A lot of business owners find dealing with paperwork and admin as one of the most frustrating aspects of running a small business. Fortunately, digital technology has come a long way over the years and even small businesses can leverage new technology to become more efficient.
Why it’s important for small businesses to keep up with technology.
The world is becoming increasingly digitised, and that means that businesses have to change the way they operate if they want to stay competitive.
Investing in technology can help your business become more efficient which means you can spend less time on administrative work and more time working on revenue-generating activities.
For example, paperwork can easily pile up in any business. But it’s especially important to keep on top of it in a trades business because there are often a lot of important documents that need to be kept track of, such as contracts, invoices, and quotes.
If you let the paperwork get out of control, it can quickly become overwhelming and start to impact your business negatively.
Here are many ways you can use digital technology in the office and out on the job site to reduce your paperwork and improve your efficiency.
8 Ways to Use Digital Technology in your Trades Business
- Scan Documents
There’s no need to keep physical copies of every document. Instead, scan them and save them electronically. This will declutter your office and make it easier to find documents when you need them.
- Create Electronic Forms
If you’re still using paper forms, it’s time to switch to electronic forms. There are many benefits of using electronic forms, such as being able to track submissions and automatically calculating totals.
- Accept Online Payments
Make it easy for your customers to pay you by accepting online payments with small business invoicing software. This will help you get paid faster and reduce the amount of paperwork associated with invoicing.
- Use a Project Management Tool
A project management tool can help you keep track of your projects and tasks. This will allow you to stay organised and avoid missing deadlines.
- Track Inventory Electronically
If you’re still using paper to track inventory, it’s time to switch to an electronic system. This will save you time and money by reducing the need for manual data entry.
- Go Paperless with Contracts:
There’s no need to print out contracts anymore. You can now sign them electronically and store them electronically. This will save you time and trees!
- Use Cloud Storage:
Ditch the filing cabinet and switch to cloud storage. This will make it easier to access your documents from anywhere and make sure that they are
- Track Jobs in the Field:
If you’re tired of having piles of job tickets and work orders, consider tracking them electronically. This will allow you to see which jobs are in progress and which ones are completed.
Now that you know how digital technology can help reduce the paperwork in your trades business, it’s time to put some of these tips into practice. By using digital technology, you’ll be able to declutter your office, stay organised, and save time. So what are you waiting for? Start going paperless today!
