Up until this point we've talked a lot about improving workflows through process improvements. And there's one improvement I'd be remiss if we didn't do a deep dive on and that's technology improvements. Although most often you may be focusing on other aspects to improve your workflows, don't forget that adding, removing or replacing software as well as hardware can have dramatic positive impacts on the workflows in your business.
The first place to start is often what is the hub of business in today's modern world, your computer. If you have one or more systems that are past their prime, are slowing down by each passing year or simply are difficult to stay current with security updates, then this might be the first place to turn to when improving your workflow. In doing so you'll be swapping out a potentially problematic component that can cause daily problems for your business to one that is up-to-date and less inclined to introduce downtime. For those who work in the trades, I'm sure you've all experienced the joy of getting a new work truck without all the breakdowns and issues of the one it replaced. Sometimes this one simple change, helps your business run more efficiently or increases your employee morale as folks are no longer anxious about whether or not a piece of hardware, whether a computer or a work truck, is going to do what they need it to do through the course of a workday.
And along these lines, is there software that makes your life miserable each day? If you're getting a new Mac or PC, it'll be a great time to begin reassessing if the current solutions you're using still meet your needs or if there is better software out there that can do more for less money. Or maybe you're running software that runs your business that's half a decade or more old and you've neglected to stay current with the latest versions (or maybe you couldn't, due to your prior computer and/or operating system being so old). Another scenario is that potentially there's a part of your process that's entirely manual. Is there new or different software that can help you automate this process? Often finding new or improved software can reap tremendous rewards for your business in short timeframes.
And last but not least, are what I'll call the peripherals or accessories for your business workflows. Maybe these too are ready for an upgrade or a swap out. As an example, if you're experiencing a printer that is too much of a hassle to use, maybe it's cost effective by reducing the impact to your business, to replace it with something better. Or you could be one of numerous small businesses that continue to put up with barcode scanners that are finicky to use and require frequent maintenance to keep running. Simply swapping out these peripherals for newer and more modern equivalents can save you many headaches in the long run. Could there be new components added to your workflow to improve things? Maybe your business only ships out a few packages a week but someone is inevitably stuck going to a shipping carrier to ship things out. For a few hundred dollars, sometimes even less, it might be more cost effective to weigh and print your own prepaid shipping labels and have the carrier swing by your business for pickups.
As you're looking at the various ways to improve your workflows, don't forget to look at technology improvements as possibly quick an easy ways, and in some situations even cost effective, to make quick gains. Remember that just like with other workflow improvements tied to processes, you don't have to do everything all at once. Maybe you have great plans for new technology but due to your budget, time to rollout, or a plethora of other reasons, it's best to roll things out in smaller chunks. That's perfectly acceptable and all that matters is that with each new change, you're reaping improvements to your workflows and ultimately your business.