Operations Through a Process and Systems Lens

When your business begins to grow, it is crucial to find ways to drive efficiency and increase profitability. Standardizing processes and procedures in your operations ensures that your entire team is following best practices that allow your business to perform to its fullest potential.?

Operating through a process and systems lens can transform your organization. In this article, we’ll give you some steps to take to put processes and systems at the top of your priority list.

Implementing Processes

Here are four easy ways to implement standardized processes into your business:

Create SOPs

Creating standard operating procedures for your business is the obvious first step in standardizing processes. The major functions or output of your business should each be completed with a standard approach. Document the proper procedure for these tasks and keep them in an official repository.?

Document Your Workflow

End-to-end workflow documentation is essential for organizational success. When your team documents their workflow, it can help you improve processes by removing inefficiencies and knowledge silos. It can also help standardize results and make it easier to train new employees.??

Create Templates

Creating templates for frequently used documents and forms can save your business tons of time. Create your standard templates and keep them stored in a cloud-based location that is accessible to all employees who may need it. Having a template not only makes it more efficient to collect data, but it also ensures you are collecting consistent data across the board.

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Automate Your Business

As you create standard processes for your business, you are paving the way to seamless integration of an automation tool. If your business can implement automation, you’ll see an immediate improvement in overall efficiency.

Implementing Systems

Once you have standardized your processes, you can begin implementing systems to further drive efficiencies. Here are four tactics to try:?

CRM

Using a CRM, or customer relationship management, the tool is the best way to drive efficiency in your business. These tools offer solutions for workflow documentation and other features that drastically improve your customer service and sales capabilities. Many of these tools are cloud-based, which makes it easy for businesses to operate in more than one location.?

Accounting Systems

If your business is not using a specialized accounting system to handle accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and other finance functions, you are likely leaving money on the table. Investing in an accounting system can save you money since it will drive efficiency and take less time and manpower to carry out accounting tasks.?

Client Scheduling/Meeting Platform?

Playing phone tag or emailing back and forth with clients about setting appointments wastes so much of your valuable time. Invest in a client scheduling platform that integrates your calendar. You’ll send the client a link to the calendar, and they can then choose an appointment time that fits their schedule. The client then receives an email confirming the appointment and either giving them the location for an in-person meeting or a link to a virtual session in the meeting platform of your choice.

Login/Password Management

?Out of date login info and passwords can be a security risk. You can implement a system that regularly reminds your employees to change their access information to keep your databases secure. Most systems recommend a change at least every 90 days. The system will alert the employee when it is time to change a password.

Streamline Your Processes and Systems

If you’re ready to drive efficiency in your operations, The True North Consulting is here for you. We offer mastermind groups and service experience strategies to help your business succeed.?Contact us today to get started.