As a time management consultant, John Brenner helps companies find more effective ways to use their time. From replacing outdated time clocks to automating call centers Brenner’s services have never been in more demand than during the current economic slowdown. “Let’s face it,” points out Brenner, interviewed recently by a prominent business reporter, “if a company can invest a small amount upfront to introduce time and attendance software that shaves hours a week off the payroll process or nets productivity gains through more effective scheduling, the savings may be enough to prevent the company from having to lay off staff.”
The past year has been a debilitating one for American companies, from manufacturers to retailers. We’re experiencing layoffs at a scale not seen in decades and witnessing the failure of multinational giants like General Motors, once thought impervious. While the massive companies and their public bankruptcies are gaining the lion’s share of media attention, similar forces are at work in smaller firms. Unfortunately, even though smaller businesses actually employ more Americans than the big guys, they don’t have the same sort of options in terms of looking for government bailouts in to help stay afloat. As a result, many of these small businesses are looking at ways of improving efficiencies in order to remain competitive and reduce the need to lay off staff.
What are some of the ways a typical firm can tighten up and reduce wasted time and money? That all depends on the type of company and the nature of their business, but there are a few areas that are common to many.
• Employee scheduling and time management
• Staff travel
• Inventory control
Inventory control is a concept popularized by automotive companies years ago, but still not fully embraced by smaller companies: the concept of “just in time” inventory. It takes training and an investment in a capable tracking system, but there are substantial savings to be found from not paying to warehouse three month’s worth of products or office supplies at all times.
Staff travel is a requirement that many businesses deal with, whether it’s a mobile sales force, remote work sites or travel between branch offices. If a company has staff undertaking a substantial amount of travel by automobile, there are significant savings to be had by leasing company cars and having staff sign them out for trips instead of paying them mileage to use their personal vehicles.
One of the biggest gains to be made by any company is through improvements to employee scheduling and time management. Idle staff is costly, but so is a shortage that leads to upset customers. There is software and time clock combinations that modernize the process, helping companies to effectively schedule their staff, track their time and simplify the payroll process.
The investment is frequently small, but once companies embrace efficiency, they frequently find savings that not only help the bottom line, but have a positive impact on their customers.
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