Is Your Business Efficient? 5 Quick Tips for Success
Is your courier company bringing in good business, but the profits are being eaten up because it’s not an efficient, smooth running machine? Are you biting off more than you can chew, losing out on increased business because you’re disorganized?
Efficiency will help set your business apart from the competition, thereby securing new customers while satisfying and maintaining your repeat ones. It is therefore essential, in order to gain a competitive edge, to take as much control as possible over all aspects of your courier business.
This is not the old-school thinking of doing some “cutbacks” and hope that it helps. So here’s five ways you can improve the efficiency of your business, without unnecessary loss.
Tip # 1: Reviewing the Situation
Once you have grown your business to where delegating most of the day-to-day operations is in place, you should have the time available to fulfill one of the most valuable roles of a chief executive: constantly reviewing business efficiency.
This means questioning areas of the business for potential improvements. A few examples: could you save money by moving elsewhere, and what would be the impact to your overall business? What IT and communications systems do you have in place, and how could these be consolidated into a single supplier for a better deal? Can your staff be utilized more effectively?
Tip # 2: No Train, No Gain
Good training can contribute to making your employees more highly-skilled and therefore more efficient. See if you can implement internal training, given by employees to other employees. It can cost you very little – allowing you to focus what budget you have for more advanced training for the overall skill-set of your company.
Tip # 3: Improve Motivation
A well-motivated employee is one that is more likely to work efficiently and effectively. Empower employees and allow them to take more responsibility for their work. And if you can afford it, the right kind of bonus is a great reward.
Tip # 4: Rethink Travel
Travel is often a big part of business expenditure, especially for a sales-focused company. But with technologies like phone and Web conferencing you can cut out unnecessary travel with minimal expenditure, saving your travel budget for when a face-to-face meeting is vital.
And there’s an additional benefit to using conferencing instead of travel: you will be cutting your carbon emissions, meaning that you get the business benefits of “going green” while saving yourself money.
Tip # 5: Utilize Technology
As with many things these days, one answer to your business needs can be found in the utilization of appropriate technology; you need the right courier software for your specific needs. Research software providers who have complete SaaS systems, so when your business grows, they can keep up and still manage it. Take the time to shop around for the one that’s the best fit for your company.
Important Things to Look for Include:
Reliability, Ease of Use, Accuracy, 21st Century Technology, Browser-Based, Affordability, Flexibility, Scalability, A1 Tech Support and Great Customer Service.
* * *
About the Author: Julie Wagner is the Marketing Director for “Where Is My Package?”, a Los Angeles based courier software company, and is a regular contributor to The WIMP Dispatch.
Not logged in