For more than a century, academics have been exploring ways to increase efficiency in the workplace. How can today’s corporate owners and managers uncover new ways to use fewer resources for their daily operations without sacrificing quality?
The good news is that, in the digital age, there are numerous tactics that come in handy for management teams who seek to do their jobs more efficiently. In the transportation sector, GPS systems are at the forefront of a general push toward boosting fuel efficiency, reducing accidents, delivering better customer service, and tracking valuable assets.
For accountants whose primary job is inventory oversight, just-in-time ordering techniques can save significant amounts of money and time.
Human resources (HR) departments regularly utilize ATSs (applicant tracking systems) to screen thousands of resumes and applications at once. On top of those approaches, in an effort to build a happy and productive workforce, managerial experts routinely advise smaller firms to outsource whatever functions they can’t afford to do in-house.
The main thing to remember about efficient operations is that it takes creativity and persistence to get long-lasting results. The following examples offer more details about some of today’s most powerful business tools, all of which can lead to higher rates of efficiency.
GPS Systems in Transport Fleets
Companies that operate vehicle fleets of any size are always searching for the most effective ways to increase safety and save money on daily operations. One of the favorites among fleet owners is the GPS device. Within larger systems, the components are workhorses that deliver results for a very low cost.
Not only do managers use GPS systems to maintain pinpoint accuracy of their trucks and shipments 24/7, but they rely on them to help with developing the best routes, making accurate driver schedules, and much more.
In order to learn more about how to deal with fleet operation inefficiencies, review a GPS guidebook specifically written with managers in mind.
JIT Inventory Ordering
The JIT (just-in-time) inventory strategy has been around for decades. It was first popularized and used widely in Japan in the 1960s. Later, it gained proponents all over the world but fell out of use at the beginning of this century.
Lately, JIT has built a new cadre of enthusiasts who tout it as a solution to backlogged inventory problems, cost inefficiencies, and more. Any manager can begin using JIT by reorganizing inventory ordering parameters so that shipments of new supplies are delivered just a few days before they’re needed.
Applicant Tracking Systems for HR Departments
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are the go-to for modern HR (human resources) leaders who want to leverage the power of computers to scan huge numbers of job applicant resumes in a matter of seconds.
ATS looks for keywords directly related to a given job opening and sorts out a small number of candidates who meet the minimum requirements for hiring.
Outsourcing
For smaller organizations, outsourcing essential chores like tax preparation, IT security, legal assistance, and others can mean the difference between financial solvency and going out of business.
The main rule for outsourcing is to hire others to do the jobs you, as a business owner, don’t know how to do or don’t have time for.
