5 technologies set to have the biggest impact on businesses in 2022

5 technologies set to have the biggest impact on businesses in 2022

5 technologies set to have the biggest impact on businesses in 2022

September 28, 2022

Technologies set to have the biggest impact on businesses

It’s no secret that the business world is changing, and at a much faster pace than many people initially expected. The age of digital transformation has arrived, and many organizations are discovering new and improved ways to enhance their everyday processes with technology. Implementing the right hardware and software innovations into the business technology stack can have a direct impact on everything from productivity levels, to cost savings. What’s more, the right solutions ensure businesses from all industries can continue to compete against existing legacy brands and emerging start-ups. If you’re wondering which tools are most likely to have an impact on your business in the years to come, here are some of the top solutions to be aware of.

Fleet management tools

Fleet management software and solutions have always been a table-stakes investment for companies with their own vehicles to organize and manage. However, in recent years, the demand for intelligent, high-level tools in this arena has increased, influenced by new regulations, and a desire for businesses to cut costs on fuel and maintenance.

The most powerful fleet management systems today come with a host of advanced features to empower and inform business leaders. For instance, tachograph management technology allows companies to access live insights into the status of a driver, and provide instant technology analysis. This can lead to better compliance among field-based teams, enhanced fuel efficiency, and reduced costs for the entire fleet.

The cloud

The cloud is far from a new concept in the business landscape, but it is a great example of how to leverage software solutions and also an area that has been generating increasing investment in the last few years. The majority of companies have begun moving at least some of their operations into the cloud, as a way of accessing better business continuity, agility, and flexibility for their teams.

Today, the cloud can host everything from crucial business data to software for remote employees and communication tools. With the right ecosystem, companies can develop an all-in-one digital hub where staff members can access all the information and technology, they need to stay productive from anywhere. This is paving the way to a new age of remote and hybrid working, where employees can connect with their colleagues and business from any environment.

Extended reality

Extended reality or “XR” has quickly evolved from a sci-fi concept into something many business leaders are embracing on a massive scale. The term covers everything from augmented and mixed reality to virtual reality, for combining real and digital landscapes. Extended reality investments can have a huge range of benefits for different companies. For instance, manufacturing teams can use VR tools to help distributed employees around the world work together on building blueprints for a new product, without wasting time or resources.

At the same time, Augmented Reality (AR) apps can provide teams with instant access to information when they need it most, overlaid on top of the physical environment. For instance, an engineer could use an app to scan a system and see its internal components labeled through their smartphone camera.

Artificial intelligence

Another exciting opportunity for businesses comes in the form of artificial intelligence or AI. There are countless different examples of AI in the business world already, from virtual assistants which can help employees to find information with nothing but a voice request, to chatbots. In the modern business world, many executives are investing in artificial intelligence to augment and support their human workers, as well as deliver a better quality of customer service. AI tools implemented into a contact center environment could allow organizations to leverage real-time insights into the sentiment of a customer as they talk to an agent. The same tool could then offer suggestions on how to solve an issue or rectify a problem to employees.

Automation

Often considered a sub-section of the AI landscape, automation is the technology that allows companies to remove the need for human input in certain processes. This is a great way to reduce micro stressors from day-to-day mundane work tasks. Automation is growing within several sectors and in a host of different forms. Automated chatbots can be used to respond to customer queries and deliver service when human agents aren’t available, allowing for 24/7 customer support. Alternatively, on the production floor, an automated system could allow robots to build certain components of a product without the need for a human to guide them. Automated tools can reduce the number of repetitive work employees needs to do each day, allowing staff to focus on more complex projects which require human input.

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Importance of online privacy laws in the digital era

Importance of online privacy laws in the digital era

Importance of online privacy laws in the digital era

September 19, 2022

Importance of online privacy laws in the digital era

With the constant advancement of technology, our lives and businesses are becoming increasingly digitized. And as more and more aspects of our lives are moved online, it’s important to consider the implications for our privacy and security. Online privacy laws are important in the digital era. As technology advances, so does the surveillance of people and businesses. The internet has made it easier for everyone to research anything they want about anyone. With all this information at your fingertips, you might wonder what steps you need to take to protect your identity.

What are online privacy laws?

Online privacy laws are pieces of legislation that protect online users’ privacy. These laws help to ensure that individuals’ personal information is not shared without their consent or knowledge. These laws regulate how companies collect and use data in many cases.

The importance of online privacy laws have become increasingly important in the digital era. This is because so much of our personal information is now stored online. For example, we often store our addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses online. Furthermore, many of us use online services such as social networks and websites to share information about ourselves with others.

Why are online privacy laws important?

In the digital era, online privacy is more important than ever. With so much of our lives online, we leave behind a digital footprint with every click and keystroke. This footprint can track our movements, preferences, thoughts, and feelings.

That’s why online privacy laws are so important. These laws help protect our information from being collected and used without our consent. They also give us the right to know what information is being collected about us and how it’s used. Without online privacy laws, we would all be at the mercy of corporations and governments who could collect and use our data however they please. If you feel that your privacy has been breached, you can find high quality digital privacy lawyers available here.

Here are a few other reasons why online privacy laws are so important:

 

  1. Personal information is often shared without the person’s consent or knowledge. This can include your email address, password, or personal ID number. If someone else gets access to this information, they could misuse it or even abuse it.
  2. Online privacy is essential for protecting your identity. If your personal information is stolen, it could be used to fraudulently open accounts in your name, sell your personal information on the black market, or even harm you somehow.
  3. Your online privacy is also important for protecting your freedom of expression. If you don’t want people to know what websites you’re visiting or what posts you’re making on social media, you need to protect your privacy settings.
  4. Finally, online privacy is important for protecting your right to free speech. If people know what websites and posts you visit, they may be less likely to share sensitive information with you or attack you for speaking out.

The future of online privacy laws

Since we live in the digital age, we are always connected to the internet. Digital devices and information constantly surround us through our smartphones, computers, or even televisions. With such an interconnected world, there is a greater need for online privacy laws.

As the digital world continues to evolve, so do the risks to our privacy. It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and take steps to protect yourself, such as using strong passwords and being cautious about what you share online.  

 Currently, no comprehensive federal law in the United States governs all aspects of online privacy. However, several laws address specific privacy concerns, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). In addition, many states have passed laws addressing online privacy, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

 We will likely see more online privacy laws in the US as privacy concerns continue growing.

Conclusion

The digital era has brought with it a host of new challenges when it comes to the importance of online privacy laws. With so much of our lives now taking place online, it is more important than ever to have strong laws in place to protect our information. While there are still some improvements to be made, online privacy laws are an important step in the right direction and will help keep our information safe from misuse and exploitation.

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Benefits and challenges of owning multiple businesses

Benefits and challenges of owning multiple businesses

Benefits and challenges of owning multiple businesses

September 15, 2022

Pros and cons of owning multiple businesses

Running several businesses can be daunting, due to the time and money constraints, and yet it can also be incredibly rewarding. It provides young business owners the chance to diversify and showcase their skills in several fields, or to truly master one industry. The financial gains often surpass any losses that might happen. However, it is vital to consider all the possible obstacles one might encounter when running multiple businesses, especially for a limited liability company.

What are the types of business ownership?

Before making the decision to run multiple businesses it is helpful to learn more about the types of ownership there are. Most business people opt for sole proprietorship, but often when running many businesses at the same time, a partnership would work better. Distinguish between LLP partnerships, that are basically legal entities that provide simple and pass-through taxation, with a limited liability for the partners; and LLC partnerships that allow you to retain sole proprietorship, while still limiting legal and financial liability, making them a popular choice for small businesses. Consider the type of ownership structure before starting to run several businesses at the same time.

Benefits of owning multiple businesses

What is called a serial entrepreneur refers to someone who prefers to run more than one company at the same time. These types of business people are fully committed to their companies. Nonetheless, some business owners often prefer working on one company over another, and thus allocate more time to one rather than all. Still, they reap more benefits from owning businesses than one. According to this Inc Authority review you need to follow the right practices to register your business.

More income

Every entrepreneur wants to make more profit, but at the same time save some money. If you are trying to achieve both, then running multiple businesses might be challenging. However, according to the Harvard Business Review, people who are successfully running more companies, make more money on average than those who run only one. Think of it as having multiple sources of income or a form of a long-term investment.

Economy of scale

What economists call economies of scale are the cost advantages that enterprises obtain due to their scale of operation. They can be measured by the amount of output produced per unit of time. To make things clearer let’s take a look at what one needs when starting a business. For starters, one needs to register the business, hire employees, secure warehouses and/or equipment, etc. All of this costs a lot of money and time. If we consider the economy of scale principle we realize that running several businesses at the same time might be more cost-effective than running only one.

When scaling your operations, you can add more revenue streams by having multiple companies. Not only that, but you also share a lot of the expenses among the companies. The main principle of operation is quite obvious: more investments mean more profit. Consider expanding your business across several companies and see how it goes.

Diversification

Running multiple companies is really an invitation to diversification. Not only can you diversify your products, but also the type of industries you work in. You can have multiple companies in the same industry, or you can take the challenge and expand from technology to healthcare using only your creativity and desire for expansion.

Diversification minimizes risk, because if one business fails, there is always another one that thrives. Having companies in the same industry might pose a challenge when a whole industry is hit, like some during the COVID pandemic, but having diverse businesses then becomes a safety net. Having a different set of people working on different projects is another advantage of diversification. When a problem arises in one of your companies, an IT expert from your software company may provide a quick solution. Think about creating or updating your databases, or even using a proxy network to streamline operations across all your businesses.

Business diversity needs to be embraced, and not feared. Although it can be risky running different companies at the same time, consider it a pool of opportunities, where everything is bound by the entrepreneur – they are what keeps all the diversity together.

Challenges of owning multiple businesses

Every business owner needs to consider the real obstacles posed by having more companies than one. Although the income might increase, many new costs will arise. Likewise, time is always a challenge, as well as the increased paperwork.

Time management

When running a business the main thing that holds all operations together is proper time management. Effective planning enables better time management. Using multi-account management tools like Multilogin helps entrepreneurs stay organized and save time. Only a good strategy enables better time management. The right scheduling enables proper time management. You can start by relying on your assistants or simply using online calendars to organize your time. 

Secondly, try to have all of your companies located in the same location. Online remote work makes this easier, as all employees are virtually in the same place. Thirdly and very importantly, you have to trust your employees to do their tasks timely and diligently. Vet them and choose them wisely before committing to more employees across different locations and companies. The right employee assigned to the right task will save you a lot of time and energy. It is better to spend time choosing the fitting employee, instead of wasting time correcting mistakes after an employee proves to be a bad fit for a task.

Financial costs

Despite possible, and very likely financial gains, one cannot underestimate the costs of running a business. From basic utilities cost to salaries, these are just some of the costs every business has to deal with:

  • Office space 
  • Equipment and furniture
  • Salaried employees
  • Technological supplies
  • Insurance, license or permit fees
  • Advertising or promotions
  • Business plan costs
  • IT services

Now take all of this into consideration and multiple them by the number of businesses you own! If the costs are overwhelming, you should definitely re-evaluate the number of companies you own. Sometimes two companies is more than enough, and often too many would put too much burden on your bank account. 

Paperwork

A very logical consequence of starting multiple businesses is the increased paperwork. Multiply each company’s paperwork by the number of companies you own and you’ll drown in paperwork. Each company requires specific paperwork, including business formation papers, business licenses and tax forms. For some all of the paperwork might be too stressful and expensive.

Always check what laws apply to each of your businesses. This means that many companies might require more legal research and paperwork for the additional regulation. From safety measures to special considerations, legal documents might pile up by the time you open your business. Hire someone who can go through the paperwork and resolve any issues that might arise.

Conclusion

Owning many businesses means providing yourself with multiple streams of income and financial security, especially if one company isn’t successful. Owning numerous companies makes life exciting and gives us a chance to put our diverse skills, experiences, and interests to the test.

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Top 14 profitable small business ideas in 2025

Top 14 profitable small business ideas in 2025

Top 14 profitable small business ideas in 2025

September 12, 2022

Small business ideas
Are you tired of the 9-to-5 grind and dreaming of starting your own business? You’re not alone. Luckily, today we’re going to explore the best small business ideas that will bring you profit in the next decade. 

Whether you’re a one-person show or have a small team, these ideas are perfect for those who want to keep costs low, manage inventory with ease, and even run their business from the comfort of their own home. 

So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and get ready to discover some exciting opportunities that could change your life. Let’s dive in.

Best small business ideas to be aware of 

Take inspiration from this list of creative small business ideas, but don’t forget to trust your gut and think outside the box. 

Food truck 

The food truck is a mobile restaurant built inside a truck, trailer, or kiosk structure that offers chef-prepared meals conveniently to customers where daily life unfolds. Rather than waiting for hungry people to discover a new eatery, the business sets up curbside at parks, downtown squares, office centers, and other locations hosting regular community activity. The mobility meets rising on-the-go demands for fresh quality foods versus fast food chains. 

For operators, leasing smaller spaces instead of costly interior seating areas optimizes margins and flex location testing before larger investments. The compact model also complements the experiential dining culture many now prefer over committing long-term to any single spot. Customers passing parks or worksites can conveniently grab flavorful tacos, noodles bowls, or customized salads from the latest chef-driven concept arriving at their doorstep. 

How much you can make: $50K – $500K annually
How much does it cost to start: $50K – $200K
How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

Bicycle repair shop

With humanity taking a greener path into the future, bicycles have become a popular means of transport and recreation in recent years. 

According to research from NPD Group, mountain and electric bikes are the fastest-growing types. Moreover, they report that in the US sales for bike services/repairs have grown by 3%. In the same manner, Germany is seeing a spike in bicycle sales and the Italian government covers 60% of the bike price.

So if you’re a fan of biking and save some repair skills, it’s a great time to put them to work.

How much you can make: $50K – $200K annually
How much does it cost to start: $10K – $50K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Dropshipping

By 2027 the dropshipping industry is projected to reach to $600 billion, so this decade might be the best to start your own dropshipping business.

It can be quite a lucrative small business idea because you are not responsible for the shipping and the manufacturing. This allows for a smaller investment at the start and could bring a nice profit if you find a reasonable reseller.  The dropshipping niche is a bit harder to enter due to all the potential options, but luckily if you are wondering how to start a dropshipping business there are many resources on the Internet to help you start on your journey.

How much you can make: $50K – $1M annually
How much does it cost to start: $1K – $10K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Print-on-demand business

If you’re a designer and want to start a small business, you can customize popular products with your own design and create a print-on-demand business.  

T-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, posters, stickers – you name it. The best part? It works on a dropshipping model, taking inventory, shipping and fulfilment out of your hands. You can also use mockup images to promote your designs, saving you time and money on photoshoots. 

So it’s not only affordable but you’ll have more time to focus on building your business and creating beautiful designs.

How much you can make: $50K – $500K annually
How much does it cost to start: $1K – $10K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Online tutoring

There’s been an increasing demand for online tutoring and teaching, and this has opened up opportunities for entrepreneurs. If you have a skill, knowledge or expertise that’s in high demand, you can turn this into a thriving business. 

From math and language classes to coding and painting, this is a perfect no-investment business for anyone who wants to help others become better at a specific area. 

You can either market yourself or join platforms like BuffTutor and Tutorme to get started.

How much you can make: $50K – $200K annually
How much does it cost to start: $1K – $10K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Pet sitting

There are over a billion people in the world who have pets. That number is only increasing which is good news for you if you’ve been looking to start pet sitting. 

As long as you’re an animal lover and have some experience in taking care of our furry friends, you can offer services like dog walking or pet sitting on either long-term or short-term notice. 

The best part is that if you have another job that doesn’t require you to be in the office or on-site, you can work both jobs with ease. Two birds with one stone!

How much you can make: $50K – $200K annually
How much does it cost to start: $1K – $10K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Freelancing business

This one is a no-brainer. Copywriting, design, developing, virtual assistance, event planning – all and more can turn into a booming freelancing business. 

There are tons of companies and founders who are actively hiring freelancers to work with them, whether long-term, contract-based or as a one-time thing. All you need is a laptop and a stable internet connection.

Establishing a network with other freelancers and clients is key here. And the more positive feedback and referrals, the more business you’ll have.

How much you can make: $50K – $500K annually
How much does it cost to start: $1K – $10K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Landscaping

If you have an eye for outdoor design and enjoy taking care of your home, landscaping can be a lucrative business for you. This includes mowing, flower planting, tree trimming, yard decor, etc. All you need is equipment and passion for it. 

You don’t need formal education or a certificate to start but if you want to build industry connections and gain credentials you might want to look into it. There are also tons of courses you can take to go to the next level.

How much you can make: $50K – $500K annually
How much does it cost to start: $10K – $50K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Co-working + childcare

It was about time that childcare became an essential part of co-working spaces. Utterly practical and life-changing for parents who don’t want to abandon their careers. 

Especially for moms who don’t have much maternity leave and don’t want to abandon their child so soon. In fact, it’s a lot cheaper and less complicated in a logistical sense compared to traditional daycares. 

Slowly but surely co-working spaces that offer on-site babysitting are becoming the norm. Moreover, the competition is not that harsh so you can come up at the surface more easily, making it one of the best small business ideas.

How much you can make: $100K – $1M annually
How much does it cost to start: $50K – $200K
How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

Sustainable packaging

Millennials and Gen Z are on a mission to save the planet and sustainability plays a big role in all of this. With many countries closing their doors to waste and passing regulations to protect the environment, sustainable packaging is a business idea that can bring you massive profits in the long run.

The demand is on the rise with no prospects to slow down anytime soon. Sustainable packaging is on the agenda of almost every big brand in the world.

Reduce, reuse, recycle – that’s the motto here!

How much you can make: $100K – $1M annually
How much does it cost to start: $50K – $200K
How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

Photo printing

When digital photography became available to us we quickly forgot how precious it is to hold photo albums in our hands. For years all we’ve done is take tons of photos, put them in a folder on the computer and forget about them. And with technology having a limited lifespan, many memories have been wiped and gone forever.

How much you can make: $50K – $500K annually
How much does it cost to start: $10K – $50K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

3D printing

With photo printing, we’re going back in time, but 3D printing takes us into the future, making it one of the hot new business ideas. 

Are you a good designer but don’t know how to turn your skills into a money-making machine? The answer is 3D printing – it isn’t just for prototyping anymore. 

3D Hubs report that in the next five years, a growth of 23.5% each year should be expected, with a current market size of over $10 billion. Similarly, 3D printing is one of those sectors that experienced growth amid the pandemic. 3D printing jumped to rescue health workers across the world and significantly decreased the shortages of PPE (goggles, shields etc.).

How much you can make: $100K – $1M annually
How much does it cost to start: $50K – $200K
How long does it take to build: 3-6 months

 Handyman

If you’re the type of person who’s always fixing and building things around the house, becoming a handyman can be a great business opportunity. All you need is a simple website where people can find your services. 

The home repair industry has a market value of around $500 billion and handyman skills are evergreen – they have been, are, and will always be in demand. Figure out which area you like best, specialize in it, and get to work!

How much you can make: $50K – $200K annually
How much does it cost to start: $1K – $10K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Personal trainer

If you’ve built yourself a strong physique and you lead a healthy lifestyle, you can train and inspire others to do the same by becoming a personal trainer. 

You most likely go to a gym so that’s a great place to start forming connections and helping others on their fitness journey. 

You can do in-person or online training, organize in-home training sessions, and put together nutrition and meal plans for your clients. Sharing your progress and expertise on social media is another effective way to get clients.

How much you can make: $50K – $200K annually
How much does it cost to start: $1K – $10K
How long does it take to build: 1-3 months

Conclusion

Certainly, there are at least a dozen other small business ideas lists you can find on Google. None of them will give you the answers you’re looking for if you don’t know what you’re passionate about. A business idea is only as good as its execution. And for the execution to be good, there has to be determination and resourcefulness. 

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22 smart ways to enhance efficiency in business

22 smart ways to enhance efficiency in business

22 smart ways to enhance efficiency in business

September 05, 2022

Strategies for improving business efficiency

Efficiency in business is something managers should constantly work on improving. The most tedious tasks can sometimes be the greatest cause of the lack of efficiency in business. Failing to notice stagnation or even regress ultimately leads to decrease in profits. And no business owner wants that.

There are many ways to improve business efficiency. Not all will work for your company. The first thing you should do is detect the issues and then apply the solutions. Moreover, this is a continuous process and you should always strive to find the holes through which business efficiency drains. Sometimes these holes – even tiny ones – can cause business-threatening damage. The sooner you patch them up, the better.

Jump directly to:

 1. CRM systems in your business infrastracture 

 2. Clear core elements in meetings

 3. Motivate your employees

 4. Meetings with an agenda  

 5. Implement self-pay kiosks

 6. Seek expert advice

 7. Adopt the OKR methodology

 8. Structure the problem-solving process

 9. Move meetings online

 10. Use Google Workspace

 11. Outsource whenever possible

 12. Set realistic targets

 13. Invest in top-shelf tools

 14. Automate the contract workflow

 15. Automate every possible task

 16. Practice the Pomodoro Technique

 17. Switch to an industry-specific CRM

 18. Measure, measure, measure

 19. Optimise your product portfolio

 20. Map the workflow

 21. Having visibility of your workforce costs

 22. Teach team members to self-manage

Improving efficiency in business in 22 different ways

We asked business owners and managers to share how they’ve increased efficiency in business. The following list consists of actionable and practical tips that you could implement in your firm.

Employ CRM systems in your business infrastructure

If you are still wondering how to improve efficiency in a business, opting for CRM systems is a
great way. CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a cloud-based platform with
multipurpose tools to automate your business processes, reducing manual tasks and leveraging
productivity.

This system records and stores all lead and customer data in one place, helping you easily access
them and use them to enhance your prospect’s user experience. Besides, it also develops a sales
pipeline, automates routine tasks, nurtures leads through the funnel, and generates reports to
analyze your marketing results and boost your sales accordingly.

Last but not least, using this system, you can assign tasks to your employees, keep track of their
progress, and maintain seamless communication with your team for a streamlined workflow.
So, if you are looking for the most effective CRM for enhanced business growth, Kommo is your
ideal pick. It is a messaging-powered CRM system that makes sales, marketing, lead conversion,
and online team management considerably easier and faster, saving time and money for your business.

Clarify the core elements of your meetings

To increase efficiency in business you have to make meetings run more efficiently and effectively. To do this, you have four major levers at your disposal. As you look through your list of meetings, ask yourself questions about each of those levers:

 

  1. Number (the number of meetings you run): Do we really need this meeting (or could it be run on an ad-hoc basis, only if required?)
  2. Frequency (the cadence that each meeting occurs): Do we need to run the meeting as often as we do?
  3. Duration (the amount of time each meeting takes): Does the meeting need to run as long as it does?
  4. People (the number of team members needed to attend each meeting): Who do we actually need to attend the meeting? (with the ability to bring in non-core individuals on an as-needs basis)

Evian Gutman, Founder & CEO of Ringcommend

Motivate your employees

The best way to improve business efficiency is to motivate employees to want to work. By creating a pleasant work environment, and by providing motivation and proper guidance, you make your workers want to please you, rather than making them feel forced to.Force is not a good motivator – aspiration is.

Let your employees know what you need from them, set them up for success, and provide encouragement and praise when they reach their set-up goals. Us humans are receptive to the feeling of accomplishment by default, which is why recognizing someone’s effort and hard work can trigger a significant improvement when it comes to business efficiency.

Janni Nilsson, Managing Editor at Resumoo

Have meetings with an agenda and a clear direction

Without getting into the nitty-gritty of things in the company, you won’t be able to pinpoint the spots where things could be improved. However, meetings are not just all about status report and project developments. They don’t have to be long either. You don’t want to lose your team’s attention and ability to think creatively.

There are two keys to having efficient meetings: having an agenda at the start and having actionable steps at the end. A meeting is useless without an agenda. You have to have points of discussion ready, so you’re not wasting time on topics that can easily be communicated through chat or email.

At the end of the meeting, actionable steps must be set in place so your team knows what to do right after the meeting is done. Many people leave meetings with no clear direction in mind, so it’s crucial for you to set these things so tasks can be done more efficiently and deadlines could be met.

Bradley Keys, Marketing Director at PatchMD

Implement self-pay kiosks

If your brick and mortar business involves B2C sales, the least you could do to improve business efficiency is to install self-pay kiosks. 

Impulsify’s self-pay kiosk technology is designed to automate purchases and provide a faster checkout procedure for retail outlets, while also providing minimal cashier interaction, and avoiding cross-contamination. With multiple kiosks for guests to scan-and-go with minimal interaction, no cash and no touching of customer’s food provides reduced cross-contamination. This will result in increased sales and returning customers.

Janine Williams, CEO of Impulsify Inc

Seek expert advice

Businesses start with passion. Then, they grow and become an operation. It is at this stage that business owners lose control and efficiency in business decreases. We grew from 2 founders to 12 employees quickly and completely lost control of our processes. We delivered more work but made less profit. In fact, we were chasing our tails and were completely wild. Why? Because we had zero understanding of how to manage a business that had transformed from a passion into an operation.

Today, we manage 28% more clients with the same workforce and revolutionised processes. By contracting an external expert, they were able to objectively look at our business from angles we could not see while being so heavily invested. We learned that the best business owners understand when to get their hands dirty and when to concede to an expert. Now, we heed this experience for other areas of our business.

Steven Lord, Marketing Manager at Digital Next

Adopt the OKR methodology

One way to improve business efficiency is to adopt the OKR methodology (Objectives and Key Results). A collaborative approach to goals fosters transparency and visibility, helps organizations stay aligned, and improves overall efficiency and productivity.

With the major shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re seeing an increase in companies implementing surveillance and tracking software, believing that it would improve team productivity and efficiency while everyone was working from home. But ramping up the use of software to monitor what your employees do all day isn’t the answer. There have been

multiple studies that extrinsic motivation isn’t effective for knowledge workers. Employee surveillance and micromanaging software incite fear that employees aren’t being productive, adding additional pressure and destroying morale across the team. Digital supervision not only removes privacy, but it breaks the trust built between managers and employees.

Enter OKRs. They help to focus and align the organization, as well as develop a set of productive behaviors that will create an intrinsically motivated culture. Through the OKR process, employees define the outcomes they’ll achieve, which empowers autonomy and ultimately motivation.

Alicia Hunt, Director of Marketing at Koan

Structure the problem-solving process

Sometimes you have to slow down in order to make sure you are solving the right problems that will achieve big goals more quickly. A structured problem-solving process can help you know what needs to change and ensure your efforts are moving you in the right direction. 

At Cardsmith, we involve our entire team, and use our own visual tool to follow a step-by-step problem-solving process which helps us boost efficiency in business:

 

  1. Brainstorm all the problems. 
  2. Estimate what value would be realized if we solved each problem. 
  3. Brainstorm solutions and estimate the cost to solving each problem. 
  4. Look at the problems and solutions holistically to find synergies and possible shared root causes. 
  5. Combine and rank possible projects. 
  6. Select projects to execute, making sure to capture baseline metrics. 
  7. Execute on the highest priority projects. 
  8. Measure the results of the change by evaluating changes in the identified metrics.

Monica Borrell, Founder and CEO of Cardsmith

Move meetings online

Our company has found that the best way we can improve business efficiency is by moving meetings online.

Webinars have become a part of our daily routine. It is an effective way to communicate with customers, potential customers, website visitors, or other interested parties. You can also host internal webinars for employees instead of seminars. A webinar can include everything a regular seminar includes: lectures, conversations, debates, and workshops.

From my experience, if a regular meeting is supposed to take an hour, it will take two hours, and even more for the host. Another upside is that travel time for participants is reduced, better yet nonexisting. With online meetings, you simply click a link and you’re there.

Kristian Rasmussen, CEO & Founder at Ultify

Use Google Workspace a.k.a. G Suite

Using G Suite has been a game-changer for our business. It means multiple contributors can work on our campaign documents at the same time without things getting lost as had happened with previous cloud solutions. Tasks, internal discussions, calendars, everything we need is accessible within one or two platforms which is perfect. 

Over time we refined our processes and identified any double handling that was happening and continue to streamline and automate as much as possible so that our team can truly focus on being creative. The fewer people have to jump between conflicting tasks, the more efficient they are because they aren’t as mentally fatigued.

Natalie Athanasiadis, Founder of Ormi Media

Outsource the things you dislike doing

For years now, and even in these uncertain times, I have exceeded my business goals. The best expert tip I can give that has helped me succeed is outsourcing the parts of my business that I don’t love or am not an expert at. So my best advice is not to be afraid to invest in contractors with highly specialized skill sets. 

This goes for any part of the business that you and your team don’t have the expertise, is project-based, or does not warrant hiring full-time staff. Hiring the right people for the right job is essential for growth. Just make sure that you do your due diligence with verified referrals or reviews of the services offered.

Jessica Randhawa, Owner and Head Chef at The Forked Spoon

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Set realistic targets

When the bulk of our employees are working from home, it is difficult to monitor them or micromanage them in any way. Instead, we would set certain realistic targets for them to achieve every week. We are flexible on when they do their work (they do not have to work 9-5), so long as they are able to meet their weekly targets. 

Such flexibility also helps to keep our employees happy and ultimately increase our efficiency in business.

Kim Chan, Founder and CEO of DocPro

Invest in top-shelf tools

Investing in tools like Sprout Social, for social media marketing, HubSpot, for marketing automation and sales enablement, and DataBox, for data visualization & unified KPI tracking, has enabled us to streamline the most time consuming and repetitive tasks while also maximizing the scope and value of services we can provide clients. A knowledgeable sales enablement consultant can provide insights and strategies that are essential for effectively utilizing these tools to boost your sales process.

Some of these tools have allowed us to condense tasks that would take multiple days into an SOP that takes mere hours monthly. In our experience, many business owners we consult with

initially shy away from top-tier tools because of their larger price-tag, but once they understand the time-savings coupled with the value of their own time as an owner or manager, they demonstrate complete buy-in. 

Our best advice to improve business efficiency is to make the investment in top-shelf tools for your tasks, and dedicate the time to integrate them into your daily workflow and company SOPs.

Connor Whitman, Founder of Connor Whitman Digital Strategy Consulting

Automate the contract workflow

Contracts are the lifeblood of any business. Still, contracts are done manually with old-school tools like MS Word and email. With this, teams like HR, sales, procurement are dependent on the legal team and not able to run their business operations efficiently to close deals and mitigate risks at the same time.

One advice for boosting business efficiency is automating the contract workflow. Every business can automate the most frequently used document templates and delegate them to other business units to self-serve and be confident in the documents’ compliance. To speed up the workflow even more, further contract negotiation can be done from the same place so contract parties should not jump to emails and upload/ download documents many times. The parties also stay in this one-window environment to get contracts digitally signed.

With this new way of contracting, business teams are totally independent and equipped with necessary documents to get deals closed whereas lawyers on more high-value legal advisory.

Polina Medvedieva, Marketing Manager at Avokaado

Don’t be afraid to automate every possible task

Automation is your best bet to improve business efficiency. Automating specific tasks not only reduces the burden, but it brings efficiency in the organization. Also you should find and fully utilize package delivery software to make sure that each delivery you make is as efficient and productive as possible.

We use automation for mundane tasks such as status reporting, employee tracking, task distribution, etc. Having smart people on you team is crucial but sometimes even they cannot keep up with the demand of the tasks at had. That’s why we are going for predictive analysis to make our systems smarter. We are trying to be future-ready by incorporating predictive analytics to solve problems proactively.

Kamal Thakur, COO of Cerebrum Infotech

Practice the Pomodoro Technique

With most businesses now shifting to remote work at home, there is a high risk of working inefficiently due to lethargy from sitting too long in front of a desk. I noticed this when some of the team’s assignments got delayed by a few days.

To make the long story short, we implemented the classic Pomodoro Technique. Every 30 mins to an hour, they have to get up from their chairs and do whatever they want for 5 mins – stretching or making coffee is up to them. This helped the team revive their spirits and were able to do their jobs more efficiently.

Stewart Dunlop, Founder of LinkBuilder.io

Switch to an industry-specific CRM

We had used the same CRM software since we began and we liked it and were very reluctant to change. However, I knew we had some efficiency problems with:

  • getting a hold of sales leads quickly 
  • following up on leads consistently and 
  • making our salespeople more productive. 

I had a hunch that making a change in our CRM software would make a big difference. I found CRM software called Velocify that specialized in our industry and we decided to make a switch. It had an immediate impact on our sales and hasn’t stopped since. Our sales and close ratio improved over 50% instantly and I know it was directly attributed to the new CRM software.

Stephen Halasnik, Managing Partner at Financing Solutions

Measure, measure, measure

You can’t manage what you can’t measure. We are a service business, understanding the time required for repeatable tasks is essential for productivity and profitability. We implemented a mandatory protocol for our project management system, a series of digital tools that allow us to accurately associate time with repeatable tasks. We calculated the average time spent on 92 repeatable tasks, created operational processes and training modules for each.

This implementation has allowed our team to very accurately estimate project costs, maintain profitability, and instil detailed expectation outlines for our staff. As an added benefit, the operational procedure training modules allow us to quickly onboard new team members.

Matt Berman, Founder and CEO of Emerald Digital

Optimise your product portfolio

Keep your product portfolio optimal. It’s one of those cases when more doesn’t always equal better. One of our clients has been in e-commerce for more than ten years. During this time, he was continually adding new products to his portfolio. After making a careful analysis, we suggested that he delist 70% of his products. As an outcome, organic traffic dropped by 10%; the conversion rate doubled, and the revenue grew by 20%. Moreover, he now has a lean portfolio, which is easier to manage logistic-wise. With this cleanup, he now earns more by working less.

Illia Termeno, Founder of CMO Consultant

Map the workflow

It may sound basic or tedious, but it is the single most effective way to increase efficiency in business exponentially. This is the foundation to evaluate what you and your team are doing from initial client intake or product idea through final completion.  

Mapping workflow allows the business owner and team to think through their business process and identify tasks that are duplicative, actions that can be automated, and potential for collaboration across business silos. I’ve done this in my own businesses and work with my startup and small business clients to do the same. 

Moreover, mapping workflow is the gateway to developing operations or training manuals that save time and provide clarity when hiring additional employees. This is also the basis to create templates for various business functions that promote consistent communication and quality of service. 

Alexandra Cohen, Founder of ANC Consult

Having visibility of your workforce costs

The information provided in a company’s global payroll process is mainly derived from manual data, which provides no breakdown information. It is critical to understand all workforce costs in one glance. This will enable you to determine if the worker is being compensated fairly and if all costs are aligned with the company’s goals.A payroll outsourcing company provides you with management services. However, it is also imperative to have a clear overview of your company’s expenses, broken down by employees.

This provides the employer with two advantages: Ensuring that all workforce expenditures match the organization’s goals. And comparing spending over time to determine whether it has increased or decreased. As a result, business owners are able to make much more data-driven decisions.

Eynat Guez, Founder of Papaya Global

Teach team members to self-manage

The best single thing to improve business efficiency is to remove unnecessary micromanagement tasks. We’ve found that investing in training is always right. In this case, I’m talking about teaching team members to self-manage some of their work. Encouraging peer reviews and daily standup meetings will remove many unnecessary tasks from project managers and leaders.

This philosophy will also impact team members’ self-motivation and, consequently, their productivity. When a skilled worker learns to self-manage his assigned tasks, it will reduce communication timing and avoid possible management bottlenecks.

Jose Gomez, CTO and Founder of Evinex

Conclusion

The increase in efficiency in business more often than not has a direct impact on decreasing operating costs, boosting productivity and generating more profits. It’s up to the managers to identify where business efficiency is leaking from, and close the hole.

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