The performance of a modern business is now more entwined with its technology than ever before. While individuals and teams are vital in the smooth running and growth of a business, they are simply more reliant on the integration of systems and processes. Some of our tips here are technology focussed, and others are culture focussed. Managed well, these two aspects should complement each other. When planning how to better manage your business for optimal performance, then, IT will play a key role. In this way, your systems should support and enable both your business and workforce to thrive.
Lets take a look at our tips!
Software
This is such a vital decision for any sized business, and help desk software can directly impact growth and development. From stock management, to ticketing, to service delivery, the requirements of different businesses are vast. In this way, the software you choose becomes instrumental, and you may require more than one system. So really take time to research the right products for your business. Think about how they may integrate with the elements of your organisation. More and more growing organisations have discovered the need for service desk software. This allows managers to keep customer focussed elements of their business performing well.
Process
Don’t allow your process to be dictated by your systems! Instead, select your software and systems to complement the process you want to implement. The best tools will in fact be customisable to your way of working. Your organisation is unique, and as such, your process and supporting systems will from other businesses. Many industries now find a need for a service desk presence for internal and external customers and clients. Seek a system that can be adopted to your own existing processes and it can be used to streamline and reinforce these processes.
Training
Never underestimate how central training is – and not just as an HR onboarding exercise! Training programmes should be ongoing, allowing your workforce to develop and refine their skills. The world is constantly evolving, so in order to keep up, your training programmes should follow suit. Training not only improves the service that your business provides to its clients, but empowers your workforce too. By feeling valued in this way, you are less likely to experience high staff turnover and the costs that this entails.
Communication
Take steps to maintain transparency and communication both within the organisation and with clients. We don’t mean perpetual meetings, since unnecessary meetings are often counterproductive. Find ways to make information within teams accessible. Communication is a two-way street. So regularly take on feedback from customers and clients as well as internal staff and users. Monitoring customer satisfaction is a crucial in identifying ways in which you can improve the management of your business.
Focus
Individuals can help you to better manage your business, by working productively and creatively. People are more productive when they are allowed to focus. While this may come down to personal time management, workplace culture often has an influential role to play. Encourage your staff to avoid over-scheduling and take time to focus on the key areas of their role. Structure your teams to ensure that they are given specialist areas and are not overwhelmed with too much irrelevant information.
Self-Service
Work towards empowerment and autonomy within your workforce. Self-service is a key part of enabling this. Maintain a flow of activity to help better manage your business. Individuals should not have to rely on the physical presence of others to facilitate their own activity. Part of this ambition is cultural, but it has to be physically supported and enabled. Look for service desk provision including portals to serve internal or external users with the information that they need when they need it. Portal technology is revolutionising how users and customers interact with a business.
Reporting
Your business should have a system that produces informative reports in multiple areas. This enables you to consistently re-evaluate and assess feedback and performance. Through regular reporting, team leaders are able to identify where problems may be recurring. These could be signs of more serious issues, so reporting can actually prevent damaging and costly errors in the business. Target your reporting tools specifically to your industry and organisation to aid benchmarking, KPIs and SLAs. But this is not just about assessment. Advanced reporting allows teams to structure and prioritise workflow in a way that optimises the business.
Motivation
Keeping your workforce motivated may not feel like a pathway to better manage your business – isn’t it more to do with welfare? However, it’s a reality that motivated people perform more proactively. It enables them to manage themselves and work in the best interests of the business. Individuals are motivated by different things – not just rewards and perks, but autonomy and development. In this way, your motivated workforce requires less hands-on management, freeing you up to focus on more strategic planning.
Accounting
Whether you invest in accounting software or outsourcing services, managed accounting is a key aspect of the business. The scope of the tools that you require will clearly vary depending on the size and nature of the business. However, much like service desk software, it is a key element of managing your business to its best potential. Much like good service desk tools, your accounting provision should provide bespoke and accurate reporting, efficient task management and cost savings.
Change
Process change happens for many reasons. Sometimes it’s organisational growth. Or perhaps you’ve hit a challenge that requires changes to be made in order to arrive at a resolution. Whatever the reason, it’s vital to manage change proactively. Through reporting tools and strategic planning, you can proactively plan technical and process changes that support and elevate the business. This enables organisation growth without the structural chaos that reactive growth can cause.
Conclusion
IT service plays an increasingly central role in growing organisations. As the performance of business relies progressively more on technology, it’s vital to keep these processes running smoothly and continually developing. To discover more about how your service desk can help better manage your business, just get in touch!