Invest in the Right Software in 2011 to Manage and Grow Your Client List
Many small businesses started up with just a phone and a customer paper based system (yes there are many that still exist out there) or if they were a bit more clued up Microsoft Outlook or Excel to store their contacts. They didn't need much to get started then but what they failed to realise was the impact that choosing even one of these systems would have as their business grew. With better decisions and foresight the transition from sole trader to team business could have run so much smoother and this is why.
Setting up a DIY Contacts system may work beautifully for one person but sharing that information with others can be quite a different story. It can easily become a work disaster as nothing is joined up and new team members have to come up to speed on a limited system not designed for multi user access. The transition is messy and chaotic, staff become less productive as they unintentionally duplicate work or recreate clients they aren't aware already exist. It takes awhile for this to be realised and can cost customers as things get missed or overlooked through poor communication amongst the team. Without a proper centralised system from the offset a business is asking for trouble in the future.
To successful grow a business it is important to have an organised system that can expand as the business does but at the same time keep costs down. A centralised system that has multi-user capabilities to access and update contact information continuously is what will make a business a powerful, productive communication tool that support and enhance the day to day administration rather than hinder it. It improves customer care and sales revenue in the long term.
Many small businesses have learnt the lesson the hard way and are now discovering that there are IT systems out there that provide the solution and have transformed the way in which they now run their business. A new breed of IT services are now available thanks to the internet and web 2.0 technology. These online software providers are booming in the current market because they offer extremely competitive pricing as well as taking away the IT headache (no IT guy required!) that most business owners fear. The contact database software (CRM) is so flexible that you can start as one user and then add extra users as your business grows so you don't pay for anything that you don't need or use.
It is all joined up so teams of people can access data i.e. customer records with all communications associated with it i.e. voicemail, email, fax, documents, invoices etc. Everyone in the team can see who said what to whom as it happens in real-time so nothing ever gets missed. Managers can track staff productivity - ideal if the business has flexible workers or teams working remotely. The team can work from anywhere with online software giving remote access via the internet.
What is even more powerful is the ability to access information remotely which is vital in today's business environment made up of flexible workforces. It is the new way to make small businesses work more efficiently as well as saving money in the process.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claire_Hibbert
Setting up a DIY Contacts system may work beautifully for one person but sharing that information with others can be quite a different story. It can easily become a work disaster as nothing is joined up and new team members have to come up to speed on a limited system not designed for multi user access. The transition is messy and chaotic, staff become less productive as they unintentionally duplicate work or recreate clients they aren't aware already exist. It takes awhile for this to be realised and can cost customers as things get missed or overlooked through poor communication amongst the team. Without a proper centralised system from the offset a business is asking for trouble in the future.
To successful grow a business it is important to have an organised system that can expand as the business does but at the same time keep costs down. A centralised system that has multi-user capabilities to access and update contact information continuously is what will make a business a powerful, productive communication tool that support and enhance the day to day administration rather than hinder it. It improves customer care and sales revenue in the long term.
Many small businesses have learnt the lesson the hard way and are now discovering that there are IT systems out there that provide the solution and have transformed the way in which they now run their business. A new breed of IT services are now available thanks to the internet and web 2.0 technology. These online software providers are booming in the current market because they offer extremely competitive pricing as well as taking away the IT headache (no IT guy required!) that most business owners fear. The contact database software (CRM) is so flexible that you can start as one user and then add extra users as your business grows so you don't pay for anything that you don't need or use.
It is all joined up so teams of people can access data i.e. customer records with all communications associated with it i.e. voicemail, email, fax, documents, invoices etc. Everyone in the team can see who said what to whom as it happens in real-time so nothing ever gets missed. Managers can track staff productivity - ideal if the business has flexible workers or teams working remotely. The team can work from anywhere with online software giving remote access via the internet.
What is even more powerful is the ability to access information remotely which is vital in today's business environment made up of flexible workforces. It is the new way to make small businesses work more efficiently as well as saving money in the process.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claire_Hibbert
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