5 Tips to Manage Your Business from Anywhere

Manage Your Business from Anywhere

Thanks to modern technology, more and more business owners are running their businesses on the go. Communications and computing technology mean many businesses can operate wherever there is a reliable internet connection.

And, even if you work from a base office, it is unavoidable that you will have to leave your office and hit the road to meet with clients, run sales at a trade show, or inspect a vendor, to mention a few things.

If you are working on the go, you need to have everything in order. Consider the 5 tips below the next time you head out.


1. Sell on the Go with Mobile POS

When traveling to meet customers or clients, it can be frustrating for both parties if you have to wait until you are back in the office to process their credit card payments.

Keyed transactions cost more than regular swiped transactions, and the delay makes it harder to resolve problems with a customer’s payment. You can avoid these issues by using a mobile POS app to take card payments.

You don’t need a register, a power cord, or an internet connection; if your mobile device gets a signal, you can process credit cards from anywhere.

2. Set up Mobile Banking

If it is available through your bank, set up mobile business banking before you hit the road. Accessed via a secure mobile website or a mobile app, you can log in to view your current balance, check your transaction history, and transfer money between accounts.

This makes it easy to ascertain if your deposits have gone through and if you have enough available funds before you overdraw your account.

Set up automated alerts that ping you with an SMS message when your balance goes below a pre-determined amount, or if a transaction will cause your account to be overdrawn. This can save you some serious headaches.

3. Run Software on the Cloud

Eighty-four percent of US businesses utilize at least once a cloud-based software service in their office to reduce IT costs and increase business flexibility. CDW is an example of such a company providing technology products and services for business, government, and education. These cloud programs become even more convenient when you are managing your business on the road.

The most popular cloud services, like email, file storage, and video/web conferencing, help you stay connected with your office, your vendors, and your clients while you are away from your on-premise business systems.

If you utilize more specialized business software, such as customer relationship management (CRM) or sales software, consider moving these to the cloud as well. You can then access the systems from any computer to check up on your employees, make changes to customer information, approve sales, and keep your hand in the inner workings of your business.

4. Automate Your Campaigns

Just because you are on the road it does not mean that your online marketing campaigns have to be put on hold. You can produce marketing emails in advance and schedule them to be sent out on a specific day and time. You can do the same with your social media accounts by adding compelling content that will be automatically posted to your profiles at regular intervals.

5. Leave the Best Employees in Charge

Although you will remain in contact through your business’s mobile and cloud software, it is essential that you leave quality employees in charge while you are physically out; ones who are capable of handling any issues that crop up while you are gone, but also know when it is appropriate to call you for help.

Prepare your deputies in advance for your absence. Make sure that they know proper business procedures. Give them an opportunity to practice being in charge while you are still present. Their acquired experience in such cases can become very valuable to you for increasing their knowledge and skills.

 

Just because you are on the road doesn’t mean you have to be entirely cut off from the inner workings of your business. With the right tools, technology, and employees, you can maintain the same level of productivity and control while experiencing no interruption of your business activities.

Learn how you can save money on HR for your small or mid-sized business.