|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insanity in the Sign & Graphics Industry
Einstein's Definition
Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Think about this quote for a second and ask yourself, does this quote apply to the way you run your company?
Have you been doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results? If so, then you might want to keep on reading. In a world where technology is becoming a key productivity tool to the success of any business, it simply comes down to, are you accepting and harnessing technology or rejecting it. Are you willing to change or will you do the same thing over and over again? T
Here are two main reasons why I pose this question. First, many shop owners today have trouble understanding how new technology, specifically software, can become a major benefit to their business, and second, owners have trouble measuring the profits they are losing by rejecting this technological change. Have you ever rejected technology?
"If It Ain't Broke Then Don't Fix It!" Mentality
Are you expecting to increase profits by continuing the same business strategy year after year? If so, how long do you think the method will work?
Many shop owners simply do not see the need to update or change their current method. They believe that there is no need to invest in a new method when the old one still seems to work fine. This is the common, "If it ain't broke then don't fix it!" mentality. Well, I hate to be the one to say it, but just because something isn't "broke" doesn't mean you can't make it work better. When new technology such as software, could save you large amounts of time & money, how can you not accept it?
In an industry where there is an increasing level of competitiveness, shop owners must take advantage of every method available to help them cut costs. Would a commercial printer looking to grow their business, limit their shop to just a one color press? Sure they can continue to operate with a one color press, but wouldn't a two or four color press help expand their business into other areas more effectively. In this example the current method works, but a technological change would help increase the company's ability to grow.
Exploring these other areas help companies to sustain and increase profits. Without accepting new technology, shop owners greatly limit their profit potential. By using the power of technology to make their business practices more efficient owners can continue to achieve their goals.
Are You Sacrificing?
A lot of shop owners that we talk with have a hard time visualizing the amount of money they are losing, or in actuality, the amount of money they are giving to their competition, due to inconsistencies in the work flow process. These shops feel they are doing well with the system they currently have in place and do not see the need to change to a new method. This lack of vision can cause owners to limit their future profits.
On the opposite side, the owners that do see a need for change begin to focus more attention on how much money it will cost to make the switch rather than how much they are losing. These owners become unsure and wonder if the investment today will pay off tomorrow. To those owners, how much will it cost you not to switch? Do you even know? Is it one, three, possibly five jobs a day? Do the math. How much money/time is lost due to inefficiencies such as faulty estimates, under/over-priced jobs, or lost invoices.
Ask yourself, how long can a company continue to compete if they are not being as efficient as their competition? If companies choose to stay with the same system they have been using for years and reject change are they, in essence, choosing to sacrifice future profits?
$100,000 a Year
One company in particular that we spoke with was losing 4 orders per week to their competition. Since only one person in the shop was able to estimate, it was taking days to get quotes to customers, therefore forcing their clients to seek, and eventually accept bids from competing companies. When this company finally analyzed their method and applied a dollar amount to the loss, they estimated they were losing around $100,000 in revenue a year. Amazing right? What would 4 orders a week cost you? Or if you could accept 4 more orders a week, what would you do with the extra profits? How does a company like this one miss out on a $100,000 opportunity? Simply put, insanity, the Einstein definition.
It's not Just Estimating
Companies are not just losing profits due to faulty estimates; they're also losing profits due to a lack of follow up, or customer management. When sending estimates out to potential clients, how often do companies remember to follow up with them? With the constant chaos that shop owners experience on a daily basis, this follow up process can become an aspect that is quickly forgotten, especially if the current estimating system doesn't include this integration.
How much can a company increase their "win" rate for estimates by placing follow up calls to all customers with estimates outstanding? By using a powerful integrated estimating and business management software, like Cyrious, company's are able to create reminders that will tell employees who to call, when to call, and why, automatically. It keeps all customer, contact, and order information together in one place and increases the ability to save time and builds customer relationships essential to business growth and expansion.
Adapting to Change
By adapting to change, and accepting and harnessing technology, shop owners who use Cyrious Software have become more efficient and profitable.
Cyrious helps owners solve a variety of different frustrations. Whether you're an owner who is frustrated with estimating because it takes up too much time or one that is annoyed that orders keep getting lost and misplaced, Cyrious has a solution. Cyrious helps put an end to the lack of integration by providing the power of multiple software systems in one (estimating, accounting, job tracking, customer management, etc.). No company is happy about losing customers due to late quotes or losing money because parts are omitted from estimates and orders.
When owners understand the amount of time and money a different method can save them, the switch to powerful software like Cyrious is simple. Is it time for you to explore different methods to increase sales & profits, and make your business more manageable?
For More Information on Cyrious Software go to , call 1-800-552-1418 , or email info@cyrious.net
About The Author
Danny Tangredi, Cyrious Software " Your Estimating, Business Management & Job Tracking Software Solution "
So I call my telephone company and someone picks up... Read More
Interested in learning how to reduce development time, save money... Read More
Perhaps the most common theme I've heard in working with... Read More
During a recent seminar I gave located in the suburbs... Read More
On communication: One of the biggest strains on the communication... Read More
Excess capacity in an automobile plant at Ford, Chrysler, Toyota,... Read More
If your organization has people, then interpersonal skills are needed.I... Read More
Firing, sacking, letting go or terminating people is unpleasant. There... Read More
What is a Virtual Assistant? A Virtual Assistant is a... Read More
Recently a client told me a wonderful story about how... Read More
This article relates to the Ethics in the Workplace competency,... Read More
"Can This Marriage be Saved?" So reads the title of... Read More
Hiring good employees is not only important to business, it's... Read More
It really is about motivation. After all, what impels someone... Read More
Some people make decisions without any difficulty, while others struggle.... Read More
A few weeks ago, after consultations with others in an... Read More
A curious thing happens to entrepreneurs in the spring of... Read More
Any IT manager who wants to pursue the IT Service... Read More
What happens when a Project Manager asks one of his... Read More
Nearly every office, be it commercial or home-based, may have... Read More
Change is not simple. Why do we repeat behavior that... Read More
You're on your organization's diversity committee. You have the best... Read More
A Nightmare That Really HappenedOver 10 years ago, when I... Read More
There is an inherent conflict between owners and managers of... Read More
Sexual Harassment Policy Guidelines ? Part IPermission is hereby granted... Read More
Current Situation:As of this writing, the MCI Board of Governors... Read More
In two recent articles "Some Evidence of How We Are... Read More
Statistics consistently reinforce that the biggest challenge in today's contact... Read More
If you are an executive, you may sometimes feel like... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Remember Papa John's commercial on TV with the slogan "Better... Read More
Bad hiring decisions cost organizations, both in dollars and lost... Read More
BUILDING TRUST AS A MANAGER: 1. Be reliable. Follow through... Read More
I was watching a TV program some months ago about... Read More
A few weeks ago, a couple of colleagues and I... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
As a result of the dot com meltdown and the... Read More
The following question is usually debated a lot amongst IT... Read More
I have been very fortunate to travel to several countries... Read More
The company decided to develop and implement an improvement program.... Read More
If you have company delivery vehicles at your small or... Read More
The difference between leaders is ears. Good leaders not only... Read More
Cost cutting has become a necessary and important reality in... Read More
There are some simple things you can do with your... Read More
Introducing new products or services, bringing new people on board,... Read More
Employers pay a high price for absenteeism, often more than... Read More
IntroductionThere are a group of people in the community that... Read More
You've made the plans, built the quality system and conducted... Read More
Creativity and Innovation is essential for competitive advantage, yet the... Read More
Your people are invaluable to you. They are the lifeblood... Read More
Business Management Business Management |