It’s that time of year again – the bane of every employer – when employees up and down the country start to down tool and look longingly towards the Christmas holidays. It’s also the time for Christmas parties – when everyone can get awkwardly merry with their colleagues, insult the boss, and scramble to make apologies the next day.
But in this technologically-driven age, office Christmas parties have evolved, as HR departments look to make them fresher and more fun year on year. To that end, let’s look at some of best gadgets and tech out there to spice up your office Christmas party.
SONOS Sound System
It’s not a Christmas party if you haven’t got ‘Fairytale of New York’ blasted at 5000 decibels, whilst every tipsy middle-manager screams wildly out-of-tune. Obviously, this works best if you’re planning on hosting the part in the office, but it’s a lot cheaper than hiring a venue and paying for a sub-par DJ. This way, you can play everyone’s favourite tunes and have them stacked in a playlist well ahead of time. And once the party quietens downs, you can give the controls over to anyone on the Wi-Fi network, making it a Christmas song free-for-all.
However, if you are going to invest in some pricey tech like this for the Christmas Party, you might want to get some comprehensive gadget insurance just in case. It’s all fun and games until someone’s mulled wine goes over the speakers!
Organisation Apps
You don’t always have to invest in a new gadget. Sometimes the most important pieces of tech you need can be easily downloaded on to your favourite devices.
If you’re organising the Christmas party, it’s important that everything is mapped out and nothing is left to chance. The best way to do this is to use an organiser app, such Wunderlist of Bear, which allows you to succinctly detail the things that need doing and when they should be done. You can set reminders, prioritise, and write personal notes, so if you’re ever asked what’s happening next, you can always refer to the place.
DLSR Camera/ GoPro
Why fork out hundreds of pounds on a professional photographer when you can just as easily take picture of everyone looking worse for wear by yourself. While you may not want to be playing camera person all night, a cheap DSLR or Mirrorless camera is a great investment – not just for one office Christmas party, but for all the office Christmas parties to come.
If you want to make it a bit more personal, you could opt for a GoPro and head mount. That way, you can walk around the party freely, capturing as much footage as possible, without forcing people to gather for photos. Fair warning, however, you may look a bit silly.
Game Consoles
A big danger of the office Christmas parties is that, once everyone’s got a few drinks in them, the mood can die down. So, it’s important to make sure that there’s something for everyone to enjoy together. One of the best gadgets to buy or bring in to the office is a games console, pre-loaded with a couple of great multiplayer games.
Whether it’s something colourful and fun like Super Smash Bros, or something more mainstream like FIFA, the games line up has to be something that everyone can enjoy and instantly get into.
Drink Delivery Apps
One thing you don’t want to run out of during the office Christmas party is alcohol, and while you may have a fully-stocked fridge, it’s important to have a backup plan. One of the best apps to have on-hand is Bevy, a virtual butler app that allows you to order spirts, beer, wine, and even snacks, in the same style as Deliveroo or UberEats.
While this may not be the most important download to have on your list, it could prove useful in the long run, so make sure you cover all the bases.
This list just scratches the surface of gadgets and tech which could benefit your Christmas party. However, if you want to make sure you get your party going in the right direction, these are certainly things you should consider looking into.