus can boost productivity in tasks throughout the day. It can reduce the time it takes to switch between different windows and allow you to keep applications like email up on one screen while you’re working on a document on another screen.
With more space to spread out, users can reduce scrolling up and down or back and forth to see an entire document, as well as easily zoom in as large as needed without having to worry about losing visibility of part of the window.
Inexpensive Upgrade With Big Benefits
Adding a new software tool or server to your office can be a big investment, but adding an additional monitor costs much less. A monitor price is just a fraction of the price of a computer, so it’s a very affordable addition that makes a huge impact.
This means small businesses adding second monitors to their employees’ workstations can see payback on their investment pretty quickly in productivity improvements. Then they’ll experience ongoing ROI throughout the lifespan of the monitor.
Reduce Window Switching
68% of surveyed workers say they spend at least 30 minutes per day just switching windows as they move between apps and browser tabs on their computer.
You’re working on a document and need to see if that email that just came in is important, so you take a moment to switch windows. Or you’re trying to reference a webpage while creating a PowerPoint presentation, so you end up constantly switching between the two windows because there is not enough room to have both up at the same time.
When imagining all those times that employees have to switch windows, you can see how using two monitors can eliminate that and save a significant amount of time.
Makes Hosting Video Presentations & Webinars Easier
The use of video conferencing has skyrocketed due to the pandemic, and even before that, webinars were a popular way to generate leads and onboard new customers.
But trying to give a presentation sharing screen when you only have one screen available can be challenging. When you have two monitors to work with, you can share one of them for your presentation and have notes and other apps open on the other monitor, which no one can see.
For example, what if you get an urgent email from someone who lost their meeting link and needs to have it emailed it to them quickly? You can ensure you: a) See the email come in; and 2) Can send a quick email without needing to turn off screen share when you have a second monitor to work with.
Simple to Set Up & Use
Another advantage of switching to a dual-monitor workflow to improve productivity is that there’s no big learning curve for users or complicated setup. It takes just minutes to connect an additional monitor to a desktop or laptop and adjust the operating system to recognize it.
Moving apps and windows between monitors is as easy as dragging them from one to the other. Many modern applications are now set up to accommodate a dual-monitor workflow and will give users options for how they want to use them.
For example, when you’re in Zoom and begin a screen share, you can choose which of the two monitors you’d like to share.
Get Help Switching to a Dual-Monitor Workflow
Pro Tech Guy can help your Framingham business with the purchasing and setup of dual-monitors to improve your user experience and productivity.
Contact us today to learn more. Call 508-364-8189 or reach us online.