Running a small business is hard work. Every day there are new situations to face and many challenges to overcome, which can sometimes discourage business owners who are just trying to make it work. In recent years, many developments have empowered small businesses to take control and streamline day-to-day tasks, such as by the use of JAMS platform. If you feel like your business is currently in a pressure cooker, check out this list of tools to help relieve stress for you as the owner and your team members.
1. Ordering and Inventory
Perhaps one of the greatest tools a small business can use to make things easier is a warehouse management system. You can automatically order supplies or inventory and keep track of stock, all with the click of a button. This type of software also analyzes sales, so you can figure out which products are fast movers and which ones you may need to phase out. To do all this manually is a highly tedious and time-consuming process and involves a lot of labor costs to keep it going.
2. Payroll
Payroll is another process that can virtually take care of itself. With minimal employee supervision, payroll software can calculate hours, keep track of vacation and sick time, and submit all this information to the payroll company regularly. If your company participates in direct deposit, it’ll be that much easier for your team to get their paychecks; no more handing out or mailing checks–the money goes right into your employees’ accounts.
3. Scheduling
The days of tearing your hair out over complicated scheduling are officially a thing of the past. Now there is software that can take care of this task for you and distribute the finished product to your team. This way, the schedule is fair and balanced, with all busy times covered. If you’ve ever accidentally scheduled only one person during a busy time, you know how valuable a scheduling tool can be; the software will detect and eliminate human error, ensuring you’re fully staffed at all times.
4. Newsletters
Paper newsletters are time-consuming to distribute; many people will not even read them if they mistake them for “junk mail.” But, by using automated software to circulate your newsletter electronically, you’re saving on labor and ensuring it reaches as many customers as possible by dropping it conveniently in their inboxes.
5. Contact Forms
If a customer fills out a contact form to ask a question, give a suggestion, and (hopefully not often) share a complaint, you want that customer to get a response right away. This shows the client that you care about their needs and take them seriously. Sometimes though, during a busy time or through genuine human error, these communications can slip through the cracks. If you set up an automatic response, your customer will know that someone will follow up with them as soon as possible.
Customers who feel heard and receive prompt attention will look upon your business more favorably. You can personalize these responses by using the client’s name and assurances that their communication is important. Of course, you will eventually have to sit and address their request, but an automatic response will give you the time you need to get back to them at your convenience.
6. Job Applications
Using an online form instead of paper applications will save you tons of time and headaches. All the applications will be waiting for you in one place, making it impossible for a qualified candidate to slip through the cracks. You can set up the system to ask preliminary interview questions, list references, and perform other basic hiring practices such as submitting their resume. Eventually, you’ll want to meet these candidates in person, but these initial steps can weed out anyone you don’t feel is a good fit.
Automating certain business practices can take a load off of you and your employees, freeing them up to use their skills in more productive ways. Take some mundane tasks off your company’s plate and encourage your team to redirect that energy toward satisfying your customers.
