Streamlining your business

If the last few months have taught us anything, it’s that we’re all capable of making changes to the way that we live and the way that we work.

We’ve learned that our businesses can survive, even when the world is upside down, and many companies have learned that remote working isn’t just possible, it’s beneficial.

Now we’re heading back into our workplaces for the first time, many of us are seeing them with fresh eyes. We’re suddenly aware of where we’ve been wasting time, things that we’ve been doing wrong, and the little details that we’ve been neglecting. 

This is the perfect time to make some changes, to improve systems and to give your business the TLC that it might have been craving. One area where most of us could improve is time management. We waste time by doing things in convoluted ways. We add hours to our weeks by not working efficiently and by not streamlining processes. 

In business, time is money. All those wasted minutes and hours are money lost. Streamlining can boost productivity, but it can also increase morale, and make your company a happier place to work. Here’s a look at some of the best ways to streamline.

Outsource

One of the best ways to streamline is to outsource. Outsource supply chain management to Comactivity, outsource things like accounting, marketing and HR. Outsource IT issues that you are struggling with, and outsource tricky jobs to freelancers on a case by case basis.

This frees your time up to do more important things, but also means that tasks are being handled by experts, who are better at working efficiently, and don’t need to waste any time getting organised.

Utilise technology

Nowadays, there’s an app for absolutely everything, and using them can help you to streamline systems. Use apps to communicate with your team, to handle accounting and to manage your stock levels. Integrate technology so that stock levels are updated automatically, and things will run more smoothly. 

Reduce paper usage

Printing takes time. Riffling through files to find documents takes even longer. Keeping all of those printouts organised is a waste of your time.

So, stop. Start saving things online, you’ll have easy access, you’ll be able to work remotely, and it will be easier for your team to work together. Another bonus is that when you need to find a file, as long as it’s sensibly named, you can just run a search.

Keep things simple

We often waste time because we make things far more complicated than they need to be. Think about how you work and your day to day processes. Are they straightforward? Is there an easier way to do things? Don’t be afraid to make changes and try not to get stuck in your ways. 

Invest in training and development

A well-trained term works quickly. They make fewer mistakes, meaning that less needs to be corrected. Invest time and money in training and development, and your business will always be streamlined. 

Don’t underestimate the advantages of streamlining. Take the time to access how you are doing things now, and to find ways to save time, and your business will reap the rewards.