Business process management is a series of activities that take place in a business to get to a certain goal. From its most simple form, it is input and output. It is the work that you put in to get to a certain goal. For businesses, it encompasses every step of every part of your business. For instance, consider your goal of being a business owner. You want to make a profit. The profit would be the output of your business. The input for this would include anything that you do to make your business a success. It is everything from your customer service to how you provide your services to your accounts receivable management. It includes how you issue credit, how you handle the invoicing process, and collections. It is literally what you do each day in your business. Here are some easy business process management strategies for beginners.
Create Written Policies for Every Process
For every process you (or your employees) use, it’s imperative that they are documented in writing. This is important because it ensures that the processes are being properly followed and they act as a training and reference tool.
Assess Your Business Process Management Choices
There are best practices for every industry…and for every business action that common businesses take. There are tons of management methods. There are numerous blogs and articles written that are meant to show how their techniques can improve your business. For every BPM choice you implement, you must follow it for a period of time that will provide you with enough information to assess whether it truly is the best decision for your business.
As you critique the results, you want to look at two main points: the result and the process itself. If you’re happy with the result, but you’re not happy with the process, you can examine it and look for areas where you could make changes without altering the outcome.
Keep Value in Mind
Adding value is a current buzz phrase that means the things that your clients get that they would find valuable. It’s the little things that differentiate you from your competition. Take customer service as an example. It’s no secret that customer service has fallen by the wayside for many businesses. What are some easy things that your business could do to improve your customer service? Great customer service helps create and maintain client loyalty.
Keep value in mind for your own business. It’s important that your business processes are thorough, they shouldn’t be any more complicated than necessary. Why not? Well, because busy doesn’t always mean productive. Production affects your profit. Your processes should be streamlined to help your business make the best use of time. The better you’re able to manage your time, the more money you can make.
Consider Project Management Tools
Depending on the complexity of your business, you should consider using a project management tool. There are several great choices available. Some of them are free. Compare project management software choices before you commit. Keep in mind that project management tools are only as good as your processes. They do not take away the need to develop the right policies. They are a tool used to help you manage the flow that you’ve created.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you’re ready to assess your business process management needs to learn how your business can improve, contact Clients ARM. We’re currently scheduling free consultations for service-based businesses. Using 30 years of director-level experience, Clients ARM can help you find areas where you need to improve and help you choose the best strategies. We can even help you manage your most challenging processes. Don’t wait – contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
