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Many company owners and entrepreneurs talk about working 12 hours a day or more to keep their companies going. It’s okay to go the extra mile to make sure your company is running well, but the truth is, investing in that kind of effort on an ongoing basis can be exhausting.
Fortunately, there are ways you can streamline some of your internal company processes to achieve the same level of quality and success.
What is Streamlining?
Streamlining entails the simplification or elimination of inefficient work-related activities to increase company efficiency or organizational operations. This often involves using technology, new management approaches, and a healthy dose of creative thinking. (1)
Although the digital revolution has made launching a company much simpler in modern years, sustaining a profitable business brings its own set of hurdles along the way. This implies that taking active steps toward profitability becomes more challenging for many company owners.
This is particularly true for businesses that offer services since they cater to many people and must handle a large volume of administrative tasks very quickly. It’s not sustainable to struggle doing what you’ve always done if you’re being stretched to your limits. The quality of your output will soon take a turn for the worst. Entrepreneurs must simplify their operations and aim for optimal efficiency and productivity.
How Do You Streamline Your Operations?
Although it may take a while, streamlining your processes is better accomplished through gradual measures that lead to your company’s efficiency improvement targets. Here are five steps you can take to streamline your business processes:
1. Use Software Technology
One of the five ways to effectively streamline your operations is to use industry-specific software, like Jobber. This has been developed to support businesses operating within the field service industry such as pest control, cleaning, and plumbing. This kind of business management software is great at managing job schedules, automating estimates, and processing invoices. Tasks can be done quickly or even automated using customized templates.
There is a level of consistency with this way of working, and this reinforces a perception of professionalism, organization, and trust.
Using software to automate your processes helps you run your business more smoothly. These tools are highly practical, allow for speedy processing, and make it easier to manage everything you need to operate your business. Human error may also be considerably reduced with the use of these technologies.
2. Establish Work Priority
Service businesses have a variety of processes. Hence, determining which ones to simplify first may be complicated. To get started, make a comprehensive inventory of all of your company’s operations. Once you’ve compiled that list, you’ll need to prioritize your tasks to begin your work more efficiently. (2)
The aim is to define which processes have a negligible influence on your company. Following that, establish timetables for simplifying each operation and regularly monitor them as you streamline other tasks in your business.
It’s essential to conduct periodic top-to-bottom assessments of your operation when managing your company. This will assist you in identifying and re-strategizing activities that need modification or omission.
3. Empower Your Employees
It’s not always the efficiency of internal processes or procedures that’s the problem. In some cases, you might identify unmotivated employees giving just the bare minimum amount of effort at work.
Any number of factors may trigger employees’ lack of motivation. Perhaps they don’t have the appropriate level of training for the responsibilities they have. Or maybe they’re receiving less remuneration but for a higher level of work. External circumstances may also be causing stress. For instance, in the United States, around 70% of workers attribute their higher stress levels to the COVID-19 outbreak. (3)
Whatever the case is, empowering your workers and maintaining their morale will contribute significantly to your company’s success. Provide them attractive salaries, a pleasant work atmosphere, and benefits such as bonuses and flexible hours. These may boost overall motivation and make them feel like they want to work hard for you.
4. Consider Outsourcing
Outsourcing is the act of delegating duties, operations, roles, or procedures to a third-party workforce. In most cases, this is done to save expenses or boost productivity. (4)
Employing a third-party contractor is often less expensive than employing a full-time or part-time worker since you’re only compensating for a service or work accomplished. On the other hand, hiring a full-time worker gives you the responsibility of providing specific bonuses and paying payroll taxes, among other things.
5. Analyze the Results and Expectations
Process optimization and workflow redesign are often time-consuming endeavors. It’s critical that you have a firm grasp of the possible consequences of these practices and analyze the results. Evaluate whether simplifying specific company activities is worth the time. In certain circumstances, you may think the projected return on investment doesn’t justify the original expenditure.
Also, consider how these developments will affect your workers’ dynamics. If you put money into automation technologies, can you reallocate other tasks to your employees?
Bottom-line
The process of integrating new and enhanced operations into your business will take time. Do it slowly, involve your team, and consider their ideas. Remember, there’s no such thing as a flawless process, which is why it’s essential to concentrate on continual development.
References:
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- “What It Means To Streamline Your Business (And 3 Real-Life Ways To Make It Happen)”, Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/piasilva/2020/10/01/what-it-means-to-streamline-your-business-and-3-real-life-ways-to-make-it-happen/?sh=cf8c53457828
- “The Four Things a Service Business Must Get Right”, Source: https://hbr.org/2008/04/the-four-things-a-service-business-must-get-right
- “New Data From Ginger Shows Nearly 70 Percent of Workers Feel More Stressed During COVID-19 Than at Any Other Point in Their”, Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2020-04-09/new-data-from-ginger-shows-nearly-70-percent-of-workers-feel-more-stressed-during-covid-19-than-at-any-other-point-in-their
- “The Advantages and Disadvantages of Outsourcing in Business”, Source: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-outsourcing-2533662
