Small Changes To Start Making In Your Company
The Chinese philosopher Laozi famously said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. If you’re struggling to figure out just which step to take first, you’re not the only one. Entrepreneurs often think that scaling their business requires massive paradigm shifts, but that’s not true. Here are six small changes that you can make to your company that can result in big gains in the future.
1. Virtualize Parts of Your Infrastructure
The year 2020 taught the business world many things, one of them being that companies can function online to a large degree. Sometimes it even helps, with a recent Stanford University study showing an increase of around 14% for remote workers on flexible schedules. You can start small here by going paperless and using virtual assistants to help coordinate tasks. In addition, jobs that used to be performed by computer hardware like routers and switches can now be done digitally. This technology, called network virtualization, can help cut costs and increase flexibility which can lead to productivity gains.
2. Leverage Automated Tools
An advantage of bringing more of your operation into cyberspace is the ability it gives small companies to leverage advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Customer relationship management (CRM) and other sales automation software can facilitate lead pipelines as well in addition to keeping sales teams connected via built-in telecommunications tools. Accounting programs and digital timesheets can streamline payroll and ledgers. Research the specific options that fit your business model.
3. Adopt Endpoint Security Protocols
The workforces that use these high-end tools are becoming increasingly decentralized. Paradoxically, this means that effective digital security needs to be more centralized. Endpoint security is an approach to digital protection that looks to enforce compliance to security standards across diverse user endpoints. Installing upgraded antivirus software, limiting network access and encrypting data at endpoints are all facets of this strategy. Take a good look at your network for vulnerabilities that might need to be patched by employing endpoint security.
4. Store Important Data Offline
The 2021 data breach study by IBM revealed some troubling statistics. The average cost of a data breach has risen to $180 per record compromised. Even more disturbing is the fact that cloud misconfigurations led to 15% of the attacks studies. The most secure method of storing your most vital information (such as client identity data) is on an encrypted disc locked in a safe. Hard copies stored in a secured filing cabinet are also a good idea. Remember, high-tech problems can sometimes have very low-tech solutions.
5. Upgrade Your Physical Office
Not everything in the business world can be digitized, and investing in your physical infrastructure is critical to efficiency. Something as simple as using ergonomically-designed chairs and workstations can have an outsized impact on individual productivity and workplace health. Also, consider the food you keep in the breakroom. Foods that are rich in magnesium, phenylalanine and choline are praised by managers in the UK for their role in boosting neurological functions. They recognize that a company’s bottom line is only as healthy as its employees.
6. Keep the Human Touch
Automation is a wonderful tool, but at the end of the day, forging connections between people is the best way to grow your company. Research shows that 86% of consumers prefer live customer service to chatbots, and word-of-mouth advertising remains more effective than any number of robocalls. Teach your sales teams and HR staff the soft skills of negotiation and empathy. Reach out regularly on social media platforms with videos and other content to bring people closer to the world of your business. Never let your content become canned and artificial; instead, research the market and learn the most popular channels of communication within your target demographic. As always, adaptation is the key to success.
Sometimes, it’s the little changes you make that end up mattering the most. Keep these tips in mind as small steps towards a big future.
