Improving SMB Operations with Integrated Technologies

How well is your business performing in terms of operational efficiency? For small-medium sized business owners, keeping up with the competition in increasingly competitive markets can prove to be a difficult task, especially when essential operations and processes are not appropriately optimized.

Success for SMBs is often dependent on owners making proactive decisions to streamline costs and improve daily operations, commonly by implementing user-friendly technologies to help staff improve productivity and general efficiency, though these systems must be designed with integration in mind.

By ensuring that all essential production, management and communication systems are configured to share relevant data and contribute to informed operating policies, SMBs are able to adjust daily tasks to measurably improve overall efficiency. Read on to learn how integrated technologies can transform SMB operations.  

Communication and Customer Service Systems

For SMBs attempting to expand their customer-base in competitive markets, providing clients with a reliable and efficient communication system can be an effective way to gain ground on rival businesses. By offering clients a fast, responsive and user-friendly customer support service, SMBs are able to foster a greater sense of brand loyalty in their clients. In fact, 77% of consumers claim good customer service to be critical to businesses earning brand loyalty and receiving repeat custom.

In modern business, an effective customer service communication system will make use of integrated technologies to ensure that clients from all walks of life are able to receive the same level of support. By leveraging hardware devices like smartphones with cloud-based management software, email, text messages, calls and social media communications can all be received and managed from one unified platform, with staff able to monitor and respond to clients from anywhere with an internet connection.

• Appointment booking and scheduling integrations

  

Client communication systems can be improved upon even further through integrations with additional software programs, for example, service providers may wish to combine their appointment scheduling and booking systems alongside existing customer support services to improve scheduling procedures.

By leveraging a appointment booking system like TIMIFY alongside existing business communication systems, teams can store detailed client contact information within easily navigated, customized client profiles. From here, it’s possible to view statistical data and feedback pertaining to individual clients to better understand and modify your approach in response to unique behaviors and preferences, with the additional benefit of GDPR compliant data security ensuring that sensitive client information is protected.

This means that if a client calls the customer support team with a request that requires an in-person meeting, staff can quickly and effortlessly book the customer in for an appointment during their conversation, with both parties receiving automatic confirmation of the booking for their own records.

Improve Energy Efficiency with Smart Building Technology

Rising energy costs and a requirement for more energy consumption can present problems for SMBs as they pursue growth targets and scale their operations, with a recent NFIB energy consumption poll finding energy costs to be one of the top three business expenses for 35% of all small businesses.

To ensure that SMBs can keep up with growing customer demands, it can be wise to design and implement smart building management technology to help optimize operations and streamline costs through the reduction of energy waste. There are several ways to implement integrated smart building management systems in modern business properties, below are a few popular examples, including:

• Occupancy management software 

Occupancy management software can be used to provide teams with real-time data regarding common occupancy trends. For example, internet-connected IoT motion sensors can be integrated alongside installed lighting and HVAC systems to ensure that energy consuming utilities are only engaged when specific locations are occupied. According to the EPA, the operation of these systems can increase energy savings by as much as 60%, freeing up more of an SMB’s budget to be spent elsewhere. 

• Access control integrations

Smart building management systems can also be connected to any access control devices that may be installed around the property, with employees able to switch on lighting, HVAC and other essential electrical systems by simply signing into work using their key card or mobile credentials. Integrations with access systems can also be used to improve security through programmed lockdown security systems and responses, minimizing the risk of security breaches negatively impacting business operations.

Automated Resource Management

For SMBs reliant on the production, manufacturing, cataloging and purchasing of goods as main aspects of their operations, investing in integrated automation systems can help to dramatically improve both productivity and overall workplace efficiency. A simple example would be barcode scanning devices used to collect and analyze incoming stock to speed up inventory management and purchasing decisions, with integrated digital platforms able to inform staff of stock levels in real-time.

When inventory is received, each product will pass through a barcode reader where the unique data will be received, interpreted and cataloged automatically within a digital management system. From here, alerts can be programmed to notify staff of low stock levels, group items that are commonly ordered together to help inform purchasing decisions and even automatically reorder depleted stock. 

• Service management integrations

Automated systems can also be used to perform repetitive administrative tasks such as recording and organizing client information, monitoring visitor management systems and scheduling appointments for combined services without risking human error or requiring staff to perform manual administrative duties.

By integrating dedicated service management software alongside traditional booking systems, it’s possible to design service packages that automatically group related resources together and allow clients to book appointments tailored to their unique needs and requirements. Client data will be recorded and analyzed by the service management software meaning when they next come to book an appointment, their preferences will already be grouped together to speed up the booking process.

Summary

Oftentimes the success of SMBs in the modern business world will be dependent on fine margins, meaning efforts to optimize daily operations, productivity metrics and general workplace efficiency can prove vital to long-term company growth. By leveraging smart technology alongside existing company infrastructure, business owners can develop data-informed integrations, with operational benefits ranging from reduced overheads to improved customer retention and better resource management.

Integrated technologies allow teams to collect and analyze customer data to develop bespoke systems tailored to their client’s unique needs, whilst also helping to reduce human error and wasted resources like energy and stock, ultimately allowing SMBs to improve their operations in line with company growth.