5 non-conventional ways to boost workspace productivity for mobile development teams

Sabina Vardanashvili -

Workspace productivity is a constant topic of debate in the development world, especially post-COVID, as businesses grapple with remote vs. in-office setups. Companies like Amazon are bringing employees back to the office, while others have embraced fully remote work and show no signs of returning to the traditional office space. In this ongoing experiment, companies are exploring new ways to increase productivity across hybrid and remote teams.

The traditional methods of improving workspace productivity — such as offering office perks, free lunches, or game rooms — are helpful, but they don't always get to the root of what development teams need to be efficient and engaged. For mobile development teams, in particular, productivity isn't just about office perks; it's about having the right tools, the right routines, and the right work-life balance.

Let's look at five creative, uncommon yet valuable strategies to elevate productivity for mobile development teams.

Step 1. Implement team collaboration tools

First and foremost, productivity begins with providing tools that make work effective and enjoyable. Mobile development teams need to create and test apps, market them, and analyze their performance — all of which require efficient, collaborative software. Investing in user-friendly tools that enhance collaboration can have a lasting impact on a team's productivity. Interestingly, the key reason why many developers prefer team-based corporate roles over freelancing is the access to premium tools and resources that streamline the development process.

One standout tool for mobile development teams is Qonversion. With its advanced remote configurations, A/B testing, and analytics, it enables teams to experiment and optimize app performance from a central dashboard. By using a robust subscription management tool like Qonversion, mobile development teams can also monitor in-app revenue and understand user behavior in real time. This means less time spent on manual data tracking and more time focused on innovative development.

Step 2. Establish a 'No Meeting' day

Meetings, while necessary, can be productivity killers. A 'No Meeting' day — one day each week dedicated to uninterrupted work — can be transformative. For example, setting aside 'Focus Fridays' allows developers to dive deep into coding, testing, or brainstorming sessions without interruption. Such a day is invaluable for complex problem-solving and helps employees get into a 'flow state', where they can fully concentrate on tasks without being pulled away for quick updates or check-ins.

By reducing context-switching, 'No Meeting' days help employees dedicate themselves to high-priority tasks, leading to more creative and high-quality output. Shopify set a strong example of reducing meetings by cancelling all gatherings with more than two people. This shift toward fewer meetings encourages focused work and supports productivity across the team as employees can make significant progress on complex tasks that require uninterrupted attention.

Step 3. Gamify daily tasks and goals

Gamification introduces a fun, competitive element to the workplace and turns daily tasks into accomplishments rather than chores. Companies can encourage goal completion in a motivating way by creating a points-based system. That way, employees can earn points or badges for meeting deadlines, hitting project milestones, or collaborating effectively. These points could then be redeemable for incentives such as an extra day off, lunch vouchers, or gift cards.  Group challenges present an even greater impact: when team members earn points together to unlock a reward it strengthens collectivity towards a common goal. A recent Harvard Business Review proves that 'gamified done right can significantly improve employee performance'.

Step 4. Invest in great communication

The aspect of productivity for mobile development teams that shouldn't be underrated is communication. The common issue here is that most of the time virtual team interactions are unproductive. When teams juggle multiple tools — Slack for messaging, Zoom for calls, separate task management platforms, etc. — no wonder the critical information gets lost in the shuffle.  

To deal with such confusion, consider trying more comprehensive communication solutions like Orchestra. The tool streamlines communication by integrating messaging and task tracking in one place, and acts towards desynchronize collaboration and context-switching. Also, it is designed specifically with development workflows in mind, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly, prioritize tasks in real-time, and maintain clarity on project goals. 

Try Orchestra's communication solutions right away ➜

Step 5. Promote healthy work-life balance

A healthy work-life balance has become increasingly important. Flexibility in work hours or remote options enables employees to manage work around their peak productivity times. Encouraging employees to respect after-hours boundaries also reduces burnout and ensures they have time to recharge, and that's especially important for tech teams that spend lots of time sitting in front of screens.

Microsoft Japan ran a 4-day workweek experiment, finding a 40% increase in productivity among employees. This case study demonstrated that prioritizing employee well-being and balance directly impacts productivity, showcasing that shorter, more focused workweeks can yield greater results.

Practices that help to reduce burnout while working in a customer service role will also help you to stay mentally sharp and empathetic to yourself, colleagues and clients.

Productivity strategies are not one-size-fits-all

Especially for mobile development teams whose work demands a unique combination of creativity, focus, and collaboration. To transform the way your team works try:

  • Implementing the right tools. 
  • Dedicating time for deep work with zero distractions.
  • Gamifing routine.
  • Making communication a top priority.
  • Balancing work environment with wellness mindset and programs.

Embracing these simple strategies, and learning more, creates an engaging and productive workspace that empowers developers to bring their best to every project.