Posts

A Managed Technology Service Can Help Your Business Succeed

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | A Managed Technology Service Can Help Your Business SucceedWhen it comes to helping a business succeed, there are a lot of factors to consider. One of those factors is the way technology is used. If there’s too much of it, it can actually get in the way of a good customer experience or relationship due to the impersonal nature of all of it. But if there’s not enough, it can be very difficult to accomplish what needs to be done or even keep up with competitors. Clearly, it’s a balance that’s important and has to be addressed. Here are some things to consider when choosing the technological options that are right for your company.

Not Everything Needs to be Stored On-Site

For many companies, storage for customer data and other information can quickly become overwhelming. But making good use of the IT cloud can change the game. That allows your company to store much of its information somewhere else, so it doesn’t end up with servers that are slow and bogged down, glitches, lost data, and other problems. Too much of a load on your current systems isn’t good for your company or its clients. The IT cloud gives you choices, because you can put all the info in the cloud or choose what’s stored that way and what stays in-house.

Some companies worry about data breaches and related kinds of problems, but there is good protection in most of the larger cloud services — and many of the smaller solutions, as well. While it’s still possible that someone could get into the company’s information, that’s just as much of a risk when keeping the data on your own servers. In some cases it might be even more of a risk, because not all companies have the right kind of security or the level of encryption that a cloud-based IT solution can offer. With the cloud, a business can also get services that are managed and monitored, so they have less to worry about where data is concerned.

Managed solutions Can Make Data Storage Easier and Safer

Among the ways to add security to your company’s data storage is through a managed IT service that can collect, store, and monitor access to information. With managed services, a company can focus on the other aspects of operating the business and worry less about IT issues or whether customer data will be available when it’s really needed. Additionally, it’s easier to control access to information and reduce the chances of large blocks of information being accidentally deleted, lost, or mislabeled.

Companies can control what they want to see handled by their managed IT service, and that makes it easier for those companies to have peace of mind and a strong plan for the future. If a company isn’t sure what services they really need or how to handle those options, they can also work with their provider to get the information they need to make the right choices. Not only does that help protect the company’s customers, but it’s also better at ensuring employees have access to what they need, as well.

5 Reasons to Optimize Your Business Processes

/in /by

StrategyDriven Process Management Article | 5 Reasons to Optimize Your Business ProcessesMany of the processes that help a business thrive and stay afloat may seem mundane. However, no matter how mundane some processes may seem, they can ultimately be the reason for declining gains and unsatisfactory outcomes. The optimization of business processes, no matter how mundane they may seem, is crucial for business success, competitiveness, and longevity. To ensure all three, businesses should seek ways to optimize their processes. Here are some additional reasons why every business should do this.

Improved Efficiency

Optimizing your business processes can improve its efficiency. Many businesses still use inefficient systems that slow down their employees and lead to the wastage of a lot of time and money. This can reduce a business’s ability to remain viable in addition to adding a lot of stress to employees. Employee satisfaction and performance can suffer which can lead to the business as a whole suffering.

Automation, one of the most common ways of optimizing business operations, can help business operations flow better, reduce undue stress on employees, and help the business operate more efficiently. The use of software can also reduce one of the most common bottlenecks for businesses, data entry. Business process optimization solutions from TrinityIS.com increase efficiency by reducing the burden of data entry, leaving employees to concentrate on other areas that help a business meet its objectives.

Adaptability

Optimized business processes give businesses the ability to adapt quickly to changing environments and setbacks and take advantage of new opportunities quickly. By helping a business do all this, process optimization can help a business stay ahead of its competition. Having this flexibility and adaptability is especially important right now considering how rapidly the world and the overall business environment are changing.

Higher Quality Results

A major goal of business process optimization is improving the quality of results produced by employees. That may take different forms depending on the business. Common examples include streamlining the fulfillment process to improve customer satisfaction or reducing human errors in manufacturing processes. By making improvements, businesses can deliver high-quality results which can help improve the business’s reputation, retain current customers, and gain new ones.

Regulation Compliance

The regulations businesses have to abide by are always changing and failure to comply can be detrimental to a business. The process of optimization can include helping a business comply with these regulations.

It Helps Track Employee Performance

Optimized and automated business processes make it easier to track employee performance. The tools used to make this possible enable upper management to hold employees accountable as well as find other areas where inefficiencies exist. This way, employees can be urged to improve their performance and inefficiencies can be eliminated to further improve the business’s operations.

The process of optimizing business optimizations is a long one, which is always evolving, and never really ends. Although it can be costly, businesses that seek to continually check, optimize and improve their processes stand to benefit a lot. This can be through better and higher output, improved employee and customer satisfaction as well as savings in terms of both time and money.

Operations Management: What You Need to Know in 2021

/in /by

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Operations Management: What You Need to Know in 2021Operations managers have a tough and challenging role, particularly in 2021. As we move towards a ‘new normal’, businesses are facing unexpected obstacles. As a result, innovation and ingenuity is more important than ever before. If you’re working in operations management, or you aspire to become an operations supervisor, take a look at some of the challenges you’ll be facing in 2021:

1. Supply Chain Uncertainty

There’s no doubt that supply chains were significantly impacted by COVID-19. Although firms were quick to respond to the upheaval, many companies remain concerned about the vulnerability of lengthy supply chains. However, the competing demands of globalization mean that long supply chains are often essential or advantageous.

Operations managers and supply chain managers can overcome this particular challenge by partnering with leading logistics firms. Choosing a logistics provider who can offer a wide range of transportation, such as HLOGCAM, ensures a variety of supply routes can be accessed at short notice. In addition to this, using more than one mode of transportation enables companies to have greater control over the speed at which their goods and shipments are moved from one location to another.

2. Cost Cutting

The on-going impact of the coronavirus pandemic means that millions of companies are slashing their budgets. After a year of disrupted cash flow and trading restrictions, it’s not surprising that firms are being forced to rethink their expenditure. While reducing costs and maintaining productivity has always been a key objective for businesses, it’s fast becoming a critical aspect of their long-term survival.

Within operations management, personnel are going to be under pressure to maintain or increase productivity while minimizing inputs. To achieve this, there is likely to be an increased focus on automation. By introducing new automated processes, for example, managers can maintain their operations with a reduced staff. In addition to this, automation can positively impact efficiency, which, in turn, will optimize productivity without substantially increasing costs.

3. Increased Sustainability

Although most companies will face financial and practical challenges throughout the year, environmental concerns will still be highly relevant in 2021. Indeed, the reduced emissions and carbon footprints seen at the height of the pandemic, when entire sectors were brought to a standstill, have highlighted the environmental impact that industry has.

As a result, there is public and governmental pressure on businesses to reduce emissions further. In order to achieve this, operations managers will need to ensure sustainability is a key issue during every decision-making process. By weighing the environmental effects against the financial impact of a new process, for example, operations managers can find solutions that meet a company’s needs without increasing the firm’s carbon footprint.

Building a Career in Operations Management

As you can see, operations management is an exciting area to be involved in. For current and future professionals, the competing priorities, emergence of new tech and practical demands ensure that a career in operations management will continue to be challenging, thought-provoking and, ultimately, highly rewarding.

Services You Need To Protect Your Commercial Property

/in /by

StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Commercial Properties|Services You Need To Protect Your Commercial PropertyLooking after your commercial property takes a lot of work. Many responsibilities require your attention, and the to-do list is forever expanding.

Though the pandemic has inspired an uptick in virtual work environments, this does not mean that commercial environments will be flushed down the toilet completely. There will always be a need for them in one form or another. If you are heading up a business that cannot do without a base of operations, then looking after said base should ever be high on your agenda.
Still, certain services can ease the pressure here somewhat. Here are the ones you need to best protect your commercial property.

Water Damage Restoration Services

Commercial properties can suffer significant water damage from plumbing-related malfunctions or turbulent weathers. Depending on your location in the United States, you may be more susceptible to floods and storms also.

Still, there is no problem here that companies like PuroClean cannot fix. Armed with a flurry of positive customer testimonials, many of these comments specific how quickly this firm perform their services in times of crisis. They also use the newest advancement technology systems to clean, disinfect, and dry all your property, eliminating moisture across the board. Not only this, but they specify in mold removal, biohazard cleanup, and fire damage restoration services also, making them highly diverse in their respective field.

It is always a good idea to have the number of such services on file in the event of an emergency. Water damage can be incredibly damaging, as its presence can rot your commercial property inside and out. When these types of problems start to arise, dealing with them in a timely manner is absolutely essential, getting your company back on track as soon as possible.

Pest Control Services

Pest control is an incredibly important aspect of maintaining a commercial property. You will need to be ahead of the game here, as the mere sighting of any unwelcome beats is enough to cripple your reputation in the eyes of customers and clients.

Unfortunately, depending on your location and line of work, sometimes the appearance pests might be inevitable here and there. For example, rodent sightings can increase exponentially as soon as restaurants shut down, and during the pandemic era, this is obviously unavoidable to some degree. Therefore, pest control services can just help keep a lid on things, whether you are working at the commercial property or temporarily closed.

Ensuring that the workplace is both clean and tidy is the first solution to your pest problems. Make sure all bins are secure, and never at risk of overflowing. Still, everything that follows after that can simply be down to luck. Use expert services, like pest control frisco, and any problems that do arrive will be handled immediately.

Security Services

To truly protect your commercial property, you need to ensure everything is in good order even when you are not around. This is where security factors into things, enabling you to oversee everything that takes place in your workplace.

Security services can provide a plethora of technologies and staff members to help things along here. For example, at your request they may be able to deploy security guards and guard dogs. CCTV systems, hi-tech sensors, and a myriad of other resources could also be designed and strategically installed for maximum efficiency. There is really nothing like it.

The highlight of these types of services though is that the security they provide runs round the clock. 24-hour measures against any potential threats or concerns can be highly beneficial, their presence alone a deterrent against most common criminals. In the end, with these services nothing goes unnoticed on your premises, and you simply cannot put a price on that fact.

How to ensure your international expansion is as smooth as possible

/in /by

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |International Expansion|How to ensure your international expansion is as smooth as possibleBusiness expansion is rarely easy but expanding internationally is something else entirely. Once you’ve reached a certain peak, however, there can be few places to go but up, out and across the sea. If you think your business has reached that domestic plateau and is ready to go international, there are a number of challenges you’ll first need to overcome.

Underestimating the cost

You’re going to want to assess your capital and ensure that everything is in its right place so it is as smooth a process as possible, but you also want to make sure it’s a process you can actually afford. In this case, external help from a corporate finance team who sort international expansion preparation on a frequent basis could be the best opportunity to reduce the chance of anything out of the ordinary occurring.

Language and cultural barriers

While expanding between countries like the US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia should be more straightforward, if you want to expand outside the English speaking world then you’re going to need somebody on your team that is at least bi-lingual. Because Google Translate can only get you so far. And that’s before you even get started on the cultural considerations. You need to examine and understand the culture of the country you are wanting to expand into and ensure that your business appreciates by the common cultural barriers that could implement and restrict your business.

Research the local competition

Just because you’re at the top of the food chain in your home country, that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t have strong competition from more established local players when expanding. Don’t just assume you’re going to touch down on foreign soil and have the same kind of power and influence you do at home. Be cautious, build working relationships with local businesses beforehand and arm yourself with as much local knowledge as possible.

Tax and compliance

Particularly in a post-Brexit world, tax, feed and tariffs can be a massive barrier for younger domestic businesses to overcome when trading overseas. For this, what you really need is somebody on your team who understands the specifics and complexities of local legal requirements in all of the countries you plan to deal in. It might just be a case of ticking the right box but the penalty for ticking the wrong box can be a pretty severe fine.

Hiring locally

Finally, while you might be tempted to “put your best people on it” and send them across to run your new global venture for you, it’s likely they will not be taken seriously by the locals. You’ll need a decent foundational team of locals from the get-go who understand how it works in their country. At least while you’re still learning the ropes. And international business expansion is always going to be a learning experience above all else.