Small and medium sized businesses account for a huge 99.9% of private sector companies in the UK. They’re also responsible for providing 60% of private sector jobs which puts a lot of pressure on SMEs to drive growth in the country, create new markets and generate more jobs.
Amongst the challenges of coming up with compelling new ideas and building strong client bases, small business owners also need to keep up with demand and problems often boil down to a simple lack of time. As the lifeblood of the UK economy SMEs need to work extremely hard to ensure they’re running as efficiently as possible. Lucky for us, there is a wealth of technologies to help improve efficiency in the business:
Google Docs
Incorporated into your Gmail account, Google Docs allows you to upload or create documents in the form of spreadsheets, word documents and presentations which you can then share online with colleagues. You can also make edits and update the documents in real time so any changes are made immediately. You also have the ability to allow certain people to make changes too, and the edit logs make it easier to track who’s added what.
Dropbox
Similar to Google Docs, Dropbox is a type of cloud hard drive software that lets you store files online and share them across your devices e.g. your laptop, desktop, smartphone and tablet, giving you access to documents wherever you are. It also allows you to share files and folders with your employees via an invitation or simply sharing the folder’s URL with them.
CRM
CRM or Customer Relationship Management system is an invaluable tool in helping you manage your entire company’s interactions with both existing and potential customers. It can hold the contact information of all your clients, their history with your business, calls made and emails sent so every conversation you have with them can be a personal and well informed one.
A CRM system is a particularly indispensable device as it not only allows widespread access to clients’ accounts it also enables you to manage your own workflow as well as those of your team members, ensuring that tasks and projects are distributed between the relevant employees. It means you can keep a track of when work is completed as well as being in control of budgets and where money is being spent.
GPS Trackers
If you have a fleet of vehicles within your business, whether these are used to transport your products or are used by mobile employers who spend a great deal of time on the road, GPS tracking can be an excellent weapon that allows you to keep track of where your people and your products are. Every minute your cars spend on the road costs you money so it’s in your best interests that you’re able to closely monitor what your drivers are up to and ensure productivity it is kept to a high.
It’s also beneficial from a security point of view; you’re able to pinpoint the exact location of your drivers if they are ever in trouble as well as tracking vehicles in the event that they are stolen. GPS tracking specialists, Back2You offer complete ‘fleet tracker packages’ that provide real time tracking straight to your computer or smart phone, giving you the ability to track your vehicles and property 24/7 if necessary.
Incorporating these types of applications into your business, makes the day to day running of your enterprise smoother and less stressful, giving you more time to focus on the growing success of your business – after all, SMEs up and down the UK are the ‘future champions of the British economy’!
