Don’t live in the dark ages!
Working with technology in your business is one of the smartest decisions you can make - as long as you’re using the right tool for the job, and you’re using it to create efficiencies... and not headaches.
Two common problems I see when working with businesses are:
That the system they’ve integrated into their business is not being used to its full potential
Being reluctant to use systems because of their costs
The irony of both of these problems is that the efficiencies which are there to be created with purpose-built systems will save you time, money and anxiety! I know this because I embrace technological solutions and make them work for me. Not the other way around.
Across my business needs, I have a few favourites.
Xero is my favourite for accounting. I have used Banklink and MYOB and Wave, but you just can’t beat Xero. It has a decent range of functionality, the invoicing reminders are really fantastic, it’s so intuitive and it feels fresh and easy to use.
It integrates with some of my other favourites too:
Workflow Max – fantastic job scheduling, quoting etc. this is one example of maximum efficiency when you utilise the setup well. And it makes complicated invoicing really quick.
Unleashed – this is complex software designed for real time inventory management, and I love it. If you have a large range of stock, this can do almost anything and the reports on what is selling and how long its been sitting on your shelf are so valuable.
These freebies are great too:
Genius scan
Drivers note
Xero Expenses
Hootsuite
Trello
I completely understand that choosing the right software for your business is not always an easy decision. It depends on your industry, your peers, and perhaps even your accountant!
My advice would be to work out your pain points and order them according to levels of importance. For example,
“How long does it take to pay people and raise invoices?”
“What did we do with all our time last week?”
“I don’t know what stock I have out the back.”
“It takes me so long to…”
“I hate doing…”
Chances are your pain points have been felt by many before you and there’s bound to be a solution to ease your frustration. My personal recommendation would be to ensure the tools you use sync to your accounting software.
It’s also a good idea to think ahead. If you know where you want to go, start there. It’s much tougher to change something half way through than to start how you plan to go on. For example, if you are just starting out, but you want a team of 5 people by a certain date, you might actually get there faster if you have the right digital infrastructure in place from the beginning. Then you wont get held up when you need to change systems. That too costs money and can be incredibly frustrating!
You also might like to make your selection based on others’ feedback and recommendations. Having like-minded people around you using the same tools will be a great way to reduce time spent on phone calls to helplines.
A general rule of thumb is, if it’s popular, it must work!
Good technological solutions that are implemented at the right time and used effectively will make your life easier, there’s no doubt about that.
Most industries’ expenses are increasing, but the prices we can charge for things don’t see the same rate of change. So the best way to keep improving and growing your margins (or stopping the decrease) is to create efficiencies with technology. The more you can do in a shorter space of time (accurately) the better.
Of course, there is a tipping point - and it depends on what your business offering is - but most businesses can’t do without technology in some way. If you sell anything, most people will look for you online, and this alone increases your reach for customers without needing to expand your rent and other overheads.
Aside from the obvious benefits of having a digitally-savvy business, there are added benefits such as having information in real-time and being able to communicate to your customers, too. Utilising the systems and processes which have been designed and developed for businesses just like yours. It’s partly about working smarter with less manual work, it’s partly about being environmentally mindful with fewer paper trails, and it’s partly about feeling on top of what can sometimes seem like a mountain of business.
Lisa-Jean Foote
June 3, 2019
