No matter what kind of business you own, keeping on top of your operations can be difficult without the right tools and experience. Every second matters and with limited hours to get everything done, how well your company does will depend on the processes you have in place. Here are 8 tools that will help you streamline and automate your business operations.
Trello
One of the best tools to use for streamlining business operations is Trello. Designed for task management and project management, Trello enables you to manage and organize projects from beginning to end. You can create cards for every task and assign cards to the task owner. Featuring the Kanban system, their boards are shareable and flexible, meaning you can pack lots of detail into each card. If you need to manage lists with large groups of people, Trello can help minimize confusion when working on projects and tasks, giving you tools to monitor progress.
Forms on Fire
Designed for streamlining workflow management and data collection, Forms on Fire is a highly advanced forms automation software that businesses can use to keep their data stored in one place. Whether you specialize in construction, real estate, manufacturing, or transportation, this platform is specifically tailored to your needs. Thanks to its superb form design and analytics, the capabilities this tool possesses are like no other in terms of mobile data collection, meaning there is no other software like Forms on Fire.
PandaDoc
If you need to create proposals, human resources documents, or quotes, PandaDoc can help. As a cloud-based document management software, using PandaDoc will mean that you don’t have to print and scan documents. Whether you run a small or large business, dealing with paperwork can be tedious, so using a tool where everything is handled digitally for you like PandaDoc can reduce stress levels. PandaDoc enables you to create, send and monitor documents in one tool, helping to free up time, which you can then use in other areas of your business.
Slack
Even if you have the best business operation tools in place, unless you know how to communicate effectively with your team, you are bound to run into problems. There are business communication tools like Slack that provide a user-friendly online chat, helping to keep your workforce stay in contact throughout the day, regardless of where they are. If you have team members working remotely, communication lines need to stay open throughout projects and tasks. So, having a tool that allows you to create conversation threads on specific topics will mean that you can easily collaborate with your team as and when you need to.
Freshbooks
Known for their effective time tracking, easy invoicing, and simple interface, when it comes to managing your business finances, Freshbooks is an invaluable tool to use. If you run a small business and you’re in charge of managing finances, keeping everything in order can be stressful. Freshbooks provides a simplified system that will help you manage your finances better. Using their software will allow you to keep track of your expenses, send invoices, as well as manage your books with ease.
Doodle
When running a business, it’s inevitable that you will need to hold regular meetings. Whether it’s with your team, clients, or stakeholders, it’s important that you have a scheduling tool in place that lets you arrange and keep track of plans. The last thing you want is to overbook a time slot, especially if you’re trying to impress a client, so using tools like Doodle can help. Their primary aim is to solve the issue of meeting scheduling, meaning that participants know when the event is thanks to the entered information that is visible on the poll.
MailChimp
If you’re wanting to send out mass emails, tools like Outlook and Gmail can only get you so far. For your business to thrive, using email marketing effectively and better connecting with your email list can be achieved by using marketing automation tools like MailChimp. This tool is designed for companies who want to create professional-looking emails and set up automated emails. All you need to do is create and organize your campaign once, with MailChimp doing the rest for you. Once complete, you can gather your data to determine how successful your email campaign was.
ZenDesk
Whether you’re about to launch a startup company, or you have many years of business experience, it’s vital that you have excellent customer service skills. When interacting with consumers, using help desk solutions like ZenDesk will make sure that your audience is satisfied with each interaction they have with your company. Whether it’s through social media platforms, email, or phone, this tool enables you to engage with your customers all from one dashboard.
With the help of the tools listed above, it’s easier than ever to keep your business running smoothly. Once you’ve got your operations under control, you can then spend more time boosting your business’s bottom line, helping to grow your company.