Miscellaneous Articles & Tips
Want to Save Time? Get Organized!

Do you often waste time hunting down a file, searching for an email, or finding information about a particular product or client? Do you find yourself drowning in paperwork during the tax season?

 

These seemingly small inefficiencies add up, and can be a killer for any organization. They waste time and money, decrease productivity and can have an affect on customer relations. Here are a few tips:

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• Use an Access database that allows your employees to quickly look up customer transactions, track inventory, sales history and track service calls, etc. through a simple form.

• Make sure your electronic filing system is well-organized and efficient. Create folders and sub-folders that make finding files a snap. Monitor your system and update it on a regular basis. Don't forget to create an efficient filing system in your email program as well.

• Use flags, colour-coding, customized views, message rules and the Categories feature in Outlook to stay on top of emails, contacts, appointments and tasks.

• Customize your Quick Access Toolbar to quickly access commonly used command buttons.

• Execute repetitive tasks with the click of a button by recording macros.

• Save time by creating and using templates instead of constantly "reinventing the wheel". Make sure the templates are distributed company-wide.

• If you're repeating a tedious task and thinking, "There must be a better way", there probably is! We can help through file analysis and process improvement.

• Instead of tedious and time-consuming manual entry, scan receipts, business cards and more, even when you're on the road. One popular product, NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner, is compatible with Outlook, Excel, and a variety of accounting programs. (This product is available at Costco, Best Buy and Staples/Bureau en Gros and you can find out more by visiting www.neatco.com)

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Getting and staying organized and providing your staff with the tools they need to effectively get their work done will pay off big-time in increased productivity, more efficient customer service and facilitated information retrieval.