Running a business involves a whole lot of different activities. Unfortunately, not all of them produce actual value. In fact, some of these activities do nothing more than waste your time, which could otherwise be used working towards the company’s goals. The good news is - many of them can also be automated using the right solutions. So, this article will look at the most common time-wasters in business and how they can be eliminated.
Repetitive tasks
Repetitive tasks, such as data entry and invoice processing, is perhaps one of the most common ways we see clients waste their time. They typically use Excel sheets or similar programmes, where employees have to manually enter company information. It is a monotonous and time-consuming job, that also understandably causes frustration.
Automating this process is fairly simple with a business management system, through the means of business integration and centralisation. These systems are capable of streamlining various repetitive tasks. For example, payroll automation software can generate invoices based on time sheets and financial reports using historical data - all in a few mouse clicks.
Minimising the need for manually-completed data input does not only save you time and money, but also increases employee motivation, since they can focus all of their time on more meaningful tasks.
Lack of proper planning
Poor planning leads to project delays and missed deadlines, which in turn affects business efficiency and wastes time. This essentially means that the company and its employees struggle to have a clear understanding of their projects, workload, priorities, and deadlines. It also often stems from poor resource allocation (not enough or too many resources assigned to a project).
There are many different tools and methods that can help businesses improve their planning skills: from various time management techniques, like Gantt charts, to dedicated project management software. These tools are designed to help you set clear objectives and monitor the progress of your projects more effectively. They also allow for regular reviews to ensure that the project stays on track and within budget.
Poor communication
Poor communication can often lead to misunderstandings amongst the team members or duplicated work efforts. Companies must ensure that all employees are on the same page, to avoid any errors, delays, and other time-wasting issues.
Improving communication will, again, be down to the tools you use. Various in-office and remote collaboration tools are available to help teams share information in a clear and timely way. This includes such functionality as shared calendars, document and knowledge databases, notes and reminders for tasks, and many others.
Effective communication helps everyone stay aligned, reducing the chances of errors and ensuring a smooth project execution. As a result, productivity is improved and less time is wasted.
Unorganised data
Handling unorganised data is a major time-waster in business. If you find yourself spending a considerable amount of time searching for information across multiple databases, this is not only unproductive, but also slows down decision-making. It can also lead to various mistakes and inefficiencies, further hindering business performance.
Having a centralised all-in-one system is one of the best ways to solve this issue. When all of your data, including CRM, project activities, employee information, etc., is located in a single platform, you can be sure that all data is accurate and up-to-date. It allows you to find everything easier and organise information more efficiency.
HR management issues
Inefficient HR processes typically result in unreasonably lengthy hiring procedures or onboarding and training challenges. This could make bringing new team members way too expensive and time-consuming, wasting resources unnecessarily. Other HR issues can also affect overall employee productivity and satisfaction.
A comprehensive HR software can help automate part of this process and address efficiency issues. For instance, HR case management software can streamline the hiring process, while onboarding platforms can simplify the integration of new employees.
Other routine HR tasks can also benefit from streamlining, particularly when it comes to payroll or benefits administration, both of which include repetitive, manual tasks. For example, fleet driver management solutions help manage the associated expenses. Optimising these processes will reduce errors and manual work, creating a more motivated workforce.
Unproductive meetings
Excessive and unproductive meetings are some of the most common time-wasters. They disrupt individual work and slow down project progress. Businesses should, therefore, evaluate the necessity of each meeting, limiting their number and length to maintain focus. Always having a clear agenda for what the meeting has to achieve is also helpful.
A modern collaboration platform is a great too for a productive working environment, particularly if you have remote employees. It allows team members to view each other's availability, share knowledge bases, work on the same documents simultaneously, as well as leave notes and reminders for each other.
Save valuable time with business management system Odoo
Addressing the above operational issues is essential for business efficiency. Not only do you gain back valuable resources, but also increase overall productivity.
Are you struggling with these time wasters in your business? We can help you get rid of them!
Odoo business management system can help you do just that, across various areas. From payroll automation software to fleet driver management - it centralises and streamlines all business processes within a single platform.
