A few decades ago, the idea of a paperless office seemed like a futuristic dream. However, with inexpensive technology, pervasive cloud computing protecting data and improved compatibility between software programs, this dream is becoming more of a reality every day. If you're considering moving to a fully digital office, here's how to develop a strategy that will help you get the process started. Start by backing up current documentation. Though this sounds arduous, it can go fairly easily if you have idle workers to handle scanning and storage process. An automatic document feeder on a multi-purpose machine can scan bulk documents, which can then be separated or joined into individual docu
Sure, you could just keep on doing the same thing year after year, but sometimes being a business leader means staying on top of hot trends in business. But what's coming up in the 2020 business year that you need to know about? Here's what the experts say you should look for - and take advantage of - in the upcoming year. The continuing growth of automation. Digitization is still moving forward, and that means that many business processes are becoming automated. Whether it's your workflow or how you get documents from point A to point B, consider investing in business automation. More personalized customer service. As more people get online and our world gets a little bit bigger, making a p
Employee, freelance, contract worker: if the differences between these employee classifications have you confused, you're not alone. Unfortunately, misclassified employees can lead to serious problems for your company! How do you decide which option is the best way to go for your open position? Here's a quick look at the differences to help you decide. Employee An employee is contracted directly with the employer. They are expected to personally do the work required, rather than contracting the work out to a third party. There is an obligation for the employer to provide work and for the employee to perform the work that is provided. There's also an expectation that the employee will carry o
Not that long ago, having an employee telecommute took a great deal of trust, some difficulty in replacing that employee and a lot of worry about whether they were actually working or not. Today's digitizing and evolving workforce have come to expect some level of flexibility in the work schedule to better accommodate a good work/life balance. It also allows you to reduce office space and get better results from happier employees. But how do you manage remote workers? Here are some options to consider. Keep it connected. Though many people today like to work remotely, they also like to feel that they're part of the team. Make sure to create opportunities for remote and in-office workers to g
In today's business world, there is a wide range of options that can help you with securing business funding, whether it's to make changes to your business or start one in the first place. One popular option is applying for a grant from a government agency or private organization. However, the grant process seems complicated, so many business owners don't both to even try. Fortunately, it's much easier than it looks to complete a grant proposal. Here's a quick look at what you'll need to do to get through applying for a grant. Start by looking at whether the grant applies to your company. If it's for individuals, businesses under or over a particular size, government agencies and similar spe
When your employees are learning and teaching new employees how things are done, do you know whether it's being taught correctly? Though you probably don't need to have one single way to properly sweep the floor at the end of the day, other tasks, such as how to close out the cash register, handle the mail or other daily - or not-so-common - tasks should be laid out so that they're always handled the same way. This is most easily accomplished by setting up Standard Operating Procedures, or business SOPs. Here's how to get started. Determine what areas and aspects of your activities need business SOPs in place. As mentioned above, you probably don't need one on how to sweep the floor, but inc
