There are one million and one things to do when you are a business owner, especially if you are opening your doors (real or virtually) in the 2020s. The right software programs can significantly improve your workflow, administration load and even the way you order your inventory. Here is a round-up of some software that we believe can make a business owners life a little easier, and get you back to focusing on the areas that bring you joy and revenue.
Inventory management
When you think of inventory management, chances are you imagine a clipboard and a stockroom. Fortunately, there are much easier ways of managing stock levels with inventory management in Australia leading the way with cutting edge technology. Business owners can assess what is moving, what is due to be delivered and even see patterns and opportunities to optimize existing stock. If your business sells products then look into what inventory management system you can work with.
Modern point of sale
If your business operates in the hospitality sector, then a modern point of sale system is going to keep things moving smoothly. Point of sale is more than just processing sales at a register, you can also take payment wirelessly at tables, and analyse the end of the day takings to make informed decisions about busy periods and staffing requirements. You can also integrate your customer relationship management (CRM) with your point of sale, allowing you to communicate with your customers.
Accounting software
Balancing the books at the end of the day is time you could be spending on other areas of your business, which is why accounting software is crucial to any modern operation. There is a huge selection of accounting software out there so it can be a little bit overwhelming. Ideally, you want something that allows you to manage staff payroll, invoice payments and other incidental financial requirements. Not only does this make tax time easier, but the software keeps you compliant with legislation pertaining to your state and industry.
Rostering software
Most businesses will rely on their staff to succeed, as they are at the coalface meeting your customers and representing your brand. Great rostering software will make planning shifts so, so much easy that you will marvel at how you could have done anything else before. Most reputable rostering options will also come with additional tools that can allow you to optimise shifts based on trends and anticipates busy periods, which might solve other concerns in your business.
You can also give your staff access to a remote roster so they can check their shifts in their own time, and manage any changes that might need to happen without you getting involved and wasting your limited time on the admin.
Habit tracking
This might be a little bit left of field, but had you considered habit tracking? There are many apps and platforms you can use to get a better sense of where you are spending your time and what tasks (or habits) are not being prioritised. Usually, this can be a big wake up call to the business owner who realises they are spending more time in the business than on the business. It also gets you thinking about what habits you want to model as an owner, manager and person who needs a personal life outside of work. Take a look around at some options and see which one is a good fit for you.
HR software
Whether you have five or five hundred employees, there always seems to be something that is urgent for your staff. Without HR software you can spend days of your time ensuring all your contracts, inductions, policies and every other resource is in place. You also want to get an idea of how your staff are feeling and what sort of engagement they have in their role and the business itself. A modern HR solution can do all of this, and it can even integrate with your accounting and payroll software too if you choose your providers strategically.
If your head is spinning, that is not the intention. Not every software discussed here will be a right fit for your business, but think about each of these areas and whether you could benefit from tighter processes. Most of these software providers also offer free trials so you can get a sense of what is and is not working and even let your staff try them too before you make a decision.
