Organisational wealth can mean different things to different people, but holistically, organisational wealth means that every part of the business is running optimally. This includes business systems, internal processes, staff morale, job satisfaction and, of course, financial success. Technology is arguably more integral today than it ever has been before – if businesses don’t take advantage of, and embrace, the technology that is available to them then they are very likely to fall behind the competition.
In today’s fast-paced world, technology is an essential tool and this rings true for small to medium businesses (SME’s) too – it can enable them to thrive and remain agile in an increasingly turbulent environment. Technology can be quite intimidating, and it may seem too costly for an SME, but in actual fact there are many ways to use technology in a cost-effective way to promote holistic organisational wealth.
Having the correct business systems in place means that your employees are more likely to feel productive, less frustrated and more efficient. These are all important factors for ensuring employees are satisfied and morale is positive within the company.
If we look at the business systems that are essential for SME’s, business owners agree that having a good accounting system is essential to ensure a healthy cash flow. However, in order to effectively manage a growing business, the correct business management system has to be implemented to control and integrate key business functionalities that drive a holistic and profitable operation. An accounting-only system will not suffice and/or promote growth. A comprehensive business management solution makes it possible to gather, store, integrate and analyse information for increased productivity and profit; all key components of promoting organisational wealth.
For SMEs, this technology comes in the form of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, meaning that key business functionalities are integrated under one flexible and responsive system. Smaller companies can benefit greatly from using ERP software to streamline their internal processes and reduce the time taken on admin tasks. Management are now able to instantly access accurate and real-time business information, so that they can respond to customers faster and increase their profitabilty.
If SME’s implement the correct ERP system, they can see substantial benefits for the organisation. The biggest of which is increased efficiency – by automating tasks less time is spent on admin, and more time can be devoted to growing the business. This also ties into greater profit margins. Having better control over the processes within your business will lead to an increase in output and a decrease in inefficient overheads, therefore improving sales and profit margins.
Another important advantage is greater organisational control. Having insight into operational activities and traceability over stock means that managers are able to control the workflows and utilise resources more efficiently, without having to resort to micro-management. This leads into another very important advantage: uplifted staff morale. By removing the need for micro-management and by automating certain processes and workflows, the likelihood of human error is greatly reduced and employees will become more efficient and confident in their capabilities.
Perhaps the greatest benefit is having access to real-time insights and data, whereby accurate and informed decisions can be made to respond to environmental changes effectively and quickly. Enhanced decision-making using up-to-the-minute information means that managers can ensure correct decisions are being made at the right time, and in the right context.
All of the above advantages lead to one road: increased customer satisfaction, which is, after all, the end goal. By having the entire sales process optimised and tracked from the initial lead stage, through to managing sales orders, customer data and streamlining after-sales support, customers will be more satisfied. This operational integration and increased proficiency leads to greater sales and profits, which ultimately increases organisational wealth.
