Category: Blog

Running a large-scale business is a lot of work – there’s no question about it. With multiple sectors of the company to consider, from pick and pack services in Australia to accounts, it’s vital to focus your team’s efforts on what they excel in. Consequently, there are many benefits to using 3PL warehousing in Sydney.

Namely, warehousing providers are experts in their field of logistics and supply chain management. If you don’t have the expertise to back warehouse management, it makes sense to source 3PL warehousing in Sydney in the interests of specialisation and time efficiency.

This article outlines the key benefits of using 3PL warehousing in Sydney!

Cost efficiency

One of the main benefits of 3PL warehousing in Sydney is the cost efficiency it provides your business. Rather than paying for an entire facility, with third party warehousing your business has the opportunity to pay only for the space it really needs.

This is particularly attractive if your company doesn’t need the space of an entire warehouse. Third party warehousing services can tailor the space they have to your business’ needs and allow multiple clients to share labour, space, and transportation costs.

With the benefits of cost efficiency and flexibility, third party warehousing is a great option for businesses that aren’t quite looking to manage their own logistics and supply chains.

Scalability

Due to the flexibility of 3PL warehousing in Sydney with regards to space, scalability is another attractive feature it offers. The ability to adjust warehousing space with the fluctuation of inventory is extremely advantageous – it accounts for the shifts in demand and supply.

It also allows for the inevitable stock variations that occur during product launches or seasonal demands. This is incredibly valuable as it minimises the need for companies to manage warehousing logistics and organisation as their inventory fluctuates.

3PL warehousing in Sydney allows for the easy adjustment of product flow that operating your own facility cannot provide. It also prevents financial losses with regards to unused or limited space, or inefficiencies in inventory shifts.

Low capital investments

Outsourcing your logistics and supply management to a provider of 3PL warehousing in Sydney means your company doesn’t need to worry about maintaining their own warehousing and transportation systems.

This omits the need for your company to invest in establishing and managing their warehouses and supply chains – reducing their need for the capital commitments necessary to invest in purchasing assets and hiring labour.

Your company has less to worry about in terms of accounting for asset depreciation and the multiple levels of maintenance of a logistics network.  With 3PL warehousing in Sydney, your firm can source efficient and effective logistics management without huge capital investment.

Continuous research and improvement

When you outsource to a provider of 3PL warehousing in Sydney, you are drawing upon a larger pool of skills, expertise, and experience. As the specialists in their field, third party warehousing services will make the effort to continually invest in innovation and research to improve their logistics management.

Logistics and supply management companies continually invest in new technology and upgrades, and their customers are able to reap the benefits. Any solutions or improvements your third party warehouse supplier makes are available to you.

The outsourcing of logistics and management helps the efficiency of your business – it allows you to rely on experts in their field, and benefit from the continued innovation and research they invest into their field.

With the benefits of scalability, cost efficiency, and continuous research and improvement, 3PL warehousing in Sydney is a great option for your company to consider. Without the increased stresses of asset management and logistics development, third party warehousing can allow your business to focus on its specialisation.

The business intelligence application that is delivered by IBM continues to lead the way for developers, reporters and analysts in the field of commerce. Thankfully with the upgrades that have taken place with their Cognos analytics tool, it is one of the most user-friendly platforms on the market.

 

Now you do not need to be an IT professional or experienced software expert to utilise this tool. Many operators, whether they are in sales, marketing or another department that does not require you to be tech savvy, will often shy away from these applications for fear of misinterpreting the information or making mistakes.

 

That does not have to be the scenario for amateurs and beginners alike when it comes to the power and compatibility of Cognos analytics.

 

Here we will outline some of the key features that define this model, all of which will be easy to understand from professionals of all niches and across all departments.

Simple Dashboard Configuration

 

Prefer to drag and drop than opening up files and manually operating your entire system? Well Cognos analytics is specifically designed to ensure that you can move and integrate various spreadsheets and compacted data through a drag and drop application on the centralised dashboard. The visuals and aesthetics makes for a pleasant experience and helps those amateurs and beginners who don’t want a platform that confuses them manage their information.

Work and Save From The Cloud

 

Like many other platforms that are emerging in 2018 for business operators, Cognos analytics can be sourced and utilised direct from the cloud. Forget about investing in large storage apparatuses or on developing your infrastructure, because this access will allow all users from all locations to tap into the information at the flick of a button. On benchmarks of efficiency and performance, it is hard to ignore the power of the cloud and that is exactly what IBM has implemented with this application.

Developed From Self-Service Model

 

There are data models that are utilised by software companies whereby the fields that are offered and the formatting is constricted. They do not have the power or capacity to allow users to manipulate the information according to new insights, but that is not a concern when it comes to IBM’s Cognos analytics.

 

Analysing and uploading brand new datasets already established into a framework is part and parcel of their self-service model that allows for greater flexibility, for new information to be catered to and for mistakes to be eradicated. Other vendors that do not follow in the footsteps of Cognos analytics have capitalised on this flaw in past productions, but that does not have to be the case for your business in 2018.

Configured to Mobile

 

The great aspect of Cognos analytics is that, unlike many other formats of business application software, you can pick it up and take it with you on your smartphone. The mobile compatibility has been rolled out in recent upgrades as this brand is cherished in the commerce community due to its incredible built-in security apparatus that eliminates the chance for hackers to access your vital data. Owners and analysts who need to travel for various appointments should gravitate to this model on this aspect alone as reports are allowed to be authored while you are on the go.

Summary

 

The great news about businesses that sign up for the Cognos analytics service will manage to achieve two major facets in the one hit. They will bring aboard some of the most cutting edge software technology available on the market to sort, manage and analyse their data, all the whilst not confusing those users who do not have an in-depth education or background in this field. That is a result of years of upgrades and user-based research that illustrated the need for Cognos analytics to be more up to speed and less exclusive, and they have met that challenge comprehensively.

Commercial solar power for can prove to be a practical and cost-effective means of reducing energy costs as well as the carbon footprint of your business. For many organisations, the primary benefit of renewable energy solutions is purely financial whilst other investors may choose to upgrade based on a combination of factors including environmental impact and public relations.

Let’s take a look at 6 major benefits of commercial solar power for your business.

1.     Reduction in energy costs

As the cost of electricity continues to skyrocket, the installation of commercial solar power systems allows businesses lock down some or all of their energy needs at a predictable, fixed rate. This works to reduce operating costs each month and overall bottom line while also allowing certainty in future energy planning.

This peace of mind is important since the cost of electricity is so unpredictable and subject to market changes. The sun, on the other hand, doesn’t fluctuate with markets or demand; it’s always shining and producing energy.

Since most commercial solar power systems last for several decades, this form of energy can provide you with managed, predictable costs that stay where they are long after the term of an energy supply contract expires. For the majority of businesses, the cost per kW for commercial solar power will be much lower than the standard grid cost.

2.     Reduction in greenhouse gas/carbon emissions

Each kW of commercial solar power that is installed will reduce the amount of carbon emissions by more than 2 tonnes per year. This helps provide a marked benefit to the global effort to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (Co2) in the planet’s atmosphere.

This average reduction in carbon emissions can be promoted by the organisation in marketing material and on its website. Environmentally conscious consumers (the majority) will look at your business more favourably because you are cutting your corporate contribution to global warming.

3.     B2B leverage

The indirect benefits of improving your businesses’ green credentials are quite powerful and commercial solar power represents a practical and highly visible way to help the environment on a meaningful scale. More than ever, organisations are now using their level of environmental harmony as a bargaining chip when sourcing new leads and bidding on contracts.

Organisations are also now demanding suppliers publish their environmental commitment as a way to leverage their own value. Commercial solar power is a low cost and practical way to demonstrate this environmental commitment.

Your business can even invest in communications software that shows visually the performance of your commercial solar power installation. This information can be used in outreach material to quickly demonstrate your commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

4.     Bedrock of energy reduction programs

A commercial solar power system can be the backbone of an energy reduction program that includes smart computer politics, lighting technology changes and more.

The installation and use of this kind of energy system can affect employee behaviour in powerful ways whether they are an office or factory worker. This is because there is a direct link between the power source and the thing using it.

5.     Retaining valuable employees

Research is beginning to show that many new or potential employees are now valuing the green credentials of an employer before making a career decision. If you want to attract valuable employees then commercial solar power may be just the right statement your organisation needs to make.

The employees’ commitment to social and environmental issues reflects in their commitment to their role and to the company. This is helped when the employee feels as though the organisation they work for is taking positive steps in environmental action.

People want to feel like the solution and not part of a compounding problem.

 

A do not disturb light for your cubicle brings itself a series of benefits that might be evident at first glance.

 

Amongst all the costs that a local business incurs during any single day, from phone bills to printing costs, transport, shipping and just having employees turning up and being on the clock – there are plenty of items on the agenda for an owner.

 

However, there is a great deal of benefit to this tool when you consider the logistics of streamlining and operation. Given the rate of missed calls, the confusion felt amongst departments and the drop in expectations and service for the community at large, surely the standards can be raised?

 

This is where the introduction of a do not disturb light for your cubicle can make the world of difference.

 

For a small investment, you can see an enterprise develop a stronger sense of clarity and purpose.

 

Right now we will expand on that point in more detail, illustrating the benefits of using an outlet like this for your commercial space.

Coordinate With Employees

 

Introducing a do not disturb light for your cubicle will help with employees in the same department be aware of each other’s status at any one time. Whether you examine a sales department, a customer service operation or a help desk that has a number of individuals in place, there needs to be coordination between the parties. For when calls become diverted or help is needed between two professionals with a similar degree of expertise or experience, then this can facilitate a healthier working environment.

Coordinate With Employers

 

A do not disturb light for your cubicle will also become a major help when it comes to those higher up in the hierarchy as a department head or manager attempts to gauge the efficiency and quality of work of those underneath them. If a call status is consistently busy, then they are likely a professional who is regularly in discussions with consumers or clients and is willing to engage on a regular basis. Their job description might stipulate that for a call centre, or it might be a disadvantage should that not be their prerogative. Either way, the employers have great clarity to gauge performance as well as availability.

Streamline For Business Operations

 

Bringing in a do not disturb light for your cubicle is not just a means of rolling that item out in isolation. What a do not disturb light for your cubicle actually does is help to streamline a uniform business practice that allows others in close vicinity to respect the status of an ongoing call or a discussion that renders that professional unavailable for whatever reason. This can open up other pathways to name tags, available and unavailable lights, and additional systemised software that pushes towards advanced modes of communication.

Improves Call Rate

 

The central objective for a do not disturb light for your cubicle is to communicate to those around you that you are unavailable to hold talks in that moment. Whereas other customer service operations divert calls and leave the end user waiting on the other line for an endless period, this helps to cut down on missed calls and interrupted conversations. The communications department require clarity to make decisions and this works towards that goal.

Summary

 

There will be a series of brands and outlets that cater to the market that will issue you a do not disturb light for your cubicle. It is a niche that has grown over the years as call centres, customer service departments and sales operations have needed a means of streamlining their day to day through one single process where every member is up to speed. That is why a do not disturb light for your cubicle is the smart choice.

 

Any business that wants to satisfy their customers and keep their staff informed will be utilising a form of inventory software for small business. Above all else, this will ensure a strong degree of control whereby a retail and warehouse outlet can manage the incoming and outgoing of stock without human error causing major damage along the way.

 

Whilst the term ‘inventory software’ might appear ambiguous to the uninitiated, it will actually be a program that comes equipped with a series of features that will help the bottom line of the business.

 

In 2018, there are brands and products that will assist staff conduct their daily routine with a greater degree of confidence and clarity as decision can be made based on pertinent and up to date data.

 

So what should your software package come included with? Here we will outline the central features that defines this program.

Track Kits

 

A feature that should be evident will all types of inventory software is the application of delivering track kits. These helps a business by bundling and grouping together categories of products together that will end up forming their own unique product. This is mainly evident with items that need to be built and constructed to some degree on behalf of the buyer or end user, such as a desk, printer, bed or other items that requires a degree of assembly.

Multi Device Integration

 

The latest forms of inventory software will allow smartphone devices and tablets alike to utilise the program without any issues. Given the capacity to download a live app that will give more staff access to the platform, workers can scan for goods and monitor stock without the need for continued oversight that slows down productivity. This is especially pertinent if the centralised system is poorly performing or shutdown due to an emergency and a backup device has to be used. This will see the inventory software offering a functionality that is hard to surpass for quality.

Low Inventory Warning

 

Alters and notifications should be part and parcel of the features that come inclusive with inventory software, yet this is particularly relevant when discussing low quantity of stock. Orders that become backlogged hurt the efficiency of a business that needs to keep customers satisfied and slowing down on orders due to an inability to monitor stock is a major failing that any retailer should be ashamed about. These notifications should keep stock quantity front of mind from the top office the staff that are on the ground in the warehouse.

Inter-Warehouse Movement

 

This facet will ultimately be necessary should your business be part of a franchise or working in accordance with reliable partners who manage one department of the stock. Inventory software should come accompanied with a feature that offers inter-warehouse movement as the goods are maneuvered from one postcode location to the next, specifically in relation to a warehouse-to-warehouse chain.

 

There will be moments when these transfers need to be updated in real time or amendments must be communicated to the courier and the recipient, something that the software package should provide and stipulate.

Summary

 

There will be all manner of features that can come attached with your inventory software that you choose to purchase. From multicurrency to picking lists, drop ships and sales tax data, brands will want to go above and beyond to access your business. Yet it is worthwhile identifying if your inventory software included the above features because that will give your company the edge against the competition when it comes to delivering the product to the masses.

So you come across the word digitisation and immediately link it to digitalisation thinking they must be the same thing. Unfortunately, you’re wrong and it could be a worrying trend because you are certainly not alone.

In a world that is becoming increasingly digital it is important that everyone is on the same page.

What is digitisation?

Digitisation is the process of converting a physical piece of information into a digital version. For example, if Gary has written out an essay on paper and then scanned it into a PDF format on his computer, this is digitisation.

What is digitalisation?

Digitalisation is the next step from digitisation by using this to advance, progress and improve business operations. For example, Sally has scanned her essay into a PDF format and saved it to her computer. She has then uploaded it to the cloud so that the information can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

Comparing the two

In the above examples highlighting the difference between digitisation and digitalisation, both Gary and Sally have digitised their business. However, it is only Sally whose business is now digitalised because she has managed to improve her processes through the cloud.

Ultimately, digitalisation leads to improvement and benefits where as digitisation is simply transforming one physical thing into a digital version. Digitalisation requires digitisation but the same cannot be said the other way around.

What’s the next step?

The next step in this process is what is called digital transformation. Digital transformation is when the digitisation and subsequent digitalisation results in the changing of an industry for the better. It is the impact caused by digitalisation.

A great example of this is how digitalisation has impacted the advertising or marketing industry. The internet has led to the digital transformation of the advertising industry as advertising has become more online because it can be easily measured and more accurately measured than more traditional forms of advertising such as outdoor or radio and TV.

One of the biggest digital transformations in the advertising industry has been the adoption of email marketing as opposed to paper mail. Paper mail doesn’t provide a feedback loop, there is no way of knowing if that specific delivery or deliveries had any impact. When it comes to email, however, you know exactly who has received it, who has opened it and how they have engaged with each part of the email.

Digitisation is only the first step and then digitalisation only gets you a part of the way. It is not until digitalisation has turned into digital transformation that the impacts become significant.

If you are a self-employment person or someone who doesn’t have access to the normal types of income documentation a low doc home loan may be the saving grace that you’ve been looking for. When trying to apply for a home loan as a self-employed person you may be astonished at how differently lenders treat you.

Generally to apply for a loan you need to be able to show your past two tax returns and a decision based on those documents is what will calculate how much you are entitled to borrow. A problem with this system is that if you have out of date tax returns or returns that don’t reflect your income at the present moment you won’t be given a fair amount.

As you file your tax return happens a period of time ago, lenders don’t take into consideration what has happened in between that time frame. Luckily low doc home loans exist and can benefit you greatly.

They’re made for small business owners and entrepreneurs

Low doc home loans are designed with self-employers and entrepreneurs in mind. The documentation that you need to provide to get started is a singed privacy statement, a declaration of income, some proof of identification and the application form itself.

Being self-employed shouldn’t limit your borrowing capabilities and low doc home loans can help get your foot in the housing market.

Save time

When you run your own business or if you are an entrepreneur you don’t have the luxury to sit down and go through all the procedures that banks and lenders require you to do. Luckily low doc loans are also streamlined to make the process easier.

Traditionally if you have had finance within the past 6 months it can make the process even quicker. Lenders can go to the companies that you dealt with previously and analyse what type of payments you were making and if they were on time or not.

Since there is less paperwork involved, lenders often require some security for the loaned amount. They analyse your assets and assess whether you will be able to pay back the debt. If you already own a home that’s a great stand point in proving that you can pay back the debt. However if you aren’t it’s not the end of the world. Most lenders typically require a security deposit to pay off the first few instalments of the loan.

Vast amount of options available

A great way that a low doc home loan can help you is that there are plenty of different lenders available that have opted this type of loan. Businesses and banks are aware of the changing world and that people with their own business and those that want to start one need to get into the housing market themselves.

Low doc loans aim to help those who can’t supply the traditional documentation or time during the process of acquiring a home.

There are many different lending services available each with their own benefits and downfalls. Have a look and get an estimate from multiple lenders. As they are designed for stream line you can usually fill out an application online that is send back rather quickly.

In doing so, you can obtain your own portfolio of possible lenders without having to leave your household. Look at the rates that they provide and see which service is the best for you when making your decision.

More and more people in this day and age are working from home. This is the case because the internet works so well as connecting people now. Instead of having to attend physical meetings, people can chat via Skype or through email. Employees can easily be hired from anywhere in the world and can communicate with each other on a daily basis through social media accounts or apps such as Slack. In addition to this ease, people also want to work from home because they don’t want to have to work for someone else anymore. Almost all people have experienced bullying in the workplace in their lives and will decide that usual business model where a CEO will make all of the money and the people that do all of the work make the least amount of money doesn’t sit well with them. Having said this, just because someone decides to work from home, it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have a dedicated room to work in where they can easily complete their tasks and not get distracted by other things in the home. As this is the case, many people will hire interior designers to give their home a simple and yet opulent feel that will allow people to get as much work done as effectively as possible. What an interior designer will commonly do is select certain pieces of furniture that will bring a room together. More often than not, one of these selected pieces will be a leather couch.

How does a leather couch bring a room together?

One of the best things about using a leather couch in a study area is that layers can be added to the piece. As a traditional leather couch will be neutral in colour (black, brown, tan, or cream), different textures and colours can be added to this to suit the person at hand. For example, for someone who is wanting a more feminine feel, they can add layers of light coloured pillows and throw rugs. They could also place a tall and light lamp next to the leather couch which will help balance out the neutrality of the piece. More someone who is wanting a more rustic feel in their office space, they could couple their leather couch with wood pieces or even animal hide or bones as decorations. Many people will enjoy coupling their piece with a retro bar cart which will give their office space an elegant feel that resembles the 1950’s. So as it can be seen, there are many different ways that people can utilise a leather couch in order to bring a room together.

Splashes of bold colours can be added with a leather couch

Another great way to create an office space that is by adding splashes of bold colours. This can mix well with a leather couch as it will make the bold colours stand out even more. For example, someone could have one piece of colourful art work hanging somewhere in the room. Some will even like to purchase desks or computer chairs that are of unusual colours and patterns. Having a little bit of colour in an office space (but not going overboard) is often the perfect way to keep things light, positive, and fun. Furthermore, when using splashes of colour, people can still have a gorgeous leather couch in the space which can be a great place to sit and think or to offer guests a drink when they visit. All in all, people can’t go wrong when implementing a statement piece.

So often we spend our work days powering through work with the simple goal of getting it done and being able to go home at the end of the day. Before we know it the week is over and we get to do it all again in 2 days’ time.

The trouble with this is that we don’t get anything out of it and we can end up hating our job. Taking the time to think through every task we are doing and how it will benefit the business and clients can improve your own wellbeing and find a greater purpose for what you do. A sense of mindfulness will help you to get more than just a salary out of your job.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is about paying full attention to the task at hand and completing it with purposefulness without judgement in the present time. The origins of mindfulness come from meditation and are designed to reduce stress and anxiety. Having mindfulness as part of your everyday routine will help you to have a greater awareness, allowing you to have a better understanding of what you are doing and why which will result in you being more stress free.

What are the benefits?

Taking a mindful approach to your work each day will have a number of positive effects;

1. You will become aware of habitual or routine behaviours that may not be most efficient or are simply outdated, allowing you to take an alternative course of action.
2. Having this awareness will allow you to better adapt to unknown situations
3. You detach yourself emotionally from more situations which will allow you to make clearer, and likely better, decisions when it comes to finding a solution or choosing a course of action.
4. Having a greater sense of calm will likely enable you to come up with more creative and innovative solutions to problems or simply improve processes.
5. You will better prioritise your life and find a more suitable balance between work and play as a result of a broader perspective on things.
6. Emotions such as stress and anxiety will be reduced which will in turn lower your blood pressure and improve your general wellbeing. This will have a significant impact on all facets of life allowing you to enjoy yourself more, relax and be more productive.

The impacts of increased mindfulness are almost boundless. Mindfulness in the workplace will enable you to get more out of your work and likely have a positive influence on your colleagues as well.

Regardless of how you are found a person will take seven steps before they become a customer. Whilst these steps can not all be controlled by the business, there are always ways in which the business can made it a smoother transition.

1. Discovery

Before this stage a person may not have any idea you exist. They may not have a need for your product or service and are therefore not in the market. However, this doesn’t mean that they won’t be in the market once you are discovered and they know more. As a business, it is important that you are actively looking for new ways to be discovered and how this can be made easier fro potential customers.

2. Awareness

Just because someone knows you exist doesn’t mean they know what you do. They may have a slight understanding that you sell something but they don’t know exactly what. This is a crucial stage of opportunity for you to inform the prospect of your offering. How you make them aware of what you sell could make or break the relationship. They may not need your product now but you want them to choose you if ever they do.

3. Top of mind

The awareness doesn’t stay around forever. People move on and see other things, they get distracted. In order to maintain awareness in the prospects mind you must reach top of mind. 80% of conversions are made after 5 follow up calls so you need to have a strategy in play to regularly contact the prospect.

4. Desire

Over time, be it through your awareness or top of mind efforts or simply a change of heart, people will find a need for your product or service. They have heard about what you offer through you, your competitors and friends and family and now believe they need this specific product. Having strategies in place to ensure that they opt for your brand is a necessity.

5. Information

Whilst the person may have a desire to own the product they still don’t have the required level of education to invest. They want to find information that is going to help them to make a decision. Being that business that is on the front foot and can provide them with the help they need will help to convert the sale.

6. Value

For more complex sales, value is something that is highly regarded. By this stage your business will have built a relationship with the person. Being able to concisely explain the value and point of difference is the final stage in the relationship build.

7. Action

Once the person understands the value, is informed about the product and has a desire to purchase it, it’s time to complete the sale. Ask them if they would like to purchase and highlight the benefits it will have for them.