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When reviewing a businesses operating environment
there are many areas which need to be covered. Some areas are working
well, others require a fine tuning and some a complete overhaul.
And they all must be trained to work together.
We require the full cooperation of senior managment
to enter into any working arrangement. The support must come from
the inside and be more than lip service. Everyone must be willing
to change to achieve success. They might not have to change, but
they must be willing.
The work, on the other hand, is done from the outside
in. It is at the point where the world meets your company that you
consider first. This is where there is immediate feedback and positive
change can produce the greatest effect. It is also where you could
be losing sales or clients and not even know it. If they can't deal
with you, they won't deal with you.
The following is a functional list of the areas
in which we work:
Accounting Control
A complete analysis of your accounting system and
procedures to ensure that receivables are being tracked and collected,
that payables are verified, that services are received, that costs
are under control and that the cash is flowing in the proper direction.
If you don't control your finances, they will control you. This
review extends to customers (ensure that the profitable ones get
your attention), and to employees ( ensure that they are aware of
all aspects of your customer relationships and listen to them regarding
possible upcoming issues). Everyone in the firm should be aware
that their paycheck relies on their relationship with the customer.
Corporate Image and Branding
Your corporate image and the brand you create around
it must be easily and immediately indentifiable. In order to achive
this is must be used consistently by all staff. No one should create
their own version of your image. Every element of your image must
declare who you are, from your business cards to your marketing
materials to your website. Inconsistencies result in a lack of confidence
in those with whom you do business. Often not definable, but there
nonetheless.
Marketing and Sales
Marketing drives the business. It's what brings
people to your door. If you don't have a steady stream of prospects
and customers coming to call, then you have no fuel in your tank.
The key is being known in your marketplace and getting leads to
your door. After that the sales force can work with them and turn
them into bonifide clients. Marketing is a corporate wide function.
Everyone takes part in this. Everything they do has an element of
marketing to it because marketing is how you present yourself to
the world.
Corporate Information
A review of your overall corporate information
systems. We will look at how you gather information, whether you
are saving the information that is critical to your success and
how available this information is to those who need it when they
need it. This includes your customer information, sales records,
lead management, time tracking, and other corporate information
unique to your business.
Technical Structure
Determine whether your internal systems are a liability
or an asset. Are they keeping you from being competitive? Are your
staff as productive as possible? Do you have too much technology?
Your network is a tool. Is it enhancing your efficiency. This question
also needs to be asked of other technology in your office. Does
they phone system make it easy for customers to get a hold of you
or does it put them off? A comprehensive plan will keep this from
becoming a staff time waster, a sinkhole for resources or a dinosaur
that gets in people's way.
Many of these areas overlap and part of the many
layers that make up the organization. As each is reviewed and returned
to working order, there will be progress made through out the company.
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