What does it mean when a tool is “single-function”? Well, for starters, using single-function tools for different aspects of your business is like driving a car with only one gear. Sure, you can get from point A to point B, but it will be a slow, tedious, and bumpy ride.
You'll have to constantly rev up and down to adjust to different speeds, wasting time and energy in the process. On the other hand, having an all-in-one tool is like driving a car with multiple gears. You can smoothly shift from one task to another without losing momentum, and you can easily adjust to different challenges as they arise.
In this article, we'll explore three reasons why it's time to ditch single function tools and switch to an all-in-one tool like Lark.
Toggling Tax: Constant App-Switching on Focus and Attention Span
The rise of technology has led to a proliferation of single function tools, each promising to make our lives easier and more efficient. However, the reality is often quite different. Many of us find ourselves struggling with a growing number of apps and tools that are time-consuming to manage, difficult to use, and often redundant.
Source: HBR
One of the biggest drawbacks of using multiple single function tools is the time wasted in switching between them. Every time you need to perform a task that requires a different tool, you have to switch between apps, log in, and navigate to the right page. This "toggling tax" can quickly add up, eating into your productivity and reducing your efficiency. In fact, according to a study by Harvard Business Review, the average user toggles between different apps and websites almost 1,200 times a day, resulting in about a month of wasted time each year.
Moreover, most enterprise applications were not designed to connect with each other, which meant that users were left to fetch and transform data from multiple applications and act as the glue between disparate systems. This constant switching of attention between different applications can lead to a fragmented focus, a depleted attention span, and decreased productivity. By consolidating your tools in one all-in-one platform like Lark, you can save time, reduce distractions, and stay focused on the task at hand.
Information Silos: Trying to Find Information in 250+ Apps
Another problem with using multiple single function tools is that it can create information silos. If you're using one app for email, another for chat, and a third for project management, it can be hard to keep track of everything. You might have important information scattered across different apps, making it difficult to find what you need when you need it. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that, on average, companies use over 250 SaaS apps, according to Productiv's report. That's a lot of information scattered across a lot of applications.
Fortunately, an all-in-one tool like Lark can help solve this problem by consolidating all your information in one place. With Lark, you can access your emails, chats, files, and tasks from a single dashboard, making it easy to find what you need. Plus, Lark's powerful search functionality means you can quickly locate any piece of information, no matter where it's stored. When you gather all your tools in one place like Lark, you can easily collaborate with others, share information freely, and get more work done in less time. It's like having a unified control center that simplifies everything and makes your life easier. Plus, you'll be able to focus on the task at hand without any unnecessary distractions.
Administrative Chaos
Managing multiple single function tools can also be an administrative nightmare both for IT managers and for employees. For managers, you need to create and manage multiple accounts, track subscriptions and licenses, and ensure that all your tools are up to date.
Source: Nudge
Furthermore, onboarding new hires and offboarding can be a hassle as you have to manually add and remove users from each application, which can be time-consuming and expensive, especially if you have a large team. If you miss out on one application and an ex-employee gets access to sensitive business information, it could be a costly mistake.For employees, managing multiple accounts across different tools can also be frustrating and time-consuming, as they have to remember multiple logins and navigate through different interfaces.
Source: Tenor
Lark simplifies the login process and eliminates the need to switch between multiple applications by bringing all your tools together in one platform. With Lark, you can access everything you need without the hassle of remembering multiple login credentials or constantly switching between different apps. Employees can access all their tools from a single dashboard, reducing the risk of distraction and increasing productivity. Additionally, Lark's intuitive interface makes it easy to learn and use, minimizing the need for training and support. It's an efficient solution that saves you time and energy, making your workday more streamlined and stress-free.
In conclusion
The drawbacks of using multiple single function tools are clear. It's expensive for management, hard to manage for IT managers, and frustrating for employees. This leads to a waste of time and money, reduced productivity, and an increased risk of security breaches.
The solution is an all-in-one tool like Lark that consolidates everything into a single platform. By simplifying the administrative process, providing an efficient and user-friendly experience for employees, and reducing the risk of security breaches, Lark provides a compelling solution for any organization looking to streamline its workflow and maximize productivity.