Arbutus Ridge
Arbutus Ridge
works with you to find IT-driven ways of making your business run better. Our clients are small business owners who know that growth and value are held back if you depend on one or two key people being there all the time. Everything we do is about helping you improve the systems and processes on which you rely.
Testimonial
"The advice we received from Arbutus Ridge was invaluable and we are very pleased with their Jumpstart package.”
The owner of an Edinburgh glazing company
Want a copy of the case study? Email case-studies@arbutusridge.co.uk
The Doctor's In …
Would you like to meet up for a chat over coffee about your business IT systems?
Perhaps you are struggling to get yours to work properly and could do with an IT advisor to help sort out some problems. Or are you thinking of upgrading your system, but would appreciate some advice on how to go about it and the pitfalls to avoid? We would be delighted to discuss these and other issues in an informal no-sales-pitch environment.
We are resident most Mondays between 5 and 6 pm at BeanScene opposite Haymarket Station in Edinburgh. Look out for the Arbutus Ridge sign. Please call 0131 527 6140 if you would like to confirm an appointment, or to make a different, more convenient arrangement.
Looking forward to meeting you soon.
Why do business systems matter?
Hello everyone. Today I thought I would cover a topic that is of interest to many small business owners – why do business systems matter? Most of us think about systems in terms of complicated IT projects that rarely deliver what they are suppose to deliver. Whilst this is true in some cases, there are reasons we persevere to make these things work. Here are three of the best reasons for wanting to get the most from your business systems.
1. You start a business to sell it
Whilst it is great to enjoy going to work every day, the time will come to exit the business. There are couple of ways to do this, but most people hope to sell the company for as much as possible. If that sounds like you, think about how much your business is worth if it can’t operate without you being there – not much. Ultimately, it is your business systems that allow you to automate the decisions and processes that enable the company to operate when you aren’t there. And as a result of good systems, your cash-flow is more robust, predictable and bankable, which means your business is worth more.
2. Create more time for yourself
There is an old adage that you should work harder "on" your business than "in" your business. Working "on" your business means creating solid plans from the information your systems are giving you, developing your people and finding new opportunities. Working "in" your business means doing operational tasks that can and should be delegated to your team. My last blog highlighted 3 things you can quickly do to create more time for yourself. Time you can choose to enjoy with your family or to work "on" the business. And for some people, the best part of those tips was that no IT was required! If you want to read these tips, go to my 3 top time saving tips blog.
3. Enable your business to grow
Another way to ensure you get the most value from the sale of your business is to design your systems to make you scalable. By scalable I mean the business’ growth is not constrained by operational bottlenecks. Ask yourself, if your wildest dreams came true and you doubled the size of your business this year, could you cope. If the answer is no, it’s time to start system planning.
As you probably guessed, all 3 of these reasons demonstrate why integrated systems make good sense. Achieving this however, is not easy for an SME. Software vendors suggest their products will solve all of your problems. Whilst this sounds great in principle, the reality is often much different. The reason is pretty simple. Software is designed to meet a specific need, whether it is accounting, sales or warehouse management. To succeed, each supplier has had to specialise in a particular area. They also have a commercial interest in keeping their system self contained, thereby locking in the customer. Your business however, does not work that way, and neither do integrated systems.
Unfortunately, the resources and skills required to do this integration are often only available in large companies. As a result, SMEs don’t do it and simply “make do”. Sound familiar? Arbutus Ridge is different because we like to build integrated systems that meet the needs of owner managed companies. And we don’t try to force you to buy a bunch of kit you don’t need. In particular, we specialise in making independent software applications work together for you. We also train your team on the best way to make these systems deliver results. If you are interested in discovering what you could be doing to get better system, please let me know.
Regards,
Barry Larson
http://www.arbutusridge.co.uk
Better systems for your business™
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