Business Success

Need for Service

Most manufactures view service as an added expense and burden. Their goal is to build a product that does not require service. Upper management and sales usually present design with a need for a product, and when the product has been designed and sales estimates have been made, it is up to manufacturing to produce the product at the lowest possible cost. Serviceability is usually over looked unless the company has a strong service department that becomes involved in the design and

manufacturing stages.

New Product Phase

During the new product stage manufacturing may look to the service department for flaws or early problems. This is usually a very short time frame with few numbers of equipment to work with. So it is very important to keep the factory advised of all failures during this period and supply as much detail as possible. It is very tempting to make easy repairs at this stage and not inform manufacturing, however these problems will continue to occur throughout the life of the product, resulting in a poor image for the company.

A tempting trap for the service department, is to find an easy fix and not share the problem with manufacturing. This problem is usually lumped into the list of easy repairs shared between repair technicians, and in some cases not shared, resulting in a quick turnaround of the repair making the technician look good. This may result in additional profit for the service department, however the company as a whole will suffer due to more frequent equipment failures. If you are not seeing modifications for improving new products, then there is something wrong. Problems are not being reported or are being ignored by manufacturing.

Near the end of the new product stage, manufacturing will believe that they have a good product and will become very reluctant to listen to the service department about problems. Even more details and numbers must be collected in order to correct design or manufacturing problems.

Mature Product Phase

If chronic equipment problems have not been addressed by this time, you can expect to deal with the problems through the remaining life time of the product. A good service department will then stock the required parts for quick fixes or come up with their own modifications to avoid repeat repairs. If the cost of these repairs can be reflected back to manufacturing and design, then you can usually get help with the modifications, however this is rare. So do everything that is possible during the New Product stage to identify problems and notify the factory or your supplier.

End of Product Life

At this stage, sometimes within two years, the product is being replaced and the company would rather sell the new product over the older one. The service department now has a real problem. How do you keep customers happy who are not ready to upgrade to the newer equipment?

At the end of the warranty period, the service department has an opportunity to make a profit on the repairs for the company. However, this may be at the expense of loss sales in a new product. Each repair must be evaluated for the customer to see if it is more cost effective to buy the new model or repair the old. Guide lines should be in place for each product with a set percentage as a guide as to when to advise the customer that a trade up would be advisable. Maybe a trade in value could be worked out with sales to encourage the sale. The service department should be credited with these sales in order to show a profit as the profit from the repair would be lost.

Is there a market for the old product? If there is a market need for the old product then the service department can continue to make a profit repairing the product as long as manufacturing is willing to keep supplying parts.

When I started working for Eastman Kodak Company, I was working in a reconditioning center where we rebuilt equipment from the bottom up, even with a fresh coat of paint. There was a good market for the used equipment as smaller companies could not afford new equipment right away. Sales would use the lower priced rebuilt equipment to get in the door and later take the equipment back on trade for upgrades in new equipment. I remember the reconstruction of the same device several times. However, the life of the product were 10 years or more, which is now a product's life can be a month.

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‘IT and IT enabled services’ Professionals beware. What you get is not always what you will get.

When you get your offer letter, you will be pleased to find out an impressive looking figure on it. You would also notice that the letter also mentions your salary break-up. The accounts personnel would probably explain you the basic calculations. But you prefer not to talk about it then. At the moment you are overjoyed by winning the bargain. You are on a high. You are delighted and you want to celebrate your victory.

But what happens when you get your first salary? You are disappointed. Why? You feel cheated. Why? You are depressed. Why? Let’s find out.

Let’s say your package is 5 lacs. You know that your PF is deducted from your salary. Considering components like performance incentive, gratuity, income tax, and other standard components, when you get your salary slip, you find that there is something missing. A portion of your salary is not documented.

Surprisingly, when you calculate the missing amount, you find that it is equal to 12 times your monthly PF deduction. Hold on a minute here. Relax and unfold your salary slip. Now calculate your monthly gross income. Then annual gross and then try to confirm your CTC. You will find out yourself.

Yes! The PF deduction that shows on your salary slip is the company contribution. Your contribution is not documented on your slip. It is documented no where, not even in the Letter proposal or letter of agreement.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and confirm. Even before the adoption of new work, beware!

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By the end of this article I will have hopefully helped you in your process of finding the best front office software available for your company. Investing in the latest software’s can be a daunting process as the financial implications will indicate much of the decision making. But should that necessarily be the case? In other aspect in life, the cheapest in never renowned as the best, yet, nor is the most expensive at times so having some tips when researching the software’s available can only be of help. Another factor that will be hugely influencing is the current economic climate, as the investment could be conveyed as a company seeking a unique selling point by having the latest technologies and running more efficiently, which leads me onto the first tip, costings.

1. The cost of any investment will need close examination as computing software’s can cost multiple thousands. It also should be noted that investing in the current global recession is not necessarily a bad thing. Whilst other companies are cutting back on investment and even making redundancies, bucking the trend could act in your favour and enhance your reputation in the industry. Research the software suppliers out there and search for a number of possible vendors.

2. If your company requires a high level of software integration to improve communication between the marketing, accounting or sales department, to work together then whilst thinking about investing in front office software, think about customising the package for other areas of your business. Many vendors will offer a customised package covering a variety of areas of business. The cost will obviously be greater, yet by having a customised package it will enhance productivity of the employees, which enhances company efficiency in the process.

3. Make sure you have a sample or demo software available to get the grasp of. Some companies may not like the fact that you have had some time to practise on the software to discover the ease of use. Remember, your employees will be using the software and you should make it as easy as possible to use as the end goal will be increased productivity.

4. If you have a long existing relationship with a software vendor then perhaps enter software contract renegotiations, as the software vendor is inclined to renew interest in your business. There is a chance a deal can be done.

5. Be open to a variety of other services available, yet, don’t be sold the dream by these large software companies. From day one be sure you know your budget and your wish list, as some customised packages may be wasted on your company, and wasting your money.

Very simple advice really, yet if forgotten can have a detrimental effect on the company. Go and search the front office software companies, contact and try to reach an agreement.

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Retailers are having it hard in these global recession times.  Obviously something has to be done to bring in the customers and the answer is obvious…outstanding customer service.  Anything that will spark memories for a return visit to any business establishment.

The flagrant violaters of outstanding customer service are the fast food “joints”.  Usually run by “generic” teens who possess zippo personality.  They are there to collect a paycheck and NOT go the extra mile it takes to keep a job.  (I sometimes wonder how many of them even wash their hands after using the restroom facilities.)

Placing an order is met with “huh” or a blank expression.  A pet rock has more personality then some of the working teenagers.  Counting change went by the wayside.  The need to check your order is ever increasing because chances are something will be missing. 

Who do you blame?  The teens?  No.  The managers.  Managers are usually not present – or at least standing up front with the customers.  Teen employees are easily replaced since there are many lining up to find any job available.  Some of those teens really want to work, really want to make a name for themselves and even want to attend college despite their parents’ inability to pay for the education.  Those are the ones who will provide outstanding customer service.  They have learned the “golden rule” that return customers guarantee their paychecks. 

Therein lies the solution.  Return customers.  That is the goal of any retail business as well as fast food “joints”.  Perhaps following a check list will help young ones develop a personality that will satisfy any customer…

Greet each customer individually. 
Smile, smile, smile and if you think you have smiled enough – smile even more.
Always be available to customers, no matter who you work for.
If an item is not available, let the customer know you will check into it.  (And do it!!!)
Apologize…even if you are not in the wrong.  Who says manners have become archaic.  Offer a one time discount for future patronage when something or some service has gone awry.
Thank the satisfied customer profusely for their business.  Let them know they are much appreciated.

No doubt there is more that can be done but in today’s economy, the customer rules.  The tables have been turned on retailers.  Now it is the retailer have proved, and they do it with, nothing more – excellent customer service

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Some people often take for granted the entire bookkeeping procedure of a business. More than just providing a way of budgeting your business’ financial needs, it is also a legal process which you should keep a tab on. Yes, bookkeeping is not an option but rather a must for every business. Since you are legally registered under laws enforced by the state, you have to abide by financial legalities such as taxes and other coverage. From your own end, it can be easy to budget finances because you know your business. But are you aware of the financial laws you also need to consider? Only bookkeepers are quite adept in that field. And bookkeeping rates should not keep you from hiring one.

You may not like to consider a bookkeeper because of the bookkeeping rates you expect to pay. While it is true that it can become costly, there are ways in which you can keep bookkeeping rates at a reasonable level which will not sacrifice your business’ profits. The usual option would probably be hiring manpower to specialize on the bookkeeping system. To be on the safe side, you will consider hiring a certified public accountant for the work. However, chances are that the candidates you will get will be asking for high salaries because of their expertise and license. As expected, bookkeeping rates will surely kick in.

But you actually have another option. You can choose to outsource bookkeeping services instead. There are so many benefits you can obtain when outsourcing and one of them is lowering your bookkeeping rates. As opposed to hiring another person, outsourcing will cut back on costs as well as effort for your part. You only have to pay them at lower fees on specific periods or even a one time payment depending on the package which these firms offer. And since they already have an expert team who can do the bookkeeping task for you, you no longer have to spend so much time trying to get the best person to do the bookkeeping and accounting task for you.

With outsourcing, bookkeeping rates are also lowered because of the packages being provided. You have to realize that many different bookkeeping firms are available nowadays and they offer you with their own unique features to keep ahead of the mounting competition. These packages are really great deals to consider because you get just enough for your moneys worth. In addition, these packages will also come equipped with freebies you will certainly love to have.

Bookkeeping rates can also be trimmed down through outsourcing because some of them may not actually provide you with manpower but with bookkeeping software. You may find it a better alternative because it can help you customize the bookkeeping system according to your preferences. The software they will provide you will be easy to manipulate and understand so you do not really have to worry about being tech-savvy just to manipulate it. In addition, you will also be provides technical support for this program.

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When someone calls your business after hours, are they greeted by an answering machine? Ever stop and think about what impression that makes? Think about it – when you call a place and get an answering machine – you can tell it’s an answering machine! The white noise…the way the message sounds…and what does that tell you? It gives off the impression that your business is either very small since you don’t have a voice-mail system, or that you are behind the times. To me, it just screams “small time!” and isn’t very professional. Often times, the first impression is crucial to attaining a new customer.

If your business size doesn’t justify a full-blown auto attendant voice-mail system, fine; but why not at least get a voice-mail service from your local phone company? Your local service provider (Bellsouth, Verizon, Southwestern Bell etc.) likely offers a simple voice-mail package for under $20 a month. You can even get a package with several mailboxes.

You’ll simply access your voice-mail by calling into your mailbox. You can record your outgoing message, (if you don’t have a good voice, find someone who does!) and you’ll know that someone has left you a message when you pick up the phone and hear a stutter dial tone. Then you just call in and retrieve your messages. You can save them, play them back, rewind, and forward – and no more tapes or physical machine to worry about. And most importantly, it’ll its clear and more professional. No $ 200 per year, the best pictures we do?

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Enterprise software addresses company-wide business issues, while a software application often solves problems for a functional department. The software can be designed to deal with accounting, sales, inventory, or just about any other aspect of business management. Some of it might be budgeting software dealing with financial areas of the business, and some might be forecasting software that provides sales and demographic information to facilitate decision making. The inherent complexity of enterprise software is the one of major sources for failures.

The phases for putting an enterprise software system into place consists of 1) defining project scope, 2) identifying functionality of the system, 3) functional design, 4) vendor selection for software and hardware, 4) customization, 5) deployment and 6) system testing and user acceptance. Risk management for enterprise software addresses possible risks in each single phase of enterprise software development.

The failures of many large IT projects are often the failures of project scope. In the definition phase, the scope of the projects should not be defined either too broad or too narrow.

The critical risk period in the use of enterprise software is the implementation period. The normal systems and procedures of the organization are either going to adapt to the new software or change completely. As the implementation process takes place, changes must be made in the software in order to accommodate the particular nuances of the company. Since no two companies are identical, no enterprise software package will be totally compatible with every company. The implementation process can take several weeks for a small company, or it can run for a year or more for a large organization.

It is advisable to work closely with consultants from the software vendors at the early phases of the system development. Software vendors bring knowledge of the software and the experience of implementation in other organizations. Your own technical staff and will understand how the existing systems work better. As the implementation is proceeding, training must be done on a department by department basis to insure that employees are aware of the policy changes and format changes that impact them and their work. The training sessions also serve as feedback forums for troubleshooting and debugging.

Testing is the last phase of a system development cycle. There’re many types of testing (unit testing, system testing, user acceptance testing etc.) and each type of testing serves a unique purpose to ensure the quality of enterprise software system. It costs much less to fix software bugs at the development phase. It is estimated that it costs ten times more to fix bugs after the distribution.

The company is a necessity in the era of information and knowledge to create competitive advantages for businesses of any size. Risk management is the success fator essential for successful software company.

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A call center is a centralized office of a company that answers incoming telephone calls from customers. A call center may be an office that makes outgoing telephone calls to customers by the means of telemarketing. Such an office may also responds to letters, faxes, e-mails and similar written correspondence.

Customer service has always supported corporate growth by keeping customers happy and ensuring their ongoing loyalty. But the challenges of today’s business environment demands that customer service take advantage of its unique capabilities and opportunities to make a more substantial contribution to the progress of the company. The customer service department of the call center can drive sales, change the image of the company and make customer relationships more profitable. The key is to execute the right strategy and choose the right tools. Call centers offer business services that typically include telemessaging, order collection, customer service options, customer care and the outbound calls that follow.

Customer service means providing every customer with great service anytime, anywhere, through any channel and keep costs down. Customer service means providing solutions and facilities at any given time. Most of the consumer goods companies have started to provide pre-sales and after sales service to its customers through call centers. Be it a problem with the equipment, or book an airline ticket or net banking or online stock trading, services, customer support, are able to offer their assistance. Today, telephone calls, customer service was the concept of fully variable, and provide the necessary services through a number of customer call center services.

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If you have just started your own small business or are about to, you have already learned that managing your time will be a crucial step in your continued success. You will need to find tools that will help you complete tasks faster in order to save precious time. Although it may seem like running and growing your business is the most important aspect of your job it is in fact only one aspect of your new role. It is vital that you keep an up-to-date accounting of all tax requirements and federal regulations including their numerous and ongoing updates which often require complicated calculations. If you have employees and inventory you will also need to keep accurate records of these as well. Start out on the right foot by looking into the many professional Small Business Accounting Software programs available online.

The best programs are easy to install and come with forms that you are probably already familiar with. If you are accustomed to keeping records manually you understand how easy it is to misplace a payment or to make even one small error when entering data and the headaches that can cause. When government makes changes to income tax or payroll guidelines it can be very time consuming to ensure they have all been incorporated correctly. You either spend hours implementing these changes or leave them for later when you feel you may have more time to spend with the books. The right Small Business Accounting Software can automatically incorporate these important changes into all your forms ensuring accurate payroll and tax reporting.

It is important to use your time wisely and concentrate on the thing that you do best taking care of your clients and growing your business. You will be able to take a look at your financial picture anytime you need to with just a few clicks on your computer. When faced with decisions like wondering if you can afford to expand or hire a new staff person or if your inventory is sufficient to take you through to the next quarter, simply pull up the reports you need and be confident that your decisions will be based on accurate information. You will be able to see if you are on target with your projected forecasts or if you need to make changes and modify some things.

It takes very little time to go online and find the best Small Business Accounting Software available that suits your specific requirements and budget. Be in control of your businesses financial health and confident that the decisions you make are based on up-to-date and accurate accounting records. In order for your business to flourish you need to find ways to work smarter not harder. Instead of spending what little free time you have keeping your books in order, relax and enjoy spending your time with your loved ones. The little time it takes to choose a professional Small Business Accounting Software online package will be one of the best investments you do to help your business grow.

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There are a lot of small businesses who work and operate from home and almost everyone needs a telephone to get calls. Now their needs do not stop there, it actually starts from there. The home based entrepreneurs’ ability to respond to customers is hindered if he is also doing several other things like developing business contacts or writing grant proposals.

He is hard pressed for time and cannot respond to phone calls all the time especially when he is travelling or meeting clients. But he also knows that any missed call is a lost opportunity and may cost him huge business loss in terms new clientele. This is where you come in. Home based answering service is the bets kind of home based business you can start with very low start up costs.

The businesses seek various solutions like virtual assistant or answering service or even both rolled into one. The other phone based service is the survey opportunities for companies or it can be simple recruitment services.

Being a virtual assistant usually is the first step whereby you manage not only incoming calls for the businesses but also call for appointments. As an assistant you also take care of travel arrangement for employees and practically live the life of a secretary though physically not in the office. Your work frees up time for business owners to concentrate on business building tasks rather than answering phones.

The basic essentials You need professional representation of the company, and you need multiple phone lines. Expands the type of PBX Once you have more customers.

In this task, you certainly can only be successful you have a professional approach and more interaction with customers. Once the trust would automatically flow in.

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