How Smart Tools Transformed the Workplace - and What’s Coming Next

Once upon a time, “business as usual” meant passing around a USB stick like it held state secrets, spending more time formatting Excel sheets than doing the actual work, and referring to an aggressively large handbook just to find that one clause in a contract.

And sure, this got the job done. Businesses grew. Just not at the pace we expect today.

Then came the wave of new software. A turning point in the start-up world that didn’t just support businesses — it transformed them. They let us be better at our jobs, becoming faster, more organised, and way less stressed.

The Tools That Changed The Game

Let’s think about Notion for a second. The newest must-have for every start-up or business team. It’s basically like hiring the world’s most organised secretary — someone who never forgets a deadline and keeps everything tidy in one place. Before Notion, teams juggled sticky notes, half-erased whiteboards, and dozens of Google Doc versions floating around.

Then there’s Canva, the in-house designer anyone can use. Once, if you wanted a decent marketing flyer or pitch deck, you begged a creative friend or wrestled with Microsoft Paint, hoping it didn’t scream “early 2000s slideshow.” Canva made design accessible, fast, and fun, letting everyone channel their inner creative.

And Xero — the tool that turned accounting from a dreaded chore into something (almost) enjoyable. Invoices, payroll, budgets — all the number-crunching tasks that once required a finance degree are now automated. Before Xero, reconciling bank statements could take days, with tax deadlines looming. Now? A few clicks and it’s done, freeing you to run your business.

All these tools transformed how we work by turning slow, clunky processes into ones that are faster, clearer, and cheaper.

Now, here’s where Planna fits in…

Planna uses custom software designed specifically for town planning to process your development applications quickly. It understands the complexity of council rules, zoning overlays, and state policies — all the stuff that used to require hours of painstaking research. Planna pulls the data together quickly, delivering site-specific planning reports within 48 to 72 hours.

And it doesn’t stop there. Planna gives you a centralised dashboard where you can manage all of your development application projects. It also includes an advanced research tool and a project control sheet to help you stay organised and in control of your projects.

But here’s the best part: every Planna report is carefully reviewed and signed off by a qualified town planner. The software gives you speed, and our planners give you reliability and trust.

So if…

Notion is your secretary.

Canva is your design team.

Xero is your accountant.

Then, Planna is your expert-level town planner.

Just like the tools that have become staples in our everyday workflow, Planna uses smart automation and reliable data to transform a traditionally slow process into something modern, efficient and accessible to everyone.

Book a call with our team to discuss how we can help your business do more with Planna!