Last year we offered a series of posts on technology for your small business and other tips to help you grow your business. Hopefully by now you’ve implemented some of our suggestions. If you’re still on the fence about which changes to embrace and which ones you should avoid, we’re back today with a few more suggestions to help you decide. You can be sure that your competitors are making changes to keep up with the pace of business, and if you’re not doing the same you are definitely going to be left in the cold, watching your customers flock to your competition.
We provided a variety of tips last year and we know that when faced with so many good choices, it can be overwhelming. Often, business owners who aren’t sure where to start make the mistake of just holding steady. Unfortunately, in business, sometimes not making a decision is a decision in itself. Wait too long and the opportunity passes you by, or at the very least costs more and/or is more difficult to implement. This is definitely the case when evaluating technology for your small business - as the pace of change is much quicker in the tech space.
So where do you start? If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 1,000 times - process mapping. If you don’t have a process map - start by making one. Already have a process map? Review it and identify your “problem” areas. Your process map really is your road map. Once you identify the areas that are slowing your business down and keeping it from growing, you’ll know exactly where you should focus on adding improvements first. Feeling cramped in your current location? Start checking out real estate options and looking for a larger location. Have more work than your current staff can manage? It’s time to get hiring. Inventory management issues causing your headaches? Get Stockpile. Whatever your hot button issues are, we have a post that can help. As you review your process map, make a list of problems that need to be addressed.
Once you have a list you can begin to prioritize. Remember not to try to tackle everything at once. Not only will it be confusing and overwhelming, it can lead to all sorts of other problems. Any change has the risk of creating unwanted side effects. If you change too many things at once you may not be able to identify which change was responsible for the new problem. By rolling new initiatives out one at time you’ll have a much better idea of what impact (or lack thereof) they are having on your business. Choose just a few areas to focus on, maybe one or two to start.
Before you make any big decisions, do your research. Just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for your business. All too often a business owner will see their competitor having success and try to duplicate it by copying them. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s no way to succeed in business. You need to stand out from the crowd, not blend in by copying their playbook. If you do your homework you’ll have a good idea of which solutions will work best for your business. You may even come across the next big thing and find yourself leading the pack.
Change is good and it may be just what you need to keep growing your small business. Managed carefully, small changes can create significant impact. Remember to update your process map as you go along. This will help you quantify the results and appreciate the benefits of your hard work. It’s important to be able to clearly see what is and isn’t working for your business. That’s why Stockpile inventory management provides reporting options. Thanks to Stockpile, you can see what inventory is selling and what is languishing on the shelves or in the stockroom. Still not using Stockpile? Get started today and see what a difference the right technology for your small business can make.
