Services Your Business Should Be Using

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Business Services|Services Your Business Should Be UsingRunning a business isn’t easy. Especially during times like these. Right now, companies are doing everything they can to stay afloat and keep their head above the water. Of course, when we first start out in business, we tend to run everything ourselves. We bear the bulk of the weight of business operations on our own shoulders and take care of operations independently. But as time goes on, chances are, you’ll find that you need a little help to keep expanding and advancing and to provide the best products, services and customer support as possible. Generally, this means taking on part time or full time employed staff. Of course, this isn’t where things end though. The vast majority of businesses need a little extra help from third party or outsourced services that can make all the difference to their operations. The perks of these services is that you don’t necessarily have to create an in-house team, which means more financial commitment and responsibility. Instead, you can often just use these independent parties as and when you need them. Here are just a few that you might want to take into consideration!

Consulting Services

No matter what industry you are operating in and no matter what products or services you’re selling, chances are, you can benefit from consulting services operating in your area of expertise. You can find business expansion consultants, financial consultants, a CARF Consultant, customer experience consultants, market research consultants and all other sorts of consultants. Make sure to use their services. They can give you the insight you need to make sure that your business is always running as it should be. This can also give you confidence in your actions too!

Property Maintenance

First, let’s focus on maintaining your commercial premises. Whether you run a traditional brick and mortar store or an office space, you’re going to have to invest in maintaining this space on a regular basis. Why? Well, if you rent the space, you don’t want it to become run down, as you can lose your deposit when you eventually decide to move out of it. If you own the space, you want to maintain its value. On top of this, you need to make sure that the space is clean, safe and pleasant fro your staff to spend time in. This can improve happiness levels, ensure that you are running everything in a compliant manner and maximise productivity. This is where a property management company can come in pretty handy. These individuals tend to cover every area of your business’ operations, ensuring everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Property maintenance companies can often provide cleaners to ensure that your business is clean. They can provide removal services if any animals die on the property’s land. They can grit your carparks in the winter. They can provide electrical maintenance, plumbing maintenance and other professionals who can generally ensure that everything is running as it should be. Make sure to browse a variety of options in your local area and to select the one with the most positive reviews and recommendations.

PAC Testing

Another extremely important service you need to be using is PAC testing services. Nowadays, it’s highly likely that a significant proportion of your staff are using technology and gadgets to get on with their work. The most popular tend to include computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. When these are used as part of their day to day work, it becomes of the utmost importance that you have all of this equipment and these electrics tested regularly. This will make sure that they aren’t a risk to your staff and that nobody becomes hurt as a result of their use. The best way to do this is generally through a PAC test, which will ensure that everything is safe and ready to use. These tests should be carried out regularly by qualified testers.

IT Services

IT support is one of the most important services your business needs to make use of nowadays. Why? Well, as we briefly highlighted above, the vast majority of businesses nowadays are online. They have websites online. They take sales online. They process orders online. They communicate with customers online. Plus, business operations such as emailing, video calls and other internal communications take place online too. The problem? Cybercriminals are aware of this and are seeing many small businesses as easy targets for infiltration. Sure, major companies may have more money or data to lose. But they also have some of the best cybersecurity in the world. Smaller businesses or often not so well set up to defend themselves against attack, so cybercriminals tend to have more success with them. You need to make sure that you avoid data breaches to maintain your reputation and to comply with data compliance laws. You also need to avoid infiltration wherever possible to maintain operations and maximise productivity. This is where IT services come in. The vaedt majority of businesses use IT services to help maintain their tech and keep everything up and running in the safest and most effective way possible. Having an IT company at hand can also ensure that if your team ever have any problems with their software or hardware, they can simply get in touch with the IT services you’ve signed up for and get all the advice they need to resolve their problems and to get back to work. when they experience any issues and the IT company can quickly resolve them, getting employees back to work and productive as quickly as possible. IT services can also provide protection against hackers, helping your business to avoid security breaches.

These are just a few suggestions that can make all the difference when it comes to running your business. Each of the above services can really help your business to tick over smoothly safely and in a compliant and profitable way. Invest in them to benefit from them sooner rather than later!

Why is it Important to Have the Right Tools as a Business? 

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Why is it Important to Have the Right Tools as a Business? How long has your business been established for? Have you been operating for a few years or are you one of the almost six million SMEs that have recently set up on their own?

Whether you’re new to being in charge or you’ve been at it for a while, it’s important that you have the right tools in place in order to do the job effectively. This applies to all industries and roles, from office jobs to manual positions on construction sites.

But what makes having the right tools so important? Here’s a look at some of the main reasons to make sure you and your team are fully equipped.

Safety is vital

No matter what sector you work in, the health and safety of you and your employees is a key consideration. While meeting requirements, such as having a fire marshal and getting your team to carry out safety training, is likely to be top of the list, it’s important that you make sure that you’re providing the right tools too.

By working out what tools are needed early on, you can protect staff from workplace hazards and potential injuries that can happen when the wrong instrument is used for the task. For instance, if you’re managing a building site, you’ll need to make sure that fully functioning drills and drill bits are to hand. Old drills that have seen better days will need to be replaced in order to keep workers safe and complete the job.

Cost-effective planning

Planning out the tools you and your team need can seem like a significant expense at first, especially if you’re just starting out. However, by investing in good-quality machinery and tools early on, you are more likely to save money as you won’t need to replace faulty hand tools or second-hand computers shortly after paying for them.

So, if you need to buy a cement mixer for your building work or you’ve hired a graphic designer and need the very latest software and hardware, investing in new machines and computers now will mean you won’t need to think about updating them for a while. It’s worth keeping track of the tools and machinery you invest in so that you know when they might need a service, check, or to be replaced completely.

Boost productivity

Workers can’t do their job well if they don’t have the right tools. If they do have everything to hand, they can work efficiently and be more productive. Providing full socket sets for the mechanics on your team, for example, means that they are more likely to be able to easily replace tyres, getting through more jobs than if they had limited resources.

Maintain your reputation

The wrong tools or missing parts can also be time consuming and, in the worst cases, detrimental. For instance, if you run a handyman company and you and your team are working on a big project, the customer isn’t likely to be happy if their bannister can’t be completed due to a lack of good-quality handheld tools. This can impact on your business and your reputation.

Whether you’re just starting up or you’ve been established for a long time, take the time to assess what tools are required. Do any need replacing? What machinery would benefit the business? This will be time well spent.

Choosing the Best Managed IT Services for Your Business

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Choosing the Best Managed IT Services for Your BusinessNavigating information technology has become an inescapable part of every modern business, whether it is the size of an industry titan in Silicon Valley, an unassuming mom and pop shop, or anything in between. Some type of IT support is necessary, and if your business doesn’t have the luxury of on-site, tech-savvy support, you may have to outsource for managed IT services.

With a dense saturation of providers to choose from, here are the most important things to consider when seeking managed IT support for your business.

Do They Provide Sufficient Security?

Technologically oriented crime has increased at a staggering rate. Reports of industry giants suffering breaches show up frequently. To keep from being

impacted, you need to consider the standard of security your type of business requires both for your company’s safety and for your clients, vendors, and anyone else whose data you collect.

Can the provider be trusted with your company’s sensitive financial and personal information? Will they effectively encrypt your company’s network to ensure effective activity privacy and monitoring? Do they have a history of failing their customers in terms of data leaks, or are they vigilant in maintaining your protection?

Once you have found a provider that sufficiently meets these criteria, you’re one step closer to having quality managed IT support.

Are They Timely?

Tech emergencies can happen in an instant, and they can create havoc on your production and your systems quickly. In those moments, your company needs an IT service that can resolve the issue in a prompt and efficient manner.

When evaluating companies, ask yourself: Are they available at all hours of the day, every day of the year? If your services may be rendered at any given moment, so too should theirs. No company is immune from technological issues, hiccups, or potential digital attacks. Relying on the expertise of IT technicians whose services are available to you the moment you report an issue is of the utmost importance.

Although there is never a good time for a system glitch, technology often fails the people who use it at the most inopportune moments. Having an IT support team on standby who can resolve issues efficiently is key to maintaining a smooth business practice.

Are They Competent?

Pick the very best of the best that you can afford as a business proprietor. The experts on whom you depend should be exactly that: experts.

The distinction between an amateur who treats your network like a test lab and a storied professional with a distinguished background in providing service to multiple clients seems obvious. However, if you are in the market for an IT provider, take the extra time to weed out the average from the elite. Your business may have oddly specific needs or a wide range of general needs, and it is essential that whomever you outsource your technological dilemmas to is thoroughly equipped and licensed to address these problems.

Do They Meet Your Standards?

You wouldn’t risk providing subpar or thoughtless work to the clients who have employed your services. Therefore, you shouldn’t settle for anything provided by a managed IT support team that wouldn’t meet your highest expectations. Your company deserves tech support that upholds the same standards that you do.

Once you have answered these questions, evaluated the options, and taken the time to vet a reliable provider, your business can grow without your time and attention being divided. You have a secure, efficient, and competent network of experts, and you may now tend to the vital needs of your business without fear of a crash or breach.

Three Ways Property Owners Entice and Retain First-Rate Tenants

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Three Ways Property Owners Entice and Retain First-Rate TenantsHave you ever rented to a tenant who refuses to pay rent on time, adhere to rental agreements, or get along with other property residents? If so, then you understand the value of a high-quality resident.  Whether you are trying to attract a reliable, considerate tenant with a stable income or are simply trying to keep one, these three techniques will increase your chances of finding a first-rate, long-term tenant.

1. Implement an Effective Tenant Selection Process

Quality residents are easier to find if you have a detailed screening procedure. Do not allow your need for a renter to prevent you from checking an applicant’s income, references, criminal history, previous eviction history and credit rating. Having the potential applicant provide references from previous landlords and employers will give you another opportunity to identify any red flags before generating a lease agreement.

2. Keep Your Property Well Maintained

Regular cleaning, painting, and appliance replacement will make your property look like a nice place to live. Property investment gurus like Paul Daneshrad understand that you must treat your properties as assets. Therefore, a landlord must keep their rental property impeccably maintained if they wish to entice good tenants to stay. Renters who make regular payments enable you to make repairs, comply with building code requirements, pay utilities and taxes, and supply other services to residents. You do not want to tick them off a tenant by not promptly responding when they inform you that something is broken. Keeping up with maintenance schedules and maintaining your property will reduce the likelihood of things breaking.

3. Use Effective Communication Strategies

Approachable, frequent, and clear landlord-tenant communication will help you build positive relationships. It is especially considerate for you to show flexibility in how you communicate with tenants, as some people prefer emails, texts or phone calls. Make yourself available in person and through all three of these communication modes. High-quality residents will want to stay long-term if you are easy to reach in the event of an emergency. Providing your tenant with a 24/7 contact goes a long way to building a trusting, professional relationship that will last.

Reliable and responsible tenants are hard to find, and not keeping them long-term can make your property management experience difficult. If you are choosy in your selection process, impeccably maintain your property, and practice frequent and clear communication, you are more likely to attract a trustworthy resident.

How to Improve Internet Speed in Your Office

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Internet Speed|How to improve internet speed in your officeOf the recent technological advancement we’ve adapted to, fiber optic broadband and Wi-Fi remain universally beneficial and high in demand. Internet connectivity can become slow and unreliable, causing delays in meeting deadlines and business loss. If you have been a victim of slow internet speeds that have caused massive losses from lost time and missed opportunities, consider improving your Wi-Fi speeds and trying these procedures.

Set up additional Wi-Fi

As business partners, potential customers, and random visitors visit your office for meetings and presentations; they will expect to access your internet. Activities that include document retrieval from emails, zoom meetings with virtual employees, or response to emails require reliable internet connectivity for your business operations to run smoothly.

Since issuing company network passwords to strangers may cause a security breach, consider obtaining a visitor’s Wi-Fi connectivity instead. Keeping your company network private will save you the pain of enduring ransomware attacks on your system that can cost you a lot of money to resolve.

Additionally, with a visitor’s Wi-Fi in place, you can always control the number of bandwidth visitors consume while in your office. Ensuring visitors don’t disrupt formal business operations by streaming videos that take long to download.

Secure your signal

Suppose your Wi-Fi connectivity is open and free for everyone to access. In that case, you are not only overloading your bandwidth but exposing your company to cyber-security threats that may lead to ransomware attacks.

Secure your network by setting a complex password and not easy to guess. If you have a set password that has been in use for a long time, consider changing it from time to time. Complex passwords may be cumbersome to type in your devices, but the momentary inconvenience is worth it to preserve your data and keep it secure.

As long as your old passwords remain intact, former employees, business partners, or random visitors can have access unless you secure it afresh. Though it may appear harmless, it is better to avoid any unforeseen risks.

Delete applications that slow-down bandwidth

Since your bandwidth is mainly limited, overloading it will cause slow internet speeds and an overall productivity reduction. To mitigate this, restrict applications that consume large amounts of bandwidth and delete others immediately after using them. Dissuade employees from streaming HD videos at work and regulate the internet for personal use to prevent slow speeds.

It would be prudent for you to know how much bandwidth your office requires to pick a plan that aligns with the workload. Furthermore, consider accounting for future business growth when selecting your bandwidth to cater for expansion and growth requirements.

Position your router correctly

Most entrepreneurs place their router on shelves where they are out of sight, stashed together with big office files and other office merchandise, to ensure the office appears tidy. Doing so blocks the router from receiving signals, but nearby technology can also cause interference.

Unfortunately, this is a big mistake and the worst place to position your router—experiment by looking for a strategic position with the most transparent signal and accessible to more employees.

Try placing the router close to where internet connectivity is required the most, such as near boardrooms. You can also try positioning it closer to the top to access better coverage. While many find it convenient to place it on the low surface, it may obstruct office furniture or people present in the room. Positioning it on high surfaces ensures less interference is very beneficial for signal access.

Boost your signal

Alleviate signal barriers by investing in a signal booster that weakens router signals by strategically positioning them. Proper placement of the booster will ensure the signal is transmitted and received to the entire office where the router is unable to reach.

Change the channel

When multiple routers have access to a single channel, it may cause overcrowding leading to internet interruption. Channels that have no congestion work better and therefore strive to examine and utilize them for better output and productivity.

Upgrade your router technology

If, after trying simple tricks like repositioning your router, boosting your signal, and changing the channel don’t seem to work, it may be time for a new and faster router to improve performance. Many new devices support multiple inputs and outputs and have additional capabilities to enhance productivity.

If you invest in a new router, make sure to invest in a better and faster computer to complement each other, save you time, and help meet set targets. Financial constraints shouldn’t be a deterrent in upgrading. A new router is beneficial to handle current technology as you prepare to upgrade the rest of your office.

Prioritize regular updates of both hardware and software, which will eventually reflect higher profits and a satisfactory customer experience.

Frequently inspect your devices for viruses.

A virus invasion can cause havoc on your computer sweeping away essential documents and bringing office operations to a screeching halt. Viruses such as spyware can operate in the background consuming large portions of your internet connectivity, significantly slowing down speed and efficiency.

Plug computers directly into the modem

For your Wi-Fi to maintain high speeds, consider plugging devices directly into the internet. For instance, using an Ethernet connection is more beneficial than a wired connection. To get maximum benefits and maintain faster speeds, consider upgrading your Ethernet cable as well.

Additionally, transferring files between computers with Ethernet connectivity is faster and better than using a Wi-Fi connection.

Distance from access points

If your location is very far from the router or access point is an apparent cause of slow internet speed. To solve this, move closer to the router, and if the router is located in a separate room, try working from that room and see if it fixes your challenge. Additionally, try moving the router to a different position that is higher where network obstruction is minimal or a central location where everyone will be able to access the internet without issues.