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Finding More Flexibility For Your Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Finding More Flexibility For Your Business

We live in a competitive environment where the business is fueled by technology 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and because of this, we need to be flexible. The days where you could create business plans a year ahead of time and expect to be able to stick to them with nothing changing are long gone. While planning is a necessity to succeed in business, particularly for long-term vision, short-term activity and flexibility are just as important. You need to be able to move when needed and respond quickly to changes in the market.

Now that we have so much business data, there is an endless supply of information available regarding our customers, our competitors, and our business results. While this is so useful, and we have more insight than ever before, the minute you make an important decision, it’s highly likely that new data will come along and completely change your direction. Rather than seeing this as a bad thing, it’s important to see how great it is because it allows you to correct the course that your business is going and make sure that by changing strategy and adapting to new results that you get the desired results that you forecasted. This is a good thing and something to be embraced, so look at new data as a mountain of information and an endless stream of insight that will allow you to flexibly change your plan to ensure success.

Embracing these new customers from new generations who have been born with the internet and mobile phones as the norm in their lives means that you need to give them what they want and that requires flexibility in how we communicate with them. You need to be able to move flexibly with your audience and growing customer base to introduce them to your brand but on their terms, rather than how you think it should be.

Technology has also meant that there has been a huge shift in the traditional business model; just look at the number of brick-and-mortar stores which are closing each week. The way we do business has dramatically changed, so if your business isn’t flexible enough to keep up with the changing times, then it will get left behind. You need to be flexible enough to shift your business model as you need to, and you can do this by using your customers and their needs as your guide. As things change, you have to get used to the fact that your old habits probably won’t work anymore, so it’s important to change them in order to create new ways of driving your business forward. Again, this isn’t a bad thing, as a change in the business model just means a new opportunity for growth. To succeed in business, it is more important to be flexible right now than it ever has been and what this means is that you may just have to make newer and bigger decisions on a daily basis to keep your business fresh and up to date as you gather new information. It might seem like a lot of hard work, but at least it makes things interesting, and if you get used to this way of working then you will easily attract new customers, and find it easier each time you need to refresh your business model for continued success.

Flexibility in the way businesses operate can take many forms, but adaptability and agility are increasingly becoming key attributes in competitive enterprise scenarios. There is a real need for flexibility at a strategic level, both in terms of the way in which businesses operate and from the perspective of individual employees. Here’s a look at some of the essential ways in which businesses can look to make their operations and their workforces more flexible:

Remote working

Through technological advancements, remote working has been made increasingly possible over the past decade or so, and it’s now an accepted part of the way many organizations operate. Different roles bring particular demands on individuals, but virtually all businesses stand to benefit from giving members of their workforce the chance to function as normal from almost anywhere.

Deploying new solutions

Equipping staff with the smartphones, tablets, and laptops they need to operate seamlessly on the move or wherever they might be is vitally important in the context of enterprises becoming flexible. But new software solutions and cloud-based business applications can be crucial too in giving businesses the best chance to be flexible and more efficient in a variety of valuable ways. There are also more physical ways to ensure flexibility, for example, if your business manages a fleet of vehicles then look at getting a Watchcard which allows you the convenience and flexibility to fuel anywhere in the U.S. with the control and security to monitor and limit purchases, track suspicious activity, and access fuel data about your fleet. This flexibility means you can manage your fleet effectively while saving time and money and gives you the power to drive your business forward and save.

Flexible hours

The advance of communications technologies of different sorts has opened up the prospect for employees of working from home and in patterns that suit their individual needs. Businesses that embrace flexible working are seeing benefits in terms of employee morale and staff retention but also from the perspective of meeting customer needs. Companies of all sizes increasingly need to be operational around the clock and having resources’ out of hours’ has become an integral part of how service providers deliver what their customers want without disruption.

Cash Flow Options

As we all know, cash flow is the lifeblood of businesses big or small and ensuring financial flexibility can be the difference between a company remaining operational and biting the dust. For small to medium-sized operators, in particular, financial margins can be tight and unforgiving. So, being aware of, and having in place, a number of emergency financing options can often be essential in keeping companies afloat during times of acute pressure on cash flows and income streams.

Be Flexible With Flexibility

While many think of being flexible in business as offering flexible hours and working from home, there is actually a lot more to making a business a flexible one. Have a look at where you can make differences to your employees, for example; you could introduce secondments, career breaks, and volunteering opportunities. All of these opportunities will make you a far more attractive employer for the new generation of employees to work for. You have to be flexible in adapting to what prospective employees are now looking for in the workplace and take these needs and wants into account. If you are good to your employees then, in turn, people will be loyal to you as an employer. If you can be understanding that your employees need breaks; they might want to explore, volunteer and travel and shouldn’t have to lose a job they love and are good at just because of having interesting outside of work. If you are the employee then again, speak out and tell your employer what it is you want, they either want to lose you, or they don’t, but any career break or secondment will only be good for your career and experience so they’d be silly not to offer you the chance to come back.

Flexibility is something of a buzzword in business at present, but it isn’t necessarily worth pursuing its own sake. What flexibility really means and why it’s important is that it makes businesses more robust, more adaptable, more competitive, and better prepared for whatever opportunities and challenges the future might bring.

4 Big Benefits of Using Managed IT Services

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More and more businesses are utilising managed IT services to assist with their tech infrastructure. But is this the right move for your business?

Big IT problems have huge financial repercussions and can waste a lot of time and resources if not dealt with quickly and efficiently. Out-of-date or badly maintained technology is more likely to fail, and it can be difficult for a small IT team to keep on top of the latest trends.

But managed IT service companies make it their priority to stay on top of the most cost-effective and efficient tech to fit your needs, and to keep the operation running as smoothly as possible.

So if you haven’t considered switching to managed IT services, here are a few reasons why it might be time to give it a little thought.

Return on Investment

Frequent IT problems take up a lot of time, break concentration, and can cost your business a lot of money.

Slow computers, lost files, poor security – these are commonly occurring inconveniences that arise from a poorly managed IT service.  And every second that your system is down, your employees aren’t working and your business is not operating at its full capacity.

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More than this, a small in-house IT team can struggle to keep up with the needs of a larger company. And whilst they are dealing with everyday issues, they can’t focus on big-picture strategies which could really make a difference to your business.

Managed IT services focus on the everyday maintenance of these issues to limit the costs of small inconveniences, and avoid big disasters. This improves the reliability and efficiency of IT operations in a way which will inevitably save you money.

It will also free up your IT talent to focus on more important tech strategies, the wider benefits of which we’ll come back to in a moment!

Keeping Up With Tech

Technology is evolving faster than ever before. The ways we communicate, the ways information is analysed, shared, and protected – if you’re not in the loop you can get left behind and struggle to catch up.

And whilst your small in-house IT team are wasting time recovering lost passwords, locating lost files, and trying to work out why the system has frozen, they aren’t keeping on top of the latest technology or concentrating on how to integrate it into your business.

But one of the biggest advantages of managed IT services is that they are always on the cutting-edge of business technology, they know what will work for your system, and can implement upgrades quickly and efficiently.

Security

How much of your critical data is stored on tech devices? Computers, tablets, smartphones, servers? Do you live in constant fear of a security breach?

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IT security is absolutely critical and should be a major priority for every business. Unsurprisingly, out-of-date software, old passwords and unmanaged email accounts are some of the biggest risks to the security of your data and information.

So if you’re not up-to-date on the latest security risks, making sure your staff are informed, and constantly updating software, you could be more vulnerable than you think.

But managed IT services conduct research with multiple companies, and make it their business to keep track of security issues and their solutions. They will dedicate the time and effort needed to maintain these security protections so that you don’t have to worry.

They will also have a full grasp of compliance standards to minimize the risk of related to client data, credit card numbers and sensitive information.

Free Up In-House IT Staff

Another huge advantage to utilizing a managed IT service company is freeing up your in-house IT staff and applying their talents to the right areas.

In the same way you wouldn’t waste a Michelin star chef by asking them to wash dishes, you don’t want your most creative and innovative IT talent taking the elevator three floors to restart a frozen laptop.

If your in-house team are forever wrapped up in small technical issues that aren’t necessarily their specialism, they are not excelling in what they’re best at. And these smaller issues are unlikely ever to find a permanent solution if the inhouse team are too thinly stretched to focus on big-picture tech development strategies.

Outsourcing the maintenance of your IT service to a company who specialises in the small details will give your inhouse team the freedom to elevate the whole operation.

So there we have it. There are just a few of the benefits of outsourcing IT maintenance to a specialist company, and freeing up your in-house tech team!

What is a certificate of translation?

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | What is a certificate of translation?Have you ever imagined a currency bill without the signature of the Treasury Secretary? No, right? There is a reason which kept you from thinking that and it is not only because the bills have always had the signature but also it is the thing that makes the dollar an official currency. It is like a stamp from the state telling you that the bills you have were printed officially and are not fake. The same rule applies on almost everything that has to do with the state in one way or another. When you have to submit an application to a government body requesting something, you will need to get it signed or attested by an official.

The rule is not only limited to government offices. Even when you have to apply for admission, you will need to get your documents attested before submitting them. If you want to apply for a job, you will need references. They will contain information about your work ethics by your previous employers and include their stamp or signature. These stamps give validity to a document and act as proof of their originality. Without the attestation or the signature of an official, the documents, even if they are original, will lose their credibility.

When government offices release documents like birth certificate or marriage certificate, they stamp them with their seal or get them signed from an official before handing them over to people. But when people have to submit any document to a government office, they have to get the piece of paper verified themselves. Depending on the type of document, it can be signed by different people. There are papers that you make yourself but have to get attested from someone else. And then there are documents that need to be signed by the person making them.

The requirement of getting a record certified before submitting not only validates the authenticity of the document but also helps you differentiate between a professional and an amateur. For instance, if someone is not experienced but they draft you a document, they won’t be able to sign it lest they be questioned about its validity. All of this can be best understood with an example from the world of translation. It is a very useful creative tool that helps people bridge the gap between different nations. It has different types depending on its usage. Each field of translation has further subtypes like business translation has financial and commercial interpretations.

There are plenty of language agencies out there but finding the right one is not always a piece of cake. There can be an inexperienced interpreter in front of you and you won’t be able to figure it out unless it is too late. There is however, one type of translation that can only be carried out by the most experienced and qualified translators and that is certified translation. When you need it, you will have to find someone with the right experience. You can ask the agency or interpreter relevant questions to make sure they know what they are doing.

One important thing about this type of interpretation is the certificate of translation that has to be signed by the translator attesting to the accuracy of their translation. This signature and the statement by the translator work as proofs of how accurate the translated document is as compared to the original and that’s something that can only be done by a translator with the right qualification because an inexperienced interpreter cannot carry out a translation with complete accuracy. So, whenever you require a certified interpretation, make sure it comes with the certificate of translation.

 

The Case for Crowdsourcing Projects as a Business

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Is your business struggling to come up with a new idea or innovation to solve the latest industry challenge? If you’re not too proud to admit defeat and seek inspiration and ideas from elsewhere, you might find that crowdsourcing is a breakthrough concept that can help you to break new ground and potentially disrupt a market.

The concept of crowdsourcing dates back to 2005, when Wired magazine journalists, Mark Robinson and Jeff Howe, coined the phrase. Companies such as Qmarkets have since developed industry-leading crowdsourcing services for corporate clients that give firms a chance to engage and incentivize large groups of people – be it fellow professionals or customers – to tackle unique business challenges. The roots of crowdsourcing can be traced as far back as the early 18th century, when the British government sought help from members of the public to develop the best way to measure a ship’s longitudinal position. A cash sum was offered as an incentive.

Does your business suffer “blindness” to problems relating to your operations and its industry as a whole? If you can’t see the wood for the trees, here are three reasons why crowdsourcing innovation can help take your brand to the next level.

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | The Case for Crowdsourcing Projects as a Business
 
Get a fresh perspective

When you live and breathe a business 24/7, it’s all too easy to become all-consumed by the day-to-day “grind”. You might have your own vision for how a project should go, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best possible vision for your business. By crowdsourcing a business project among colleagues and even external contractors, it’s possible to get lots of minds and ideas around the table at once that often go unheard.

The saying that “two heads are better than one” has never been truer when it comes to crowdsourcing. It’s a chance to free your colleagues and other professionals from the shackles, giving them complete freedom to think as creatively as they want. In doing so, you’ll also maximize the number of options you have, rather than forging ahead with an idea just because it’s your only idea.

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | The Case for Crowdsourcing Projects as a Business
 
Retain a firm handle on your overheads

Crowdsourcing is rapidly growing in terms of popularity among business owners because it’s proven to be a cost-effective option for idea generation. In reality, the time it takes to sit colleagues down, brainstorm, validate ideas and put them into action is often hugely underestimated. By seeking external input from the “crowd” it can actually help to lower the overall cost of your innovation project, cutting the time it takes to reach your end goal(s) and only paying for the insight and ideas that you use.

Engage your customers and build trust

Another form of crowdsourcing for growing businesses is to utilize customer feedback. Businesses that are looking to build long-term, trusted relationships with consumers are increasingly inviting valued clients to get involved with the idea generation process, helping them to feel like they are making a difference. Ultimately, these people are the ones you’re targeting your products and services to. They should know the problems your target demographic is experiencing and the best way to solve them. Crowdsourced innovation shouldn’t be viewed as a one-way street though. Ensuring your customers are engaged and rewarded will help to ensure sound, worthwhile knowledge-sharing.

The Real Value of Cloud Technology and the Role It Plays in Your Business

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By now, cloud technology is no longer a “new” thing in the world of business but something that has already been well-established and explored by many companies. It has been integrated into countless workflows and provided lots of unique employment opportunities around the world, but it goes without saying that this kind of information has yet to trickle down into smaller businesses and startups. While technology-powered businesses are a common sight now, many entrepreneurs have yet to fully grasp the concept of cloud technology and the benefits it provides their companies.

So in this article, we’ll be informing you of the real value of cloud technology and the important role it plays in your business.

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How cloud technology improves productivity

One of the biggest advantages of cloud technology is its ability to improve the general productivity of your workplace. Cloud technologies such as Google Drive allow your employees to access and take their work wherever they go, resulting in the ability to consistently update and iterate their work regardless of their location. This is arguably one of the most productive and enticing things about switching to a workflow that is supported by cloud-based technologies and services, but it can go much further than simply being a way to create and edit work on-the-go with laptops.

Cloud technologies can also be used to power tools and software that would otherwise require a powerful computer. Although laptops are incredibly convenient thanks to their portability, they do lack in terms of processing power unless you spend over a thousand on the laptop itself. This means that certain tools are not feasible for portable use, but this is where cloud technology can come into play.

Cloud technology allows you to remotely control powerful computers in the workplace that not only have better hardware but are also connected to your office network which means you can access files and processes that would normally require you to be physically connected to your office network. Some uses of this include accessing rendering software for video production teams, it could be editing large spreadsheets that contain millions of lines or even operating sophisticated machines with a software interface that you have developed specifically for your office.

With this in mind, it should be easy to see just how productive you can be with the help of cloud technology. By giving your employees the opportunity to utilize powerful hardware no matter where they are, they can get work done much more quickly and efficiently. It also helps to offer your staff the chance to work from home, a coffee shop or even on the train during their commute to work. The added flexibility is fantastic for the overall wellbeing of your staff and it helps to encourage your employees to work in an environment that is comfortable for them.

The cost savings of cloud technology

There are countless IT services that companies need to hire in order to take advantage of cloud-based technologies. Whether it’s renting out powerful servers and hardware which can be used remotely to power demanding processes or even the travel costs involved in transferring documents physically from one employee to another, there are business-related costs that can be lessened with the help of cloud-based technologies.

Cloud-based technologies also have the advantage of being incredibly secure especially if you’re planning to utilize an enterprise-grade solution. These industry-standard cloud-based technologies are secured with incredibly sophisticated security solutions. Whether it’s software-based antivirus software or hardware-based monitoring that helps to identify threats and defend against them, you can be sure that your data and your network are kept safe with the help of cloud technology.

Another cost-saving advantage of cloud-based technology is in the way it handles automation. Many cloud technologies can help to automate processes that would usually take a dedicated employee to manage. This can include routine tasks like email marketing, document storage or even acting on marketing and business trends as soon as they’re detected. Automating these tasks can take a certain level of user input, but more sophisticated solutions are ready out of the box and can be implemented into your workflow almost immediately.

In short, cloud-based technologies are fantastic for helping you cut the costs of operating your business. A lot of people get carried away when it comes to cloud technology and they might try to change their work processes or modify how data flows through the business to accommodate cloud technologies. However, you’ll find that modifying things too much can often create annoyances for your employees, especially if it’s a change that doesn’t seem productive or adds more frustrations that hinder your employee’s ability to work. As such, you need to strike a good balance of traditional and cloud-based solutions to create a productive business.

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Embracing the flexibility that cloud technologies can offer

Another big advantage of cloud technology is in the flexibility it gives your workforce. We’ve mentioned already that cloud technology can help establish remote working opportunities for your employees, but what we’ve yet to touch on is how flexible this makes your workforce. This is something that can offer huge potential growth as it allows your employees to not only work at their own pace and in a comfortable environment but also means that you can hire from all over the world assuming the work is doable without a strict schedule to adhere to.

Being able to hire from all over the world means that your business can operate 24/7 without any slowing down. Of course, this is more feasible if you have managers and senior staff that can help you monitor and direct your employees that are working from all over the world. However, just the idea of being able to create a flexible and adaptable workforce is usually enough to convince an entrepreneur to switch to cloud-based solutions. This isn’t applicable to every type of business, but it can be a huge consideration for businesses that are able to operate around the clock. This can include content creation, offering consultation services or even customer support.

Giving your staff some degree of freedom can also be a huge employee benefit. This often results in enhanced performance, high-quality work and also better overall wellbeing. It does remove the personal aspect of managing your staff, but if you’re a small business looking to grow then it’s vital to take advantage of the flexibility of cloud-based solutions. For savvy international businesses that want an edge over their national competitors, hiring a global workforce can be a massive advantage that helps them stay competitive while operating on a much lower budget.

Some final words regarding cloud technology

Cloud technology is something that can easily be implemented into any business, but being able to use it effectively to improve productivity, offer flexibility and also lower costs is another story. By following these tips, you’ll hopefully be able to take better advantage of cloud technology and learn to use it efficiently. When people first start to implement cloud-based solutions, they might find that they’re spending more money than they initially planned to which can result in countless problems.

Effective use of cloud technology means gauging its usefulness, developing strategies and work processes that revolve around the use of cloud solutions and implementing it in ways that won’t hinder your existing work processes or frustrate your employees. Regardless of how you use cloud technology, it’s important to keep these considerations in mind.