How To Manage Office Maintenance Without Expensive Disruptions

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Office Maintenance|How To Manage Office Maintenance Without Expensive DisruptionsMaintaining your office is crucial to keeping everything running smoothly. However, office maintenance can often lead to disruptions in the workplace. This can cause lost productivity and even expensive downtime. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips on how to minimize disruption during office maintenance. By following these tips, you can keep your business running smoothly and avoid any costly disruptions!

Do Things In Stages

When performing office maintenance, it is important to do things in stages. This will help minimize any disruptions in the workplace. If you have to perform work that will impact employees, try to stagger the work so that not everyone is impacted at the same time.

Businesses often make the mistake of thinking that it’s better to get everything done at the same time to get the disruption over with right away. But if you do things in stages and you plan it carefully, you can avoid disruption as much as possible.

Do As Much As You Can Outside Business Hours

If possible, try to do as much of the office maintenance as you can outside of business hours. This will help avoid any disruptions in the workplace. Of course, there are some things that have to be done during working hours, but try to schedule those tasks for times when employees won’t be impacted as much.

Getting things done in the evenings or at weekends means that you won’t have to shut areas of the business down. However, bear in mind that if you are hiring contractors, they will charge more to work during these times. So, weigh up the costs and consider what your best option is. Ideally, pay a little extra to do the most disruptive work outside of business hours and then smaller jobs can be done during the workday.

Hire Experienced Contractors

If you do have to hire contractors, make sure that you hire experienced ones. They will be able to minimize the disruption in the workplace and get the job done quickly. You also need somebody that will do the job right the first time so you don’t have to do maintenance as often. For example, if you are resurfacing your parking lot, find a good asphalt company (click to learn more) that can quickly fix any cracks and bumps so your employees can still use the parking lot.

Inexperienced contractors often cause more problems than they solve and they create more disruption. So, even if it costs you a little bit more, always pay for the best people.

Set People Up To Work From Home

If possible, try to set people up to work from home. This will help avoid any disruptions in the workplace. Of course, not everyone can work from home, but if you can do this then it is a great way to minimize the impact of office maintenance. People can continue as normal for a few days and your business won’t slow down at all.

Most businesses are already set up for home working, to an extent. But if you invest in project management software and communication tools, you can make sure that your team is just as efficient as they are in the office.

Keep Your Employees In The Loop

If you are going to be doing office maintenance, make sure that you keep your employees in the loop. This will help avoid any disruptions in the workplace. If people know that there will be some disruption in their office next week, they can start planning ahead. They’ll work out what tasks they will be unable to do, so they can get a headstart on them. That way, when the maintenance does take place, people won’t fall behind as much. But if you spring it on them and they are unprepared, you will see a lot of disruption.

Don’t Neglect Routine Maintenance

You may think that avoiding routine maintenance helps with productivity because you are not disrupting the business, but that is not the case. In fact, avoiding routine maintenance can often lead to more disruptions because things break down more often. You will end up with more serious issues further down the line too, and they will take longer to repair. They’ll also be more expensive. So, make sure that you keep on top of all the routine maintenance in your office. This includes things like changing the air filters, checking the smoke detectors, and cleaning the gutters.

Office maintenance is vital, but it can also cause a lot of expensive downtime in your business. Luckily, if you follow these tips, you can reduce disruption as much as possible.

Business Use of Virtual Number

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Business Use of Virtual NumberIf you are running your business for some time, you have probably heard about virtual numbers and IP telephony. However, you still do not understand what these concepts are and why they are necessary. Our article will help you to figure out what virtual numbers are and point out the benefits of virtual telephony for business purposes. For more information, visit telnum.net/services/toll-free-numbers/.

What Is a Virtual Number, and How Does It Work?

A virtual number, or online phone, is a service provided by various telephone providers. To put it simply, it is an ordinary phone that uses many channels for voice communication.

How Does It Operate?

In IP telephony, data transmission goes exclusively through the Internet, but there are also cases when you can use virtual numbers without the Internet if you set up forwarding from online to fixed and mobile devices.

Basic principles of virtual phone numbers:

  1. An incoming or outgoing call goes to the provider, which carries IP telephony services.
  2. Then, the call is processed, and in seconds, it is redirected to the main server of the virtual station.
  3. After processing, the call goes to a virtual number in the case of an incoming call. If it is an outgoing call, you just get to the recipient for voice communication.

Advantages of a Virtual Phone Number

A virtual phone number has many advantages, but we want to highlight the main ones:

  • When your business moves, you don’t have to worry about transferring all communications.
  • IP telephony combines all your company’s existing numbers into one and distributes the load to your employees, depending on the scenarios you set.
  • It guarantees convenient, fast, and reliable communication between employees within the organization.
  • Such numbers are fully customizable. You can set voice greetings and menus.
  • You can record and listen to conversations, analyze call statistics, and much more.

Since virtual numbers are fully customizable, depending on your preferences, the phone call can be routed to any desired device. The priority may depend on various factors: the call may go to the first available manager or the one who received fewer calls.

How Blockchain Can Propel Your Business Into The Future

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Blockchain|How Blockchain Can Propel Your Business Into The FutureBlockchain is an innovative digital transactions process where records are stored in a decentralized location. It is the basis of cryptocurrencies, but also provides a way of safely storing transactions like deliveries and private records. Private enterprise blockchain is a private blockchain where access is limited to authorized users. Here’s how blockchain technology can propel your business into the future.

Develop Your Presence In The Metaverse

The metaverse is a series of virtual spaces and digital transactions that take place in an entirely online environment. Blockchain enables the sale of items like non-fungible tokens (NFTs), unique digital items that are tradable and usable within the metaverse. With a private enterprise blockchain, you can start to stake your hold in the metaverse, creating digital transactions and records for your products.

Offer Radical Transparency To Your Customers

Customer experience is one of the biggest factors in business success. Many consumers don’t trust businesses, with statistics suggesting that almost 70% of people don’t trust business heads or even the leaders of their own countries. Radical transparency is the notion that your employees and customers can see every success or failure in the business. Customers will know the granular detail of what went wrong with their delivery in the same way you will.

As a private blockchain owner, you can decide what you share, but radical transparency is a key indicator to customers that you are confident in your business and prepared to own up to and fix your mistakes.

Be At The Forefront Of Sector Developments

Blockchain is hailed as the future of healthcare and real estate. Unique digital records for patients, or clients are predicted to speed up the process of buying a house or getting a medical decision, with all the information you need available in one location. As a company with your own private blockchain, you can be at the forefront of these developments, with a system readily set up to offer this as a solution for your own business.

Be Ready For Sudden Growth With Easy Scalability

When businesses suddenly scale up quickly, there’s often an issue with growth and cohesion. Sudden growth can sometimes be a huge blocker to a business, as internal teams and infrastructure struggles to keep up with an increase in popularity. With a private blockchain, you already have the foundations to scale your business. All of your company transactions, records and data are stored in one centralized place. Private blockchains are easy to scale with your business without the need for major growth or development.

Conclusion

Blockchain can propel your business into the future, providing the infrastructure you need to adjust to company growth, new trends, and the development of the digital metaverse. With the future becoming increasingly more digital, a private blockchain puts you in the best possible position to evolve with changing times and be ahead of sector developments. It also allows you to show radical transparency to your staff, and customers. Be at the forefront of technology by investing in a private blockchain network.

5 Things to Consider When Finding the Right Commercial Premises

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Commercial Premises|5 Things to Consider When Finding the Right Commercial PremisesWhen you are looking to take your business to the next level, you need to start looking at commercial premises. However, where do you even start when it comes to looking for premises, and what do you need to be considering?

Commercial premises can help to elevate your business to the next level, so it is a decision that you do not want to get wrong.

1. Is the Premises Fit for Purpose?

To begin with, when you are starting your search, you need to look at whether or not a premises is fit for purpose. Changing the use of business premises, or trying to change something to fit your use will be costly and timely. It is better to get premises that are fit for purpose straight away, as opposed to trying to alter (or completely change) what you are looking at. Knowing what you need is crucial, even in the early ages of your search.

2. What Location Do You Need?

Creating a checklist will aid your search. For example, do you need a location that has great footfall? Are you looking for an out of town location, or is a huge parking lot important to you and to your business?

3. Is it Well-Built and In a Good State of Repair?

Some commercial buildings can look great on first inspection; however, when you start to look closely, you notice that work needs doing. For example, it may need a new commercial roof or it may need extensive repairs to make it watertight. If possible, try and visit the premises you are looking at on several occasions before committing or making a decision. To further aid your decision, you may also find it beneficial to seek assistance from a surveyor, or another contractor, who may be able to see things that you may have overlooked.

4. How Much Will It Cost Per Month?

Whether you are buying or leasing new commercial premises, you still need to know the cost per month. When you factor in everything from insurance, to business and trading rates – right down to electricity, water, and other utility costs, can you still afford it? You do not want to take on a large property if realistically you will only be using a quarter of it.

5. What Rates Will You Have to Pay?

Speaking to the owner, or asking the property agent, is always a good thing to do (even at an early stage in your search). Establishing what rates you will have to pay to the owner, or even to the local state, will help you see if the location is still affordable. For example, a lot of town center premises will have extra rates placed on them, to ensure that the area is kept clean and tidy for all visitors and residents. These costs will all add up, and they will be added to the top of your purchase price, or lease price. So, before committing, check not only that you are in the right location, but also check the property is affordable both now and moving forwards in the future.

8 Tips For Running A Successful Distribution Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Distribution Business|8 Tips For Running A Successful Distribution BusinessWhile it is important to manufacture and deliver good products to drive more sales, most businesses would fall apart without an efficient distribution system.

An efficient distribution system is imperative for any business to thrive, especially in a global economy. Customers now shop online and expect to receive their products on time. So, if you’re planning on entering the business, now’s a good time. And if you’re already in it and want some quick tips on how to improve it, you’ve come to the right place. Listed below are a few tips that’ll help you run a distribution business successfully.

Manage your cash flow

Cash flow management may sound very simple- keeping track of the money coming in and going out. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. The process gets tricky when money is tied up in stock. Making purchase and sale decisions and meeting other business expenditures becomes a headache in this case as maintaining balance is essential. One bad decision can lead to a series of losses for your business.

So, use tech tools to stay on top of your accounts payable and receivable. Set reminders for sending customers, suppliers, and vendors timely invoices to pay their dues. Doing so will help you stay in the green zone when managing cash flow.

Skill up

If you’re an enthusiastic learner, consider equipping yourself with additional know-how in supply chain management. Or motivate an existing resource in your business to do the same.

You can search for a budget-friendly online MBA in supply chain management on the internet to fast-track the learning process. These online degrees/courses specially cater to professionals looking for ways to enhance their knowledge, but don’t have all the time in the world to go back to campus-based education. By enrolling in such a course, you’ll learn many new tricks of the trade, including better inventory management, decision-making, etc. The updated info will help you run your operations more seamlessly.

Invest in automation

It’s always good to invest in your business and upgrade it. So, if you’re still running your business the old-school way, it’s time to become tech-savvy. Automating your processes, including inventory management, payments, and tracking will help you manage operations better and provide customers with better services. Your system will also be able to generate purchase reorders to keep inventory levels at the desired number for each product. This way, you won’t have to constantly count what to order and restock.

Automation will help reduce time lost in manual labor and eliminate errors in order fulfillment. You can then use the money and resources you save in other crucial business aspects such as marketing and customer support.

Organize your inventory

Maintaining inventory is perhaps the most essential part of a distribution business. If your inventory is unorganized, work will get difficult to manage. Staying on top of it is imperative, and some proactive measures can go a long way for your business.

Track and update your stock with invoices and physically oversee the store to double-check. It’s good to use technology here, i.e., barcode tagging and scanning to log incoming and outgoing shipments. Ensure your warehouse is tidy, well-organized, and safe from environmental threats. The last thing you want is your merchandise being damaged before it even reaches customers.

Make the ordering process simple

If a customer can’t place an order easily, they’ll likely not use your service again. Therefore, you must ensure your customers have a seamless experience while using your service.

A user-friendly website can be of great help. Ensure your website loads fast, and use efficient software to reduce the ordering time for the customer. Keep navigation simple and provide multiple payment options to facilitate more customers. Providing a fast, seamless experience means people will be more likely to use your service again and recommend it to others.

Prioritize customer support

At the end of the day, happy customers will drive your business to success. And considering that you’re not the only one in the industry, providing excellent customer support will help you retain a competitive edge.

Instead of relying solely on low-price strategies, focus on the quality of service and maintaining high customer satisfaction levels. Always provide your customers with the best products and services. Use chatbots on your website and social media accounts to provide 24/7 support and address customer complaints. You can also collect feedback from your customers on how they feel you can improve your service and incorporate it into your business model. You can leverage trust in your brand to build a loyal customer base for a steady income stream.

Invest in staff development

As a business owner, you must see if your staff is suitably equipped to adapt to any long-term organizational changes you implement. Investing in their growth means investing in your business growth also.

Providing your staff with the proper tools and training will ensure better productivity, whether it’s stock handling or customer support. This is also a good way to keep your staff more engaged, motivated, and loyal to your business. While employee turnover rates in 2021 were as high as 57%, research states that 94% of employees would stay with their current jobs if employers invested in their long-term training. So, invest in building a solid team.

Branch out your sales channels

A diverse customer base is always ideal for a business. However, you can’t cater to more customers with limited sales channels. So market your business and establish touchpoints n different channels, including social media and third-party retailers like Amazon. Incorporate an omnichannel strategy in your marketing mix. By catering to more customers, you can nurture more leads and sales.

Conclusion

When running a distribution business, the stakes are high because customers want their stuff on time and in good shape. This article mentions a few tips to help you run such a business model smoothly. While sound management is essential along with tech integration and providing customers a seamless experience, consider honing your expertise in the supply chain industry by seeking more education. By following the tips mentioned above, you can increase your chances of running a successful distribution company.