Office in the business world functions, equipment and supplies

2084
Alexander Pearson

The office in the business world represents the part of the company where the data received and issued are processed, in order to deliver the information required by the organization for the normal development of its operations or activities.

Its importance is given because every company that produces goods or services, whatever the branch in which it specializes, needs a group of people to manage the operation and handle the other administrative functions. Most of these people work in offices.

The number of staff in an office can vary, but all organizations, regardless of their type or size, need office workers to handle everyday tasks. Office workers run many different aspects of a business.

These aspects include accounting, word and data processing, telecommunications and other activities. They are needed in all sectors of the economy, from manufacturing to transportation. 

Technology makes a basic contribution in the office: it allows a greater amount of work to be done in a shorter period of time.

Article index

  • 1 Office functions
  • 2 Equipment and supplies
    • 2.1 Business Phone System and Desk Phones
    • 2.2 Computers
    • 2.3 Computer network and Internet connection
    • 2.4 Multifunction printers
    • 2.5 Paper shredders
    • 2.6 Photocopiers
    • 2.7 Video projectors and screens
    • 2.8 Equipment for traders
    • 2.9 Furniture
    • 2.10 Office supplies and supplies
  • 3 Examples of jobs in an office
    • 3.1 Writers / editors on websites and newspapers 
    • 3.2 Receptionists
    • 3.3 Counters
    • 3.4 Managers
    • 3.5 Attention of calls-Call centers
  • 4 References

Office functions

The office in the business world can have different functions:

- The important services provided by the office include both administrative and other services to the other departments of the organization, which cannot function without the office..

- The office is as important in an organization as the brain in the human body. Therefore, the office is the brain of the company. It collects information from different internal and external sources, registers, organizes and analyzes it to make it available to management. All kinds of information, both past and present, is available in the office.

- The office also acts as an intermediary. It connects the outside world with the different departments and vice versa. All sales orders are received through the office. Connects the organization with customers, suppliers, government and the general public. Public relations are very important in modern offices.

- It is the heart of all business activities; it is like an administrative nerve center. Information on purchases, sales, finances and communications is circulated from the office.

- It is a control center; It is the means for company policies to be acted upon. As the business grows, each leader is empowered to make their own decisions and actions. Thus, each department will have its own office, to make it easier for management to outline its plans and policies..

Some key actions carried out in the offices are:

  • Meetings.
  • Call answering.
  • Agree on the strategy of the company.
  • Agree on objectives.
  • Organization of physical and computer files.
  • Customer Support.
  • Printing and copying documents.

Equipment and supplies

Office equipment has evolved to allow for greater automation. Office automation means using machines to do repetitive and tedious tasks that people used to do. The equipment also helps workers get their jobs done faster and more efficiently..

Among the equipment that we can find in an office are:

Business phone system and desk phones

They are the main means used for direct communication with customers and suppliers..

Computers

To process information, which is currently the lifeblood of any office. They are also essential for communication, thanks to email.

Computer network and Internet connection

If information is the soul of the company, then computer networks are the arteries that channel that information through all areas of the business. Ethernet cabling, routers, and a modem are required to connect the local network to the Internet.

Multifunction printers

When the information is digital, we want to print it, and if it is printed, we want to scan it. On the other hand, we want to receive or fax it. These teams do it all.

Paper shredders

When generating printed paper, it often has to be destroyed. The office is responsible for the information it holds.

Photocopiers

Essential for making copies of documents.

Video projectors and screens

Used for presentations in the meeting room.

Trader Equipment

Point of sale machines and cash registers.

Furniture

Within the furniture in an office we can find the following:

  • Chairs
  • Desks
  • Cubicles
  • Cabinets
  • Rugs
  • Meeting tables

Office supplies and supplies

Some of the materials and supplies necessary for the operation of an office are:

  • Sheets of white paper: Used for prints and photocopies, for writing short notes and for flip chart presentations.
  • Roll paper: thermal fax paper, label tape, point of sale paper.
  • Pre-printed forms: invoices, tax return, pay stubs, desk calendars.
  • Labels and adhesive paper: Folder Tags, Price Tags, and Post-it Notes.
  • Consumables for printing: ink cartridges and toner cartridges.
  • Portable storage media: USB sticks and memory cards.
  • Mechanical fasteners: paper clips and butterfly clips, staples.
  • Chemical fasteners: transparent tape, glue.
  • Cleaning articles: mops, bins, recycling bins, brooms, soap, air fresheners, disinfectants, paper towels and toilet paper.
  • Small machines: paper punches, staplers, staple removers, rubber stamps, numbering machines and pencil sharpeners.
  • Physical storage: folders, envelopes, boxes, shelves and desk organizers.
  • Writing materials and proofreaders: pencils, pens, markers, correction tape, correction fluid and erasers.

Examples of jobs in an office

Writers / editors on websites and newspapers 

Writers and editors, whether they belong to the work team or work from home, work in an office. Writers create content for print publications, web pages, and blogs. Editors correct content that has been written.

Receptionists

A receptionist is busy in an office receiving customers and suppliers, writing emails, answering phone calls, taking messages, sending emails, communicating phone calls to specific employees, and filing.

The customer service representative must be knowledgeable about the business they work for, as well as its products and services, in order to help customers. You must answer calls and emails, take orders, and issue refunds.

Accountants

Accountants or bookkeepers work in an office environment. Their duties include preparing taxes, paying bills, receiving payments, among others..

Managers

Office managers manage the work of the office. Their duties can range from hiring, firing, or scheduling staff work, delegating duties, training new employees, creating and enforcing office policies, supervising the work team, resolving situations, and maintaining computer systems..

Attention of calls-Call centers

People who work in a call center are required to answer phone calls from customers of the company they work for. You need to answer their questions, receive complaints, and process orders..

References

  1. Rob Waugh (2017). What's next for office technology? The Telegraph. Small Business Connect. Taken from: telegraph.co.uk.
  2. Lucy Kellaway (2013). How the computer changed the office forever. BBC News. Taken from bbc.com.
  3. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (2018). Office management. Taken from: en.wikipedia.org.
  4. Yajaira Gutierrez (2012). Basic office notions. Taken from: pedageducomercial.blogspot.com.
  5. James Bucki (2018). Essential Office Equipment for Starting a Business. The Balance Operations & Technology. Taken from: thebalance.com.

Yet No Comments