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Let's do it - The integrated business
We have reviewed the way the business works and mapped out where we would like to go. Let's start integrating the business operation, step by step.
Try and keep it simple, straight forward and in manageable chunks so you can see progress and modify your plan and approach if some things don't work and others work well.
Step 1.
Using the Map put together from your review of the business, build the Procedures and Processes that define what to do through the life cycle of your business. Work with your staff to understand the data needed to run the business and the information it will generate in a way that everyone can understand and work with. Try and keep them to no more than 2 pages of A4. You may want to get the staff responsible for particular areas to write these and then go through them to check everything has been captured. Typically these could be: Sales Process; Proposal Process; Customer Management Process; Service/ Product Delivery process; Invoice process; payment process for services/products.
Link the various documents to your Map so authorised staff can find them easily and refer to them as necessary.
Step 2.
Implement the processes into your existing applications. This is the tricky bit and requires time and care as you may have to update how some of your applications work, look and feel. This is where the staff are important to help implement in the correct way and ensure you have a workable solution.
Step 3.
Review regularly. In the first few months review what is working well and what isn't and modify accordingly, once the business operation has settled down, review quarterly or bi-annually to update the process, procedures and new applications with the business. Don't forget. Businesses evolve, change, are dynamic entities so there is always something to do. Small iterations are easier to handle than big changes!
And remember:
Your business continuity documentation to ensure you and your staff know what to do if you encounter obstacles to running the business and these do not just have to be security related. They include no access to your offices, burglary, loss of computing power, loss of internet access and so forth.
Virtual working - Do you work out of the office on the move, at home? You’ll need processes in place to manage this.
Never be afraid to ask, especially the stupid question and whatever you do and however you do it, enjoy the business and the fun they can create.
Call us for a no obligation discussion and make the technology work for you.
Richard M.Inst.D, FRSA
Blog Archive:
1. Blog: Technology-What can we do to help ourselves - December 2017
2. Blog: Let's Simplify Technology - November 2017
3. Blog: Marketing and the SME - March 2017
4. Blog: Stay Safe - January 2017
5. Blog: The Year - December 2016
6. Blog: Marketing - September 2016
7. Blog: Digital Marketing - August 2016
8. Blog: Integrated Technology - June 2016
9. Blog: Cyber Security - March 2016
10. Blog: Introduction - March 2016
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