Organizing Your Resources: 3 Areas That Demand Your Attention
Whether you're self-employed or not, you probably have had to obtain and/or organize your resources in order to accomplish your work.
Although there are many that contribute to what you do, this article will discuss just three of them: consumables or other materials from suppliers, logistics, and customer service.
Consumables and other materials Resources that you use up, and that are relatively inexpensive are known as consumables.
Print cartridges, letterhead, copier paper, notepads, and invoices all fall into this category.
Typically, these are products that you would need to replenish on a regular basis.
In order to properly organize these resources, you need to have a system, albeit an informal one, that enables you to estimate the rate at which you will use them so that in wen an order is needed you don't run out of it.
Letterhead is a good example.
Most organizations that use it keep a ready supply; but as just-in-time delivery permeates even into the office, stocks of this consumable are bound to be kept low.
Because the printing of letterhead is usually outsourced, that subcontractor normally will require some lead time; say a week.
A sudden rush of correspondence or the need for several bids on new work could cause a shortage.
Another consideration is that it may not be possible to get what you need on short notice.
So although you may not need much on hand, you don't want to get into a position where you run out either.
Logistics Logistics refers to any movement of people or products.
For example, you've probably seen the large 16-wheelers transporting food to some of the big stores, such as Walmart, Tescos, or Auchan.
As an entrepreneur, you may not be involved in the transport of goods on that scale, but you could use the services of a courier for much smaller items, or an overnight package delivery service, or even the distribution of products to retailers.
Customer service This is one area that every business needs to one extent or another.
Sometimes it's handled in-house, and other times it's outsourced.
Stores usually prefer to deal with customers face-to-face, while companies that provide technical support tend to outsource it, or offshore it.
There was a time when offshoring was a popular alternative; but faltering economies around the world have begun to bring these services back home to provide jobs.
In addition, a certain frustration that customers have had with technicians whose accent made it difficult for them to be understood has also made it necessary to insure customer loyalty.
Although there are many that contribute to what you do, this article will discuss just three of them: consumables or other materials from suppliers, logistics, and customer service.
Consumables and other materials Resources that you use up, and that are relatively inexpensive are known as consumables.
Print cartridges, letterhead, copier paper, notepads, and invoices all fall into this category.
Typically, these are products that you would need to replenish on a regular basis.
In order to properly organize these resources, you need to have a system, albeit an informal one, that enables you to estimate the rate at which you will use them so that in wen an order is needed you don't run out of it.
Letterhead is a good example.
Most organizations that use it keep a ready supply; but as just-in-time delivery permeates even into the office, stocks of this consumable are bound to be kept low.
Because the printing of letterhead is usually outsourced, that subcontractor normally will require some lead time; say a week.
A sudden rush of correspondence or the need for several bids on new work could cause a shortage.
Another consideration is that it may not be possible to get what you need on short notice.
So although you may not need much on hand, you don't want to get into a position where you run out either.
Logistics Logistics refers to any movement of people or products.
For example, you've probably seen the large 16-wheelers transporting food to some of the big stores, such as Walmart, Tescos, or Auchan.
As an entrepreneur, you may not be involved in the transport of goods on that scale, but you could use the services of a courier for much smaller items, or an overnight package delivery service, or even the distribution of products to retailers.
Customer service This is one area that every business needs to one extent or another.
Sometimes it's handled in-house, and other times it's outsourced.
Stores usually prefer to deal with customers face-to-face, while companies that provide technical support tend to outsource it, or offshore it.
There was a time when offshoring was a popular alternative; but faltering economies around the world have begun to bring these services back home to provide jobs.
In addition, a certain frustration that customers have had with technicians whose accent made it difficult for them to be understood has also made it necessary to insure customer loyalty.
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