Small Business Owners: Utilizing Technology to Improve Profits

 

If you really want to become more profitable and improve operations in your company, you have to shift your focus from the following limiting thoughts about technology.

If I buy the latest production software we will be in good shape

We don't do that here

We are unique, we don't have competition that use technology to help them generate profits

The plan is in my head, people will steal it off the computer

All I need is more sales to make more profits

You've got to get the right mindset by eliminating restricting thoughts, and then you'll be ready to improve people, processes and profitability.

Do you ever wonder how a company can start out with just one idea, a passion and a vision, then 10 to 20 years later have thousands of employees and millions in sales fourrounds.com?

What did these companies do to become so successful

Are the owners smarter than you?

Do they work harder than you?

Did they have better equipment or people than you?

No. But they do use better technology tools to drive operation (the people and the process). Operations represent about 60% or 80% of all your overhead costs but they're the least understood by US businesses.

For decades, the Japanese have focused on operations that have driven innovation and a culture of continuous improvement. In the right small business owner hands, operations and technology can be a competitive weapon.

Now, ask yourself how can your small company--- with just a handful of employees and limited resources --- turn operations and technology applications into a powerful weapon to beat competition and learn to grow and thrive!

Why invest in technology / What are the benefits

The bottom line is, if you're suffering from tight cash flow, exhausted lines of credit and top-line growth, then you have weak operations and have underutilized the technology applications onsite or off-the-shelf that can help you.

First step to rapid profit improvement is to start by questioning your employees. They usually know where costly blocks and bottlenecks are hidden.

Technology can store employee survey results that help you to plan profitability.

Employee Questionnaire(sample)

Are your interests and ambitions being challenged

Does each department in this company have measurable standards designed to increase profitability? Does each area have documentation of process flows and procedures of how it should work?

Does everyone in this company share the goal of improving the company profits? Does the CEO hold town hall meetings about 'planned profits'?

Are you regularly told when you do good work?

Do you get the help you need to do a good job?

As an employee, do you feel you can trust your direct supervisor/manager?

Are owner/managers open and honest with employees?

Does the company provide you with continual training in areas that will make you a better employee? Has it trained you on how to cut operating expenses or increase revenue to improve profits in your area?

Are your responsibilities generally explained, well planned and organized?

Is poor performance tolerated by management? i.e., worker performance, operations bottlenecks and customer relations.