Business Inefficiencies and How to Avoid Them

Do you feel as though your business is inefficient? Maybe you want to take steps to benefit your company today but you just have no idea how to go about doing this. Either way, this guide will show you what you can do to benefit your company, today.

Failing at Social Media

Social media is so important when it comes to your company’s marketing strategy. It’s also very important for companies that cater for B2C, and B2B audiences. A solid social media presence across a lot of different channels is not optional in this day and age. Businesses risk inefficiency when they try to harness the power that comes with social media. If you want to help yourself here then you need to avoid pursuing a presence everywhere. Too many companies fall into the trap of assuming that if they have a social media strategy then this means engaging on every platform out there. Even though you need to have a presence on a lot of different channels, you have to remember that not every platform is going to give you a direct benefit.

Although you do need to have a platform across a lot of different channels, you need to make sure that you understand which ones are going to give you the biggest benefit. Companies that work with industrial solvents or who work with SaaS do not need Snapchat or even Instagram. They may, however, benefit from being on LinkedIn or even using Twitter.

Using Too Much Software

As with any social channel, many executives think that it is far better to have as much software as possible. The SaaS model gives companies the chance to download software very quickly and it also gives them the chance to do it with ease too. With that being said, if you have too many software tools or if you don’t have a good idea of what you need for daily use then this will work against you.  If you work with a lot of technicians, then it could be worth investing in service scheduling software. When you do, you can then feel confident knowing that you are going to be able to keep track of everything with ease.

At the end of the day, you have to remember that if you use multiple tools then this will multiply your costs. So many services have reasonable fees every month but these can add up if you are actively subscribing to dozens every time. Adding a plethora of applications will create a lot of challenges too. If you have someone manage each subscription while managing updates and potential vulnerabilities then this will make your life much more difficult. It may be that the team doesn't end up using every tool and this can be difficult overall.

Holding Meetings

Meetings are a hallmark that comes with corporate life. Managers have to be able to communicate with teams and they also need to chat with employees too. Meetings, however, tend to be unproductive and the more of them you have, the more likely it is that they are not going to be required. At the end of the day, an overabundance of meetings can be a huge drain on your productivity and it can also limit your ability to generate a profit too. If you want to fix this then the biggest and most obvious solution would be for you to be a little more discerning about the meetings you are having. If you can do this then you will be able to pinpoint which ones are not required. You may find that you can replace the meetings you schedule and that you can open up different chat channels too. Internal communication apps are great here, so make sure that you keep this in mind. When meetings are necessary, make sure that you focus on productivity where possible and that you also limit them by setting the agenda and by setting goals.

Relying on Outsourcing

Outsourcing can be a real game-changer and it gives businesses the chance to delegate their duties to contractors too. When you do this right, you may find that outsourcing can lower costs while freeing up time for high-value tasks. Too much outsourcing can cause a lot of issues though, such as decreased product quality and leaning too heavily on outsourced work. If you do this then you may find that you end up fixing things more than you should when things could have been done more effectively from the get-go. Oversight requirements are also an issue. You need someone who can manage the outsourcing process and you also need a clear outsourcing strategy. A lot of companies do not take the time to manage this, so make sure that your company is not one of them. Make sure that you are discerning about what it is you are going to outsource, and focus all of your needs and your resources into making sure that you do your work in-house unless you are ready to take on the full process. This will make sure that you are not double-spending when it comes to your outsourced contracts.

Not Listening to your Team

Another major mistake you could be making is not taking the time to listen to your team. You have to make sure that you are hearing what people are saying and that you are also being mindful of how you can use feedback to improve a service. If you can do this while making sure that you are not compromising your work then you will soon be able to come out on top. If you need some help here then one thing you can do is hire a business mentor. When you do, you can count on them to give you the support you need while also making sure that you do not end up falling behind. You can also take anonymous surveys from customers, so make sure that you keep that in mind as it could make a major difference to you overall.