As a small business owner, you already know how important it is that you make investments to help your company grow and thrive. While it can be tempting to skimp on expenses, investing in high-quality tech and software tools can save you time and money in the long run. The right tech solutions will pay for themselves!
From inventory management software that reduces costly overstocking issues to free online tools that eliminate the need to hire professionals, here are a few tech investments that will make your life easier, courtesy of Blu Dragonfly!
1. Data Security Software
Data security software is always a smart investment, regardless of the size of your business. The right data security tools will protect your business from cyber threats and data breaches, helping you avoid serious consequences like financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. Get in touch with a data security company to help you identify cybersecurity solutions that will work best for your business!
2. Automation with AI Functions
Incorporating automation and AI into your small business operations can be a game changer. By delegating repetitive tasks and workflows to technology, you can free up time and resources for more important work. With automation + AI, you can streamline your business processes, reduce errors, and increase efficiency.
Additionally, these technologies can provide valuable insights and data analytics, helping you make informed decisions and optimize your operations. By embracing automation and AI, your small business can save valuable time and money in the long run.
3. Cloud Storage and Collaboration Tools
File storage and collaboration tools that leverage cloud infrastructure can help boost productivity and keep your team members on the same page. Cloud-based tools will allow your team members to access and share files from anywhere. These tools also typically include features like real-time collaboration and version control, which can help teams work efficiently.
By leveraging these cloud-based tools, you can reduce the need for in-person meetings and email communication. Many cloud tools also provide backup and recovery features to help businesses protect their data. If you’re working with a marketing or branding agency like Blu Dragonfly, using cloud storage can also reduce the stress of sending large files via email for review.
4. Inventory Management Software
If you’re using manual methods to track your inventory, consider investing in inventory management software. These types of software can automate a lot of the inventory management process, from tracking inventory levels in real-time to triggering reorder alerts so you can avoid running out of stock. Inventory management software can also produce detailed reports to help you make data-driven business decisions.
5. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Apps
How much time do you spend on customer service every day? According to APOLLO, business owners work an average of 50 hours per week, and a lot of this time is taken up by emails and administrative tasks such as client management and customer service. A solid CRM system will help streamline your sales and customer service process while maintaining strong relationships with your valuable customers.
CRM apps provide a central place where you can store customer information, such as contact details, purchase history, and communication history. By storing all of this information in one place, you’ll be able to provide top-notch customer service without spending so much time on back-and-forth emails.
6. Business Intelligence Software
Business intelligence (BI) software can elevate your small business by helping you analyze your business data and make more informed decisions. Tableau explains that BI software typically includes tools for collecting, storing, and analyzing data from various sources, including sales data and customer data. Essentially, BI software will turn your business’s raw data into insights that you can read and understand. This can increase your organizational efficiency, improve the customer experience, and boost your competitive advantage.
Find Software that Works for You
Investing in the right software can be a smart move for small business owners, saving you time and money as you work to grow your business. Look for software that will solve your biggest business pain points, such as CRM software to streamline customer management or free graphic design tools to save money on the creation of marketing materials. Carefully assess the needs of your business and choose tools that will help you achieve your goals!
When young veterans transition into civilian life, they can face a number of challenges. One of the biggest is the shift in their financial circumstances. While in the military, they may have had access to a steady paycheck, healthcare benefits, and a host of other resources. These benefits can suddenly disappear once they leave the service, leaving them with a host of new financial decisions to make.
Fortunately, there are some key pieces of financial advice that can help these transitioning veterans ease into their new lives and make their money work for them. Read on for some insights from the Dallas Ft. Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce.
Stick to a Budget
The first thing that any young veteran should do when leaving the service is to create a budget. Budgeting is an essential tool for managing finances, and it can help veterans stay on top of their expenses, prioritize their spending, and ensure that they have enough money for unexpected expenses. Bank of America points out that a good budget should include all of your income, as well as your expenses and debt payments. By tracking your spending carefully, you can identify areas where you are overspending and make adjustments to save more money.
Learn About the GI Bill
Many young veterans are eligible for the GI Bill, which can help them pay for their education or job training. This benefit can go a long way in helping veterans become more competitive in the civilian job market, and it can also help them grow their earning potential over time. It’s important to take advantage of this benefit early, as some of the programs are time-sensitive.
Learn New Skills Through Online Education
Earning an online degree presents an excellent career opportunity for newly discharged veterans, as it offers flexibility, accessibility, and a wide range of programs tailored to suit their unique needs and aspirations. The convenience of online learning allows veterans to balance their education with family obligations, job commitments, or other responsibilities while transitioning back into civilian life.
As just one example, there are bachelor’s degree information technology possibilities, including online programs. Going this route results in earning an IT degree to position yourself for a lucrative career in the tech field, whether that be in cybersecurity, IT management, or network engineering.
Save on Everyday Purchases
Another way that young veterans can manage their finances more effectively is by looking for ways to save on everyday purchases. This might include using coupons, shopping around for the best deals on groceries, or taking advantage of discounts for military members. By trimming expenses where possible, veterans can free up more money to put toward their financial goals.
Build Up Your Credit Score
Having a strong credit score is essential for anyone looking to secure financing or take out a loan. Military.com notes that there are a number of things that veterans can do to build up their credit scores, including paying bills on time, keeping their credit card balances low, and monitoring their credit reports for errors.
Take Steps to Automate Savings
One of the easiest ways to build up savings over time is by automating the process. Many banks and financial institutions offer automatic savings programs, which can help veterans save money without needing to think about it. By setting up a regular contribution to a savings account, veterans can build up an emergency fund or work towards other financial goals over time.
Compare Loan and Mortgage Options
When it comes to more significant purchases like loans and mortgages, it’s important to shop around before making a decision. Veterans may be eligible for VA loans, which can offer favorable rates and terms. However, it’s still important to do your research and compare your options before making a decision.
Open a Business and Register as an LLC
Finally, one smart financial decision for young veterans is to start their own business and form an LLC. This can provide a host of benefits, including tax advantages, greater control over one’s professional destiny, and the potential for higher earnings. By pursuing this path, veterans can take control of their finances and build a strong foundation for their future success.
In conclusion, young veterans have a range of financial decisions to make as they transition into civilian life. By following the tips outlined above, including advancing their education and building up their credit score, they can put themselves in a strong position to manage their finances effectively, build wealth over time, and achieve their long-term goals.
The Dallas Ft. Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce enhances the professional lives of active duty, transitioning military, and Veterans through business, employment and education. Contact us today at 214.714.5344 for more info!
On average, we spend around a third of our waking ours at work. As a result, it’s crucial to consider the type of career path, work, and industry in which we’d like to invest so much of our time. It’s important that you select a career you think you will enjoy years down the line. It should pique your curiosity, match your skillset, and give you a sense of purpose.
If you’re not sure which career you want, continue reading to learn about some of the most important factors to consider while making your decision.
Personality
Two of the most crucial aspects to consider are your personality and the level of enjoyment you want to get out of your job. Extroverted people generally enjoy interacting with others often and find fulfillment in careers that require social interaction, while introverts are the opposite.
To find your dream job, you’ll need to sit down and understand yourself. You’ll be surprised to find out things you didn’t even know about yourself before! Ultimately, this will help you determine the type of career you would like to pursue. Consider joining an online bootcamp and explore what skills you have to make a career out of.
Lifestyle
When deciding on a career, another key element to consider is your ideal lifestyle. Many individuals aspire to be wealthy, live in a beautiful home, and drive a luxurious car. If this resonates with you, consider your lifestyle when making a decision. There is nothing wrong with wanting to work in a high-paying job. You should think about what you’re willing to give up in exchange for that money.
Do you want to be a part of a vibrant social scene? Do you enjoy working long hours? Are you willing to put your happiness on hold to achieve success? There’s no denying that salary impacts productivity, but consider how it compares to your lifestyle choices. If you’re a laid-back or introverted person, a sales profession with hundreds of client interactions every week might not be for you.
Here’s the thing about jobs and pay: if you’re good at what you do, you’ll soon be earning as much as those in higher-paying fields. You will rise through the ranks faster if you have a job you enjoy. As you advance in your career, your compensation will increase. Advancing your career is easy when you obtain higher education and job training, such as a relevant online degree.
Job Market
While it is now the least essential criteria on our list, the job market used to be the most important factor for a long time. It was even thought to be the only consideration by some. After all, what’s the sense of pursuing a job in a crowded field?
In this view, it is reasonable to select a career path among the options offered. The only issue is that job demand fluctuates quite frequently. Every year, countries publish a list of the greatest jobs or most sought-after professions, like the BLS Fastest Growing Occupations list. A few examples of tech jobs in demand in the coming years include web developers, software engineers, and digital marketers.
Going over the other factors first, making a list of career alternatives, and seeing what the job market offers in this area is a great approach to use. For example, let’s say you’ve reduced your employment options to finance and accountancy. You’ve determined that you’re likely to excel at either of them based on your personality, experiences, and values, among other factors. Next, look into which jobs in these industries are in high demand and are better paying.
Conclusion
There are numerous other factors to consider while deciding on a career, but they will almost always fall under one of these major categories. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to finding the ideal job.
If you start a job and realize you don’t like it, take what you’ve learned and use it to improve and refine your plan. Don’t worry; plenty of people change jobs frequently and still advance in their professions.
Working remotely wasn’t an option for organizations that could allow employees to conduct their duties outside of the office. Working from home was necessary when cities throughout the world shut down after the pandemic hit. Here I am going to show you remote work trends in 2022.
Remote Work Trends in 2022
As life restarts and businesses reopen, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, but many employees who have become accustomed to remote working are left in the dark. Has the world of work been altered forever? Let’s have a look at some of the forecasts for the future of remote work.
Remote Employment Isn’t Going Anywhere
As we adapt to a post-pandemic lifestyle, the first truth that businesses and employees must recognize is that remote work will not go away. While it may not be as prevalent as it was during the peak of the shutdowns, it will remain a common and popular work arrangement.
As our economy changes and the way we work evolves, there’s been a lot of talk about the future of remote employment. Furthermore, there has surely been an increase in remote job searches.
According to a study by SHRM, One-third of workers say they would not want to work for a company that required them to be onsite in a physical office full-time. Organizations that want to attract and keep top talent will need to emphasize remote work, and other employers will be forced to follow suit in order to stay competitive.
Businesses Will Adopt a Hybrid Work Approach
Will businesses abandon their office space in favor of purely remote teams? Not quite, although several well-known corporations have done so. Employers are more inclined to use a more flexible approach, known as the hybrid model.
Rather than forcing employees to choose between working remotely or in an office, a hybrid approach allows people to choose the work location that best suits them, with the understanding that it may change. They can choose to work from home a few days a week or occasionally from the office. It is not rigid and allows for a great deal of flexibility.
As a result, many companies are pursuing a hybrid strategy, with companies such as Ford and Spotify already implementing it. Nine out of ten executives see a hybrid approach as the way forward. Employees appear to agree, with many indicating they’d prefer employers embrace a more flexible working model following the pandemic.
The Number of Digital Nomads Will Increase
While remote work may conjure images of working from a home office or even the couch, many professionals have higher aspirations. Widespread and long-term lockdowns have sparked wanderlust, which led to an increase in the number of people who identify as digital nomads, people who travel and work remotely from various locations regularly.
You may not be able to video call your remote team from the comfort of your own home in the post-COVID era. One coworker may connect from a Vermont wood cabin, while another may connect from a coffee shop in Spain. This flexibility has led to an increase in remote work jobs and occupations such as software developers, writers, web developers, data scientists, digital marketers, and more,
Businesses Will Spend Money on the Correct Tools and Training
Working from home isn’t a fad. Companies that previously viewed it as a temporary stumbling block are now understanding that it is something they must embrace on a long-term basis.
When employees claim they’re unhappy at work because of outdated technology, it all starts with ensuring that their teams have the proper tools to communicate and cooperate effortlessly, both asynchronously and in real time.
We’re sure we’ll see companies abandon clunky workarounds and inefficient processes in favor of setting up tech-savvy systems that are remote-friendly, from project management platforms and goal dashboards to instant messaging tools and virtual meeting solutions.
Businesses will also invest time and money in training managers and leaders in charge of distributed teams and departments. Employees can attend coding boot camps to learn skills that will help them perform their jobs more effectively.
Leaders will need the right tools and knowledge to handle remote onboarding and then successfully manage, inspire, and monitor their direct reports as remote work becomes the norm.
What Does the Future of Work Have in Store for Us?
Unless you have a crystal ball, predicting what’s coming down the pike is tough. After all, most of us are unlikely to have seen the huge curve balls that have been thrown our way during the last year or two.
However, studies and expert projections indicate a future in which the focus is on what work is done, rather than where or when it is done. That isn’t only a change in logistics. It’s a cultural shift for many firms that will prioritize results over hours, and employee productivity over whereabouts.
Do remote jobs do background checks
Yes, remote jobs do background checks. This is because employers want to make sure that their employees are safe and trustworthy. Background checks help to ensure that an employee does not have a criminal record or a history of bad behavior.
Article by: Elizabeth Mackenzie / Founder and CEO / https://www.globalprassociates.com
At the Dallas Ft Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce, we know just how daunting the transition to civilian life can be. You’ve dedicated years to serving your country, but the experience and skills you’ve acquired aren’t always appreciated by the civilian world. How can you translate your military experience into civilian success?
After the Military What Comes Next
Here are a few ways that newly-separated veterans can find a path forward after military service.
Education
Going back to school is a great way to find direction and build skills for the civilian world. Veterans can take advantage of GI Bill programs which, as Military.com notes, provide up to 36 months of education benefits. Like other nontraditional students, most military veterans choose career-oriented degrees like business management, information technology, engineering, and nursing.
Worried about spending four years out of the workforce while earning your degree? If the idea of starting from scratch doesn’t appeal to you, consider an online college. Online schools emphasize competency-based learning over seat-time. This lets students with prior experience earn credentials faster, saving both time and money.
Employment
A career offers a sense of purpose and accomplishment after separating from the military, but where do your skills fit in the civilian world? Goodwill points out that veterans have more to offer the civilian workforce than you might realize. Employers value military veterans for their soft skills like leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork. Some MOS skills directly translate to a civilian career as well.
Healthcare, information technology, public administration, and defense contracting are among the most popular career paths for military veterans. These professions let veterans channel skills acquired in the military into a new, rewarding career. Starting your own business is yet another option, one that allows you to put your skillset to work as an entrepreneur. One of the first steps is deciding how to structure your operation. Many small business owners choose to form as a limited liability company (LLC) because of the protection of personal assets.
Still not sure where to take your career after military service? Visit CareerOneStop for self-assessments, career guides, and other helpful resources for your job search.
Retirement
While some servicemembers transition after a few years, others spend their entire careers in the military. Leaving the military after decades of service can be a culture shock. What will you do with all of your time?
The first thing to do is evaluate your military retirement benefits including retirement pay, healthcare benefits, and the Survivor Benefit Plan. Will your retirement pay match your income needs or will you need to work after retiring?
There are plenty of part-time jobs that don’t require starting a second career. Several military-friendly companies like Home Depot, Verizon and UPS have great reputations for pay and work environment.
Resources for Your Military Transition
There’s a lot to think about as you prepare for your military transition. Luckily, there’s also a lot of support available.
The Transition Assistance Program, or TAP, is a mandatory Department of Defense program for transitioning service members. TAP offers guidance on veterans benefits and helps service members choose a career track after service. Service members can supplement TAP with a Transitioning Veterans consultation from Military OneSource.
When it comes to buying a home, several financing options are available for veterans. For one, VA loans for mortgages are available at low interest rates and require no down payment. Like an FHA loan, a VA loan is government backed, which also guarantees no private mortgage insurance is necessary, meaning your overall borrowing amount will be lower.
Other organizations serving transitioning veterans include:
- AMVETS offers career placement assistance, educational scholarships, and volunteer and networking opportunities for veterans.
- The American Legion organizes job fairs, hosts career events, and holds workshops for veterans entrepreneurs in addition to other programs.
- VetJobs is an online job board serving military veterans. VetJobs also publishes tips and resources for veterans starting a new career.
Don’t wait to begin your military transition process. The sooner you prepare for life after military service, the more confident you’ll be stepping into civilian life.
The Dallas Ft Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce enhances the professional lives of active duty, transitioning military, and Veterans through business, employment and education. Contact us today for more info, or to join! 972.853.1622
Article by: Adam Evans
