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The profitability of any company depends on the way it is run, and this goes right from top-level management and down to all the other employees. The following suggestions offer ways to improve your company operations and make you more efficient.

Many tasks within an organization can be automated to save time and improve business efficiency. When simple tasks are automated, employees have more time for productive tasks that require a human touch or critical thinking. Implementing automated processes can be costly but the improvements in productivity make it worthwhile in the long run.

2. Use software management tools

Use software with features and functionality to help you streamline processes and cut costs. Comprehensive open-source enterprise resource planning and management (ERP) software available that can help you to manage customer relations, accounting, billing, inventory, manufacturing and more.

Task management software can help teams to work together more efficiently. It is easier to track progress and to keep on task without having to resort to constant emailing.

3. Encourage regular, open communication

Constant, open communication helps to improve business efficiency. You need to promote and endorse a culture that allows for open communication at all levels. Encouraging feedback, ideas, and communication between departments leads to more co-operation and trust. When there are no misunderstandings, productivity is greatly increased.

4. Follow established processes

Trying to speed up processes and cut corners usually create issues that have to be fixed later and this costs time and money. This doesn’t mean that you should never change your processes.

However, you should change them because a change will improve them and not just on a whim or because you’re behind schedule. Once a potential change has been approved, it should always be communicated to the whole team.

Constant meetings, email alerts, notifications from in-house project management software . can all prevent the efficient completion of tasks. In general, it can take at least a minute to resume work after an interruption.

Companies often use tools and apps to reduce email notifications and other apps and tools to prevent too many distractions. Other companies schedule all meetings on the same day rather than throughout the week or block out daily chunks of uninterrupted time.

Invest in office equipment that complies with ergonomic standards, such as the right chairs, keyboards footrests. Employees that don’t suffer from constant sore backs and necks, migraines and more from sitting at a computer and staring at a screen all day will be far more productive.  

The technology your employees use can also affect productivity. Updating computers and software periodically is a must.

You may be able to away with upgrading a hard drive but computers must have regular maintenance and after more than five years, you will probably have to upgrade your system entirely. It’s not fair employees to expect them to produce quality work when they have to use outdated computers and equipment.

Using smartphones, tablets and laptops can significantly enhance productivity. Smartphones provide sales staff with the opportunity to keep in touch with the office. Tablets offer the opportunity to create presentations and modify them on the go. Many smartphone apps have been developed to improve productivity.

If you want to improve your company’s efficiency but you don’t know where to start, don’t be intimidated. You don’t have to implement all these suggestions at the same time. Consider starting with the suggestion that offers the most benefit for your company and implementing the others over time.