We have reached a strange point in the development of business technology. On the one hand, we have new and exciting tools that are revolutionizing every aspect of entrepreneurship and management. You can do things on a smart phone today that would have been impossible with a computer just a couple of decades ago.
On the other hand, there are a lot of business owners holding onto pen-and-paper solutions. In some instances, that might make sense. In a lot of cases, though, it’s simply because they aren’t aware that better tools are available, or won’t take the time to learn how to use them.
That’s unfortunate, because a small investment (of time or money) made today can pay off for years to come. There are a lot of ways to use smart data and automation that can give you more money in the bank and time on your schedule.
Here are five areas of your company where you might be able to use automated tracking tools to find profits, savings, and insights…
#1 Inventory and Fulfillment
There are lots of ways to link inventory with fulfillment and supply chains. No matter which tool or method you prefer, you should always be able to see what you have on-hand to sell or use in real-time. If you don’t, it’s a virtual certainty that you’ll lose money as products are lost, go out of date, or fail to be delivered promptly enough.
#2 Ordering and Supplies
You can manage your company’s supplies the same way that you can manage inventory using barcodes, RFID tags, and other tools. This helps to ensure you never run out of items you and your employees rely upon every day. It can also serve as a safeguard against theft, waste, and bad budgeting practices.
#3 Scheduling and Certifications
The last thing you need is to find out that you or one of your employees aren’t eligible to do an important job simply because scheduling details fell through the cracks. If you work in an industry where ongoing education or certification are big issues, then it only makes sense to track deadlines and renewals automatically.
#4 Backups and Document Management
Document management can become an increasingly large and important chore as a company grows. That’s especially true in professional services, where you may generate a huge amount of paperwork that needs to be current, confidential, and keyword-searchable. With the right tools and software you can take the pain out of any filing system, no matter how complex.
#5 Bookkeeping and Financial Reporting
American businesses lose billions every year through minor accounting mistakes like missed deposits and incorrectly-marked transactions. By using online reconciling tools with auto-fill features you can prevent simple mistakes from costing you money, and spot red flags before they hurt your bottom line.
Looking for an IT Partner Who Understands Tech and Business?
At Fantastic IT in Los Angeles, clients love us because we aren’t just great with computers, software, and mobile devices – we know how to put these tools to work for our clients in pursuit of their bigger business goals.
If you want to start getting more from your IT plan and budget, contact us today to schedule a free consultation and see how we can help!