Boost The Efficiency Of Your Business

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If you’re just starting up a business, it’s vital that you know how to run it as efficiently as possible, you can’t afford to waste even a penny on a poor investment. Knowing what you can do to make sure you’re getting the most sales and income while spending the least amount of money without sacrificing customer and employee satisfaction is key to growing efficiently!

Outsourcing

If you’re looking to take on more work so you can grow, you might find yourself struggling with the idea of all the new workload. Not only would you likely have to hire more employees, but you may even need to invest in new or more equipment; which isn’t always the best course of action! You may find that outsourcing your work to another business is the more cost-efficient way to go about things, and it can be almost anything. If you need deliveries handled, there are services that offer that, if you need chemical testing, there are services for that too! You don’t need to handle the work that’s out of your comfort zone, and it can be passed on to someone who’s already equipped and trained to do it!

Customer relations

The better reputation that you manage to build with your customers, the faster you’re going to be able to gain new ones! Your business can grow from word-of-mouth, and giving your customers something to talk about is a great way to encourage that! Being known as a business with great customer service can take you a long way! There are a number of ways you can nurture and encourage this, but mainly you need to focus on customer service for it to be effective. Encourage your customers to leave feedback after they’ve shopped with you, open up a way for people to publicly view reviews of your business, accept and use feedback from customers to grow in the future!

When buying online, a lot of people will use the reviews to determine whether you’re a reliable business or not, so it’s best you do what you can to make sure those reviews aren’t negative or a deterrent for potential customers!

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Boost The Efficiency Of Your BusinessMeetings

If you have a busy workday, the last thing you want is to be constantly interrupted with different problems, it can really slow down your work process. You can deal with this by holding meetings at the start and ends of the day so people can bring up problems there, meaning your work won’t be interrupted during the day. Not only this, but it allows you to make plans for the next day, and it can be handled effectively without getting in the way of anything.

Management

Proper management is essential if you have many people working in the same place, as it can be difficult to get your work done when you have to make sure everyone else is on track too. Always make sure you have enough management to make sure everyone gets their work done properly, without miscommunication.

Overcoming Challenges within your Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Business Challenges|Overcoming Challenges within your BusinessRunning your own business can be tough and challenging at the best of times. There are always obstacles and hurdles in your way. How you deal with problems and how you overcome challenges says a lot about your personality and about your leadership style. Tackling problems as soon as they happen and working out solutions is just what good business owners and leaders do. Here’s what to do to make sure you’re overcoming challenges effectively.

Facing problems head-on

Whether you run a bricks and mortar based business or an online-based business, you will have daily challenges and problems to overcome. These could be smaller problems like running out of office stationery, or they could be bigger problems such as sourcing last minute suppliers’ or making sure pallet rack protection is in place for your next delivery to ensure no goods get damaged when in transit. Whatever the problem, how you deal with it and overcome it will determine how successful you are within other areas of your business.

Seeing issues or problems through to completion is what needs to be done. Don’t be afraid to compromise to get the best solution for your business, but at the same time, don’t become a pushover – you will struggle to regain authority and respect.

Delegate and seek assistance

This may be easier said than done, especially if you have run the business from day zero, but remember that as an entrepreneur or small business owner, nobody is expecting you to do everything. To succeed in business, you need to know when to delegate jobs and responsibilities to others. Trying to do too much all the time will lead to burnout, which is no good for you or your business. Never shy away from seeking assistance or help from friends, family, and possibly even freelancers.

Evaluate and learn from your actions

To move forward within your business and to push it to the dizzying heights of success that you deserve, you need to regularly evaluate your business and yourself. Take some time out to focus on what you have achieved since you started out, and ultimately, where you want to finish up. It is important not to be too harsh on yourself but to simply see where and how you could have done things differently in certain situations or scenarios. It is beneficial to utilise business consultants when evaluating where you are wanting to take your business next and deciding which direction to go in.

Consultants have a wealth of experience and can provide you with an in-depth growth and development plan which you can implement within your business and start working on as soon as possible.

There will always be challenges to overcome within a business, this is part of the fun which you thrive on and live for. Make use of networking both online and offline to meet like-minded business owners and entrepreneurs. When you are facing difficulties or facing other small business challenges, the people you met through networking will be your business support network, which you can rely on to help you continue picking things up and moving forwards.

It’s Time for Your Company to Switch to VoIP

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |VoIP|Why Your Business Should Invest in VoIPVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is one of today’s most popular communication methods. Similar to a traditional phone line, it allows voice communication but uses the internet instead of phone lines. Due to its simple and convenient features, many businesses in different industries have successfully adopted this technology.

If you’re still using landline phones for your business, it’s time to seek a Fanvil reseller and make the switch to VoIP.

Consider the following reasons.

More Affordable Software and Hardware

If you’re having doubts about using VoIP because you’re concerned that the software and hardware will cost you a fortune, don’t worry. A majority of VoIP systems require little to no installation. Most of them can also function or integrate well with your existing equipment.

In terms of hardware, businesses that use VoIP through a computer require sound cards, which most computers already have. You’ll also need a speaker and microphone or headset. Other service providers may also require the use of VoIP phones. These phones are not too costly and in some cases, the VoIP providers charge phone use for a nominal monthly fee only.

More Affordable Communication Costs

Using VoIP services enable users to communicate for free or at lower call rates compared to traditional phone lines, as long as you are connected to the internet. Other service providers let you use your existing Internet-connected phones to enjoy unlimited calls for lower prices compared to the per-minute charges of telephone companies.

VoIP service providers offer different packages to choose from, many of which may suit your business’s size, budget and future goals.

Mobility

With a VoIP phone system, you can place and receive calls wherever you are – as long as you have a strong Internet connection. This means you and your team can work remotely, which is a great benefit in the world’s current situation (aka COVID-19 pandemic). Also, remote working is beneficial should your business be disrupted because of natural disasters or power loss. Your staff can still work from anywhere, as long as they have an Internet connection.

More Features Than Traditional Systems

Apart from supporting multiple calls simultaneously, many features come with using VoIP. These features may differ from one service to another, but most of the common features include the following:

  • Call forwarding
  • Caller ID
  • Voicemail
  • Fax
  • Call blocking
  • Call forwarding
  • Last number redial
  • 441 directory

Many VoIP systems also come with advanced features, which include return call, call transfer, SMS, area code selection and speed dialing. These features are often included in VoIP subscriptions, which keep the add-on costs low.

Increased Data Security

Telecommunications scams have been increasing in numbers over the years, costing businesses over $32.7 billion annually. This is where VoIP proves to be helpful. These systems can protect your data against hackers. Also, online VoIP service providers protect data using information security technologies, such as encryption and identity management.

One of the best things about VoIP is you need not perform DIY security audits. VoIP service providers monitor your network security and notify you in case of a breach.

Advanced Call Analytics Options

Call recording is one of the most significant call analytics features VoIP offers. First, it allows HR teams and managers to replay the conversation and assess their call center agents’ performance. It also helps customer support teams analyze their interactions with customers, as well as help them improve their calls in the future.

Marketing teams can also benefit from phone call analysis. With VoIP, they can calculate customer experience scores and customer sentiment, which help marketers determine the most loyal customers and reward them.

Personalized Customer Support

Today, customer experiences matter just as much as the quality and price of the products and services. When interacting with businesses, customers expect them to provide highly personalized customer services – a job VoIP simplifies.

First, VoIP makes customer interactions more enjoyable. Smart case routing connects your customers to the right team members, ensuring customers receive feedback without having to be on hold for long.

Second, VoIP easily integrates with CRM software. The software captures consumer data across different channels they use (e.g. website, social media, email and phone calls) and stores it in one platform. This helps you map out your entire buyer journey, which helps create detailed customer profiles.

The Bottom Line

VoIP services reward organizations in many ways, from creating mobile-enabled environments and boosting employee collaboration to reducing organizational costs and personalizing customer experiences. There may be no one-size-fits-all solution for your business so you’ll need to set clear goals and choose a VoIP provider that aligns with your needs.
Dispose of your old technologies and make the switch to VoIP.

Five Ways To Increase Productivity During Business Expansion

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Increase Productivity|Five Ways To Increase Productivity During Business ExpansionEvery business aims to achieve and surpass its annual goals. The growth and expansion measure achievement of goals in entrepreneurship. It is a challenging task to steer your company through a new business opportunity. It would be best to focus on the new business and its seamless union with the existing activities. It requires a lot of patience and decision making, which is a crucial factor in business.

You also need the right support system to manage the growing and demanding needs of the company.

Re-strategize

When your business expands, you need to change your strategies to align with your new position. It is impossible to use the same resources for the expanded business. You need to analyze and budget afresh according to the new company needs.
The higher the standards, the higher the responsibility. It is essential that you first work on the additional infrastructure that the business will need. It will ensure that It will secure the business’ stable foundation. The infrastructure will ensure that new contracts or products are handled well.

You also need to modify your budget to include the new additions. It ensures that you will be ready if any extra costs will be needed. It would help if you channelled your finances to your highest prioritized department. Make sure your team is in sync with what you expect of them.

Outsource

As the business grows, the company’s needs increase to satisfy the company’s current needs. The company requires to upgrade and increase its resources to match their current needs. It is sometimes difficult for the growing company to adequately take care of the various departments. Thus, the need to outsource some of its functions like the HR and the IT departments.

Each company must take care of the employees’ welfare. With a big task force in place, it can swamp the HR department in handling all employees’ matters. Hence, the need for outsourcing some of the services. It will save.

You can get a peo company that will take over the HR department and work. It will be responsible for recruiting, maintaining the relieving of the employees. They will deal with any arising issue within the employees. This move will relieve you of the HR department and allow you to concentrate on other company needs.

By outsourcing IT services, you will be assured of quality services. The outsourced company will ensure that you are always digitally protected without extensive worry or hustle. Ensure that you carry out your research in choosing the outsourced companies. Be sure of the quality of services that they offer.

Constant Review

You must keep analyzing the new business’s performance to ensure that you are on the right track. Remember, to analyze the risk factor compared to the benefit of the new business to evaluate its performance and expectation.

Make sure you regularly hold meetings to get reports on how the business is fairing on. The reports will give you an accurate breakdown of the pros and cons of the business. You will know where to improve or make changes for better results.

Advanced Equipment and Tools

You will need additional equipment to meet the increased productivity needs of the company. It would help if you either chose to upgrade or add the tools according to the expected productivity rate. The productivity rate will be determined by the type of business deal that has been acquired. The deal might involve additional quantity, quality or tasks that will affect the production differently.

The cost of the purchase of the new equipment will also influence the time frame of its acquisition. You must quickly and efficiently set up the new department. The finances and decisions to be made will also influence the time taken to merge the businesses.

Data Security and Safety

As your business grows, it is important to secure your data and information. Data security is a vital facet of any business. It would be best if you employed the right techniques to combat any technological threat. There has been an increase in cybercrimes due to the advancements of technology globally. Hackers have devised new ways to hack into the systems.

Any loophole that is left by a network entity can be the weak point in the network. It is important to strengthen the protection against cybercrime. It would help if you also sensitized your employees on the importance of keeping your data safe and secure. Urge your IT department to take stringent measures and continuously update and review their protection methods.

Business growth is the joy of any entrepreneur. However, its responsibilities will overwhelm you if you do not follow the correct procedures. Take each task step by step and work diligently towards greater profits.

How To Streamline Your Law Firm & Achieve Peak Performance

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | How To Streamline Your Law Firm & Achieve Peak PerformanceLaw firms can be fast paced, incredibly challenging places to work and can also be chaotic.

There are a lot of moving parts in a law firm. High volumes of files are constantly floating around, there are many clients that need to be attended to, court dates and legal proceedings are time consuming and at some point the business needs to be managed including financial and marketing management. Needless to say, law firms take a lot of effort to manage them effectively.

A periodic review of ways to streamline your law firm operations can lead to a significant reduction in the chaos. Below you will find a few tips to help get you started.

Utilize Technology

Technology is a huge factor in almost every industry across the globe.

The benefits of heavily utilizing technology cannot be understated for law firms. Well known law firms are frequently the targets of malicious hackers, so the latest state-of-the-art technology is no longer optional, but essential. Effective cybersecurity can safeguard sensitive client data, and make sure that the legal process is never compromised at your firm.

Additionally, cloud storage means all the dreaded paperwork that can litter a law firm never gets misplaced, damaged, lost, or stolen. Ultimately, technology helps make the work less manual. Everything is moving online into shared spaces for easier access yet shielded by encrypted servers and other password locked cyberspaces.

Utilizing software that makes case management more efficient keeps your staff smaller and costs lower. It helps your team focus on the important legal work and not be bogged down in monotonous legal administration.

Consult or Outsource to Expert Marketers

Technology and efficient internal operations also play a crucial role in marketing your law firm.

Marketing can get overwhelming, particularly if your law firm is not well-versed in digital marketing strategies. You can take your broad ideas and filter them through some expert consultants for well-polished results. You guarantee that your online advertising will not distract your internal team and will be the most effective by outsourcing your marketing.

For example, Legal Back Office provides highly regarded law firm management consultancy in marketing, accounting and with key law firm operational areas like intake, billing and case management processes. They can partner with you to define your marketing needs, generating new cases and helping you to make your brand identity as impactful as possible. Legal Back Office is in it for the long haul, drafting technical and strategic solutions for you as long as you need them. They offer a variety of services beyond marketing, making them a key business partner for your law firm.

Limit/Eliminate Time Wasting Practices

Perhaps more than any other business, those dealing in law face constant factors that drain their use of time such as holding too many internal meetings, being dependent on paper client files and having outdated processes requiring more steps than are necessary.

A high volume of and poorly run meetings are a consistent culprit in filling your time. Business Insider notes that people should avoid eliminating them entirely and instead make them more productive. Facilitate meaningful discussions and ensure everyone has the time to raise important issues. Communication in a law firm is vital, but only when every word spoken truly counts for something in a dedicated context. Make your meetings internally count so the real focus can be on case work and meetings with clients.

If your law firm is still overly dependent on a physical client file, this is an area of “low hanging fruit” that when transitioned to a digital process will save your lawyers and staff a significant amount of time. Intake process can also be overly burdened by steps that truly are required to get a client retained by your law firm.

If you feel like your firm could use some tune ups in your processes, working with a law firm consultant like Legal Back Office can help you identify where time is being wasted, develop recommendations for change and even implement those changes. When you are focused on doing client work, attending to business best practices always falls to the bottom of the priority list. Working with Legal Back Office to implement efficiency changes can ensure that you will maximize the results you are able to achieve and to reach peak performance metrics for your firm.