The benefits of streamlining your operations
The term “streamlining” can sound like a fancy buzzword someone brings up in a meeting. However, it is something that can be fundamental to improving a business. What it means is looking at what can be removed from your work in order to ensure your business is as efficient as possible and it is worth knowing just how much you can benefit from streamlining your operations.
Higher profit
A good example of this is running a coffee shop. You write down the order and get it to your customers. However, if you have an app, then potentially a customer could reserve their seat, place their order and pay, making the process a lot quicker and therefore allowing more transactions in the same amount of time.
Better customer satisfaction
Using the same coffee shop example, a customer may only have a half an hour lunch break. If they are waiting for their coffee and then only have a few minutes to drink their coffee and get back to work, their experience won’t be as positive then if they could pre-order and be able to spend more time relaxing and properly enjoy their break.
Be the best you can be
When it comes to business, you should not stay still. There is always the danger of doing things “because that’s how we’ve always done it” or “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
It is not as simple as something being “fixed” or “broken”. For example, using flowchart software can illustrate processes and allow you to look at how they can be improved.
A coffee shop may be able to function adequately writing down orders on pen and paper, but what happens when someone can’t read a server’s handwriting? Using a tablet or other device can cut out this issue.
During this process, you should look at each aspect. It may be that you are spending too much time on a process for too little reward, your customers are frustrated by being put on hold for too long or being frustrated by having to input the same information over and over again.
Improve it and document it
Spotting how to improve a process is the first part. The next is finding the way to achieve better efficiency. For example, using a more advanced computer would be faster than using an older model.
But it is not just about the improvement; you should also track this and note the development. Over time, this will then mean you can show people how you have improved over time.
We can help
As the name suggests, Streamsoft is about using bespoke software in order to make businesses more efficient by streamlining operations. We work closely with our clients, guiding them through our creation process, right up until the software goes live.
If you would like to know more or wish to discuss how we can help you make your business more efficient, please contact us today to see what we can do for you.