Is Your Current Technology Supporting the Goals of Your Business?

Published on: June 12th, 2014

As a business owner, how often do you use the phrase “time is money?”

It’s certainly an accurate description of how we live and work today, yet this phrase should actually be attributed to Benjamin Franklin’s 1748 essay titled “Advice to a Young Tradesman.” Centuries have passed and this maxim is still true, although the young tradesman is now a small business owner empowered by the efficiencies of technology.

Does Your Technology Support the “Time is Money” Viewpoint?

Advances in technology have enabled small and local businesses to participate in the global marketplace by maximizing productivity; delivering enhanced communication capabilities; providing affordable e-marketing; and offering efficient customer service. It’s becoming increasingly common for small businesses to have user-friendly websites; online catalogs; call centers; customer relationship management tools (CRM); and streamlined inventory management systems. Technology is now primed to wring every ounce of efficiency and productivity out of a business to keep it one step ahead of the competition.

Do You Have an IT Strategy That Delivers Efficiency and Accountability?

When it comes to efficiency, how does your business really operate on a day-to-day basis? Do you have employees manually performing the same tasks over and over again? Are you still using accounting procedures that aren’t entirely efficient? Is someone still manually sending “welcome” e-mails to new clients? Can your staff access a shared calendar and project files? If you answered with a “not exactly” response to any of the above questions, then it’s time for your business to catch-up with technology by implementing some of these new IT strategies:

• Remote access is one of the greatest enhancements to increased productivity and efficiency. No more briefcases filled with papers or going into the office on the weekend. Employees have the flexibility to access information from home, on the go or on business travel. Working with clients and co-workers has never been easier with information stored on the cloud and available via remote access.
• Flexibility is another cornerstone of efficiency. Free up your financial resources and stay flexible by accessing technology solutions via the cloud. You no longer have to buy expensive software licenses, because you can simply pay for these technology solutions on an “as needed” basis through hosted solutions.
• Automate repetitive tasks through technology solutions that will save time and keep critical business information up to date. A few clicks can locate information in a database that can also connect you to clients; enable you to check on the status of current projects; review inventory counts; and check schedules. By improving some core tasks with enhanced efficiency, your business can save time and resources while becoming more competitive in the marketplace.
• Streamline your accounting and billing system today and forget about spending time with spreadsheets, deciphering handwritten documents and using a calculator. Wouldn’t you prefer to handle payroll, expense tracking, financial reports and taxes with an automated application? There is a wide array of accounting solutions with many offering industry specific versions. Updating your accounting process can save your business a considerable amount of time while also increasing efficiency.

Let Us Help You Focus on Your Business So You Can Stay Ahead of the Competition

One of the many benefits of increasing your business’ efficiency and productivity is that you will regain control of lost time. By recapturing this lost time, you will be able to focus on the actual goals of your business, not just day-to-day survival. As a business owner, if you were able to remove the frustrations of accounting inaccuracies, scheduling issues and inventory problems, what would you focus on? You would have the opportunity to develop new products and services. You could devote more time to effectively marketing your business to a wider audience. Don’t let your business get bogged down with today’s paperwork when you could be planning for the future.

Computer Troubleshooters can recommend and implement technology solutions that will streamline your business practices, so give us a call today. We want to help your business become more efficient, productive, and most importantly, more successful!