Ways Smaller Businesses Can Run as Efficiently as Larger Companies

While facing tough competition is a part of any business, it can be intimidating when trying to pitch your small business against a corporate giant. In fact, it might seem impossible, especially when you consider that your small business has a limited number of staff and a tight budget, while larger companies can splash the cash and hire staff when needed.

Running efficient small business

However, no matter how small your company, there are a number of ways you can make your business stand out and compete with the biggest corporate companies.

Upgrade Your Technology

One of the best tools that small businesses can utilise is technology, for two major reasons: efficiency and customer reach.…

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Could Mobile Phones Lead The Rise of The Cashless Economy in Africa?

The world is moving towards a global economy that deals less with paper and more digitalized data. Electronic payments have made substantial inroads among consumers in some developed countries, and many of these markets have been building the infrastructure for cashless transactions for a long time. However, even in the most cashless developed countries, such as the Netherlands, cash is still used in 40% of all consumer transactions.

Entrepreneur using smartphone

Trends in Africa

Africa is already leading the world in the use of mobile money, and its growth is accelerating with Internet penetration rising rapidly through mobile technology. In countries such as Kenya and Uganda, mobile-money accounts have become much more widespread than bank accounts.…

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How Businesses Can Benefit from CMMS Facility Management Software

CMMS or Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) is a software tool that allows businesses to manage and track their assets, monitor work orders, control their organizations and perform scheduled maintenance efficiently. CMMS is becoming common in numerous industries for a number of reasons. Let us look at a few benefits that CMMS offers to businesses across the world.

CMMS

7 Benefits of CMMS

1. Track Training Efficiently

Training is a crucial part of every business. However, you have to remember that not everyone will respond with equal pace to the training program. Some will learn quickly and others will need more time to learn.…

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5 Tips for Designing a Killer Logo

It’s funny how important a seemingly simple little thing like a logo is. Your logo is the first thing people see. They form an instant impression when they see that graphic. Unless you’re in the business of laughter, you don’t want people to take one look at your logo and burst out laughing. You also don’t want them to raise their eyebrows and smirk.

Unfortunately, logo fails happen all too often. In fact, even large corporations that pay graphic artists big bucks find themselves in logo limbo sometimes. Remember the furor over the Gap logo change in 2010? If you’re thinking about creating a logo for a new product line or you’re a startup that needs a logo, try these five tips for a killer design.…

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Drug Testing Concerns in the Workplace

Employees have a split differing opinions regarding drug testing. Some might deem it unnecessary and some might view this of greater importance. Since the workplace is the main source of productivity, concerns regarding the drug use of employees should not be taken lightly.

Workplace drug testing

Since every person differs in viewpoints, this entails clashing of opinions. Therefore before anyone argues on its significance, one must be fully educated on its importance.

Here are some must-know benefits and tips that can reaffirm your concerns regarding drug tests:

1. Ensures that employees are drug-free

An employee cannot operate efficiently if they are under the influence of drugs therefore affecting their quality of work.…

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How CRM Can Help Grow Your Small Business

It’s challenging to maintain a customer relationship in a business landscape where your biggest competition could be right across the street or one click away. Finding creative and sustainable ways to rise above the rest helps win the race, but it’s important for small business owners to adopt CRM systems as early as possible. When you manage your relationships better, your earning potential could skyrocket.

Businesswoman using CRM

A big myth surrounding CRM systems is that’s it’s too expensive and best suited for larger enterprises. This is far from the truth. Not only are these systems more affordable than you think, but offer a long-term return on investment.…

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Should Your SMB Chase Government Contracts

Regardless of where you live, the different levels of your government (federal, local) will employ a certain number of people such as doctors, teachers, employees in culture, utilities and so on.

Every now and then, however, the government will have certain jobs that need to be done and that they need to hire outside contractors to get them done. For example, your town might need someone to restore the town fountain or do holiday lights. Or, your state’s government needs a tech company that will upgrade their entire IT system.

Government contracts

The government puts these jobs out to bid and companies compete for these contracts, for a number of reasons we will get into later.…

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Save your Business Money with a More Efficient Boiler

Fuel is expensive, and the prices only continue to go up. Boiler systems can waste energy for a variety of reasons; older systems are just not as efficient as newer systems, for example. In addition, heat loss is a problem. If your boiler is not efficient, you are going to pay more in fuel each month. However, you don’t simply have to accept this cost as a fact of life. There are things you can do to help the problem.

Boiler system maintenance

Use the following tips to get the most out of the boiler at your facility.

1. Maintenance

Regular boiler servicing and proper maintenance: Like any other appliance, your boiler will wear out with time thus reducing its efficiency.…

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Amazon’s Modern Retail Experience: How to Build a Future-Proof Shop

As usual, January kicked off with several articles detailing disappointing Christmas retail sales and the imminent death of the high street.

But this year, there was also a surprising bright spot amongst the usual fearmongering reports.

Amazon Go

We’re talking about the Amazon Go concept store.

Launched last December, the new bricks-and-mortar shop raised the hopes of entrepreneurs around the world.

Basically, shoppers download a free app, scan it as they enter, pick up their items and go – their Amazon account will be billed automatically, and an email receipt sent. No cashiers, no queues, no payment points.

This modern setup hints at how tech could be used to breathe life back into the retail industry.…

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3 Ways Your Small Business Could Be At Risk For Fraud

Fraud is one of those words that can put the fear into even the most confident of businesses. Being a victim of fraud within your small business can be a real kiss of death if you’re not able to rectify any damage done and make up for your losses. So to help your business stay one step ahead of those who’d like to defraud your company, here are three ways in which your small business could be at risk of fraud.

Fraud alert

Unauthenticated Callers

If your business is one of the millions that does any portion of your business over the phone, you could be at risk for fraud in this arena.…

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