How To Choose The Right Automation Solution For Your Small Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Automation Solution|How To Choose The Right Automation Solution For Your Small BusinessThe benefits of automation in business are undeniable. It saves time, allows your staff to work smarter, increases profits, improves productivity, reduces the risks of errors, and increases operational efficiencies, among other benefits. However, for your businesses to experience the benefits of automation, you need to identify the right automation solution best suited for your business, as there are different types of automation to choose from. So, if you’re considering introducing an automation solution to your small business operations, here is how to choose the right one.

1. Understand what your business needs

Implementing automation in the right places is impossible when you don’t know your business’s challenges regarding efficiency, productivity, and error margins. The best way to understand your business needs is to survey your workers. Find out which departments are more error-prone due to too much human intervention. Identify the areas of your operations that use employee time the least. Doing this will help you identify your business’s biggest operational bottlenecks.

2. Service and replacement parts

As indicated earlier, there are different types of automation – fixed, programmable, and flexible. Fixed automation solutions are mostly found in manufacturing and production lines. Typical examples are industrial robots performing various manufacturing and production line functions. These types of automated solutions need service and replacement parts. And it’s important to consider how easy it is to find such replacement parts if needed. For example, before you invest in any FANUC automation or robotics solution for your business, you need to know how and where to find the necessary FANUC robot parts.


3. Is there an opportunity to scale?

As your business grows, your operational needs will also increase. That means your automation solution should be able to grow with your business. The last thing you want is to invest in a solution that does not allow you to make changes or expand to meet increasing business operational needs. When considering scalability, it makes sense to also keep the cost in mind. You want an opportunity to scale, but you also want to do so more cost-effectively.

4. Consider what other systems you may need to integrate

Will your automation solution work alone, or will you integrate it with other business systems? If integration is required, you must consider how cohesive your ideal automation solution will be with other systems. Thankfully, most automation solutions allow for easy integration with other third-party systems.

5. Programmable features

Another important factor to bear in mind when choosing the right automation solution is programmability. Does it come with programmable software? That is important because different businesses have unique needs. It’s important to have a solution flexible enough to accommodate your company’s specific needs.

6. A well-trained staff

Regardless of your automation solution, you’ll need an employee or a team equipped with the right training to operate or use it. You can do this in two ways. You can hire workers who have the expertise or train already existing employees to take up the extra responsibility.

4 Things To Consider Before Renovating Your Commercial Premises

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Renovating your Commercial Premises|4 Things To Consider Before Renovating Your Commercial PremisesWhen you think about renovating commercial premises, a series of questions rush to your mind. Where should you begin? What should be the target budget for renovations? How many contractors do we need for this project? And above all, where can we find trusted renovation specialists in our area? These are some key considerations when it comes to renovating commercial premises. Here is an insight into 4 things you should keep in mind before moving ahead with your renovation plans.

Do you need a project manager?

Having a clear idea of what you want to achieve from your commercial space can help you decide whether you need a project manager. A project manager can help you in the effective management of the project. This can help determine the type of finishes, resources, and budget you are looking to spend. The project manager can also help find the best contractor in your area who can give you a design that blends well with your commercial space.

Do you require permits or permissions to make changes?

If you’re looking to build new commercial premises or make changes in the existing commercial space, it is essential to know if you need a permit. If you want to alter or add new things to the existing commercial space, such as plumbing, electrical, and structural changes, getting a permit for the same is important. This is essential as it will ensure safety and give you the added advantage of getting the project done faster. A permit also ensures the construction or renovation project is done according to the building codes. You would not require a permit if you want to make changes, such as adding new doors or modifying the windows or doors. However, if you make structural changes, such as adding a new floor, changing the roof, or adding columns, you will be required to get a permit.


Is there asbestos in the building?

Asbestos was a dangerous material used in construction and renovation projects until 1990. It is mainly found in insulation materials such as pipes, ducts, ceiling tiles, sprayed-on insulation, joint compound, and floor tiles. If your commercial building were built before 1990, it would likely be made with asbestos-containing materials. If your commercial building has asbestos, it is essential to hire a certified asbestos removal contractor. However, before starting the renovation process, you must take proper precautions to prevent the asbestos from spreading. You must also ensure that the employees and contractors working in the building are aware of the safe work practices with asbestos.

Can you continue to operate during the work?

Renovations are a continuous process, and it may only be possible for you to shut down the commercial premises for part of the project duration. If you’re planning to do renovations of a commercial space that is currently in operation, you need to ensure that the project is done in such a way that it does not impact the day-to-day business operations. When planning renovations, you must decide at what stage you want the work to stop. It may not be possible for every business to shut down for the entire duration of the renovation project. Therefore, deciding at what stage you want the work to stop or move to another part of the building is essential. You can hire an architect or designer to suggest the best plans considering your commercial requirements.

Conclusion

Suppose you’re planning to do renovations of a commercial space that is currently in operation. In that case, you need to ensure you have the proper permits in place, have done all the appropriate research, and have taken precautions to ensure the work runs smoothly without impacting your day-to-day operations.

Top Retail Mistakes that a Lot of People Make

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Retail Mistakes|Top Retail Mistakes that a Lot of People MakeIf you run a retail store, you will want to ensure that you do what is always best for your customers. This is easier said than done, especially when you look at the fact that every business is different, and every company serves a different demographic. That being said, there are some big red flags that apply to every company, so it is important that you look out for things like this if you can.

Choosing a Bad Partner

This is easily the worst mistake you could possibly make whenever you decide to start your own retail business. If you choose the wrong partner, then this will really bring your business down, probably in the first few years. It may be that they have different goals to you, or that they are not a perfect fit for your company. At the end of the day, you should not let stress or promises of success or even money sway you into making bad decisions with your partnership. Your company will only grow if you have a solid level of groundwork and at the end of the day, initial partnerships are a key part of this.

Having a Bad Location

You have probably heard this time and time again, but location is everything. It is key to your company’s success. Don’t settle for a place that is cheap or good because it is convenient. Instead, you should be trying to invest in a location that is a good fit for your company overall. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to ensure that you are making the best decisions for your company.


Not Investing

A lot of retail owners set up their shop, but then they stop investing. The store then eventually runs into the ground, and this is the last thing you need. If you want to avoid this, then you have to make sure that you are willing to give back to your company time and time again. Think about it, why do businesses play music? Because it engages customers, and it makes them feel more at ease. Investing in a good sound system isn’t hard either, so make sure that you are mindful of this and that you also be mindful of what your customers want from you.

Trying to do Too Much

It doesn’t matter how small your company might be because you will always benefit from having a bit of help. On the surface, you may feel as though your day-to-day operations are reasonable, but you will be over your head very quickly if you are not careful. Managing, marketing, ordering, and selling inventory can quickly take its toll, so make sure that you hire carefully and that you also take your time to delegate tasks. If you can do this, then you will soon find that you are able to achieve a lot of success and you can also do your bit to prevent a lot of burnout too.

7 Tips for Asset Tracking

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | 7 Tips for Asset TrackingA company’s worth is directly connected to its total assets. The assets may seem irrelevant to the public’s view but are the bedrock of the entire enterprise.

Construction work doesn’t happen with forklifts, bulldozers, etc. A taxi company has to maintain a fleet of vehicles for its company to be successful. Manually keeping track of the physical assets is time-consuming and eats into other duties.

Many companies are turning to asset tracking to collect and gather important information about machines, vehicles, or equipment the business uses. Each asset is fitted with a device that tracks key statistics, such as runtime, downtime, location, and work orders.

GPS sensors, RFID chips, or QR codes are the devices most often used for asset tracking. Tamper evident stickers ensure that the sensors aren’t messed with. What are seven tips companies should know about asset tracking?

What Assets to Track?

The type of business will determine which assets to track. For example, a construction company may be more interested in which assets are used the most. For that, they would track an asset’s runtime and downtime.

On the other hand, a taxi company would track the location of the vehicles in their fleet.

Use Unique Tracking Digits

If each vehicle in a fleet is given the same tracking code, how would the software determine a vehicle’s individual location or other important stats? To accurately track multiple assets, they each need their own tracking number, whether it’s a GPS sensor, chip, or QR code.

Track New Assets ASAP

When a company acquires a new asset, the first instinct is to try it out. But that’s the wrong instinct. The asset should be immediately given a tracking number and added to the software. Runtime and other important information need to be tracked from the get-go for maintenance and other reasons.

Watch Your Asset’s Value

Are your assets helping or hurting the company’s bottom line? Asset tracking can help determine which assets are increasing or decreasing in value. Machinery, vehicles, computers, and other assets won’t last forever. Eventually, they will need to be repaired or replaced. Asset tracking can help determine whether repairing or replacing is the best financial option.

Know Where Your Assets Are

Stationary company assets may not need location trackers, but mobile equipment and fleets do. Knowing the exact location of your mobile assets will help keep scheduling and planning on course.


Identify Vital Assets

Some assets are more important to a company than others. A fleet of vehicles is more vital to transportation companies than office equipment. Asset tracking can determine the most profitable assets for meeting the company’s goals and workload.

Practice Accountability

Asset tracking is computer software with real-life functionality. The software can create work orders or repair requests for malfunctioning equipment. The software then holds employees accountable for the necessary repairs by detailing how the work order was filled and when.

Tasking an employee with manually tracking a company’s assets is likely to fail due to human error. Using tracking software ensures that the assets of a business are secure and safe.

Taking Your Business to the Next Level: What to Do

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Taking Your Business to the Next Level: What to DoIt is very common for businesses to plateau once they are past the growth stage. Business owners might find it difficult to grow their businesses beyond certain levels or to even increase their revenues. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to take your business to the next level, unlocking additional opportunities for sales, revenue, and overall business growth.

Leverage Technology

Technology can be a huge help when you are looking to unlock untapped opportunities. It can help you know where you are wasting money and where to spend it to help with customer acquisition and improve your marketing ROI.

Technology, specifically machine learning and artificial intelligence, can be very useful in helping you discover new opportunities in your market. They can help you analyze the data you are already collecting, helping show areas of underutilization and opportunities you are not already taking advantage of.

Use a Different Social Media Platform

Many businesses pick one or two social media platforms and use those as their primary marketing channels. If you are having a hard time growing on social media, you should consider using new platforms.

Doing so allows you to open up your business to new customers, and you can then start marketing them to turn them into leads. It also gives you more points of engagement with past and potential customers. This is especially important if you are already reaching them in other ways and on other platforms and are having a hard time converting them.

Ask for Outside Help

Sometimes business owners do not seek outside help because they know understanding the businesses at the level they do gives them an insight into how to grow it. This level of involvement can be a disadvantage because such business owners do not see what changes they can make or strategies they can employ to help their businesses grow because they think they know it all.

Sometimes it is good to take a step back and ask for outside help. The help should come from someone with extensive experience in running, managing, and growing businesses and who has done the same with many businesses. A business expert like Rami Cassis helps decision-makers and CEOs with strategies, expertise, and tools that help them take their businesses to the next level.

With such a partner providing their expertise, business owners and other stakeholders can get out of their own way and let the expert guide their business to the next level.


Build a Skilled Team

Sometimes, lack of growth or plateauing is caused by not having the right people in the right positions. A strong team comprised of people in positions that leverage their skills, experience, expertise, and knowledge can help your business expand, set new goals, and achieve them either in the mid or long term.

Remember that you do not always have to hire new people to see growth, an audit can help you discover people who would be incredibly helpful but who are being underutilized in their current positions.

Growing a business or taking it to a new level when it has hit a plateau can be difficult especially when you think there is nowhere else to go. However, there are always additional growth opportunities — you just have to know how to unlock them.