10 ways your business can be working smarter

These clever solutions could save you money, time and stress

(Getty Images)

Running a business is a balancing act. To succeed, you need to manage costs, plan quality training and manage your assets in a pragmatic, cost-effective way. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Here are a few ways you can help take your firm to the next level.

Get smart advice for your startup

(BDB Pitmans)

If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve already got more than enough to think about, whether it’s getting your product right, finding a market or picking the top team. So when it comes to legal matters, you need people on your side who know the territory. BDB Pitmans is a friendly firm based in London, with offices in Cambridge, Reading and Southampton. Its team of legal experts can give you a useful steer on anything that might cross your desk.

For instance, if you’ve got a friend to make you a website or design a logo, what are the IP (intellectual property) ramifications? If you’re selling shares, how do you make sure everybody gets a fair deal? Whether you’re hiring employees or signing a new lease or banking agreement, it’s a great idea to let the professionals take a good look first. Get in touch for an initial chat at bdbpitmans.com.

Get in touch at Bdbpitmans.com

Upgrade your tech for less

(Augment PUI)

Ever been frustrated by your slow work computer? Would you desperately love to upgrade, but are struggling to justify the expense? Augment PUI, a cloud desktop solution from forward-thinking Lancashire startup Theo Technologies can help you turn any device – be it a desktop, laptop, tablet or phone – into a supercomputer with 3gbps of upload and download speed.

Access powerful computing resources via the cloud through an affordable monthly or yearly subscription model or grab Theo Technologies’ innovative PC Hub, a low-cost plug-and-play device for accessing next-level computing power from your home or office. It works on any platform or operating system, meaning you need never buy a new computer again. For a limited time, visit augment-pui.co.uk and input code “THEOTECH20” to get 20 per cent off your first order.

Learn more at Augment-pui.co.uk

Optimise costs and flourish

(Expense Reduction Analysts)

In these challenging economic times, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re on top of your business costs and not using resources unnecessarily. This is where Expense Reduction Analysts can help. As an international team of leading business consultants, ERA is a specialist in helping you see a path to greater profitability through illuminating opportunities, showing leaders what’s hidden, and delivering exceptional value through insight.

From simple procurement, risk management and up-to-the-minute sustainable practices to a pragmatic, diligent approach to finding synergies and harmonies across organisations and supply chains, ERA is the smart, holistic way to rationalise the way you do business and thrive. For more information, arrange a friendly chat with the team of experts via uk.expensereduction.com.

Speak to the team at Uk.expensereduction.com

Develop world-class finance skills

(Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)

To be a success in the contemporary business landscape, a head for figures is obviously a must. The CGMA Finance Leadership Programme offers a globally recognised qualification and a solid basis for becoming a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). More than 140,000 finance professionals around the world possess this qualification, which is widely considered by reputable companies to be critical when it comes to driving meaningful, actionable insights.

Accelerate your career growth by moving beyond basic accounting into the realm of strategic thinking and leadership, and learn at your own pace as part of an all-inclusive subscription package. Start your CGMA FLP journey today and take your career to the next level at myfuture.cimaglobal.com/flp.

Visit Myfuture.cimaglobal.com/flp now

Simplify your business travel expenses

(Conferma Pay)

Before the advent of “virtual card technology” from Conferma Pay, the business travel expenses process was complex. Imagine a travelling business person checking into a hotel using their own money, and later seeking reimbursement – a time-consuming, admin-heavy, error-prone process. Well, those days are gone.

Conferma Pay enables companies to create a unique card number – just like a credit card, but without the plastic – with its own expiry date and security code. It’s just for one purpose, generated in one click, enabling a super-fast and slick process, which allows for simple reconciliation and reporting. The risk of fraud is virtually eliminated, along with the carbon footprint of printing a card. To learn how your business can benefit from virtual business payments, visit confermapay.com/sales.

Learn more at Confermapay.com/sales

Take your business worldwide, seamlessly

(Freemarket)

If you run an SME (small or medium-sized enterprise), you might be thinking about growing your business across borders. But isn’t that really difficult? Freemarket, based in London, was born out of the belief that barriers to international trade and remittance were there to be broken. Through the power of smart service aggregation and integrated technology, Freemaket is all about helping businesses manage global liquidity, foreign exchange rates and keep an eye on real-time prices via an easy-to-use interface.

Led by a team with over 150 years of combined experience in the worlds of banking, capital markets, fintech and professional services, Freemarket now serves over 500 corporate clients, making the shift to international trade as simple and as seamless as can be. For more information, stop by wearefreemarket.com.

Visit Wearefreemarket.com to find out more

Nudge them in the right direction

(Nudge)

In these challenging economic times – with inflation rampant and the spectre of recession in the air – it’s more important than ever for leaders to take an interest in the financial well-being of their teams. And with more and more employees turning to their employers for financial help, it makes sense to make provisions.

Nudge offers a wealth of experience in behavioural psychology, data analysis and personalised education to empower people to develop their financial skills and resilience. What does that look like? An intuitive platform for employees that use financial education storytelling, notifications (or “nudges”) when financial action would be wise, a money health check-up and simple tools to help organise finances. Trusted by millions worldwide, Nudge is the surest route to sound financial peace of mind for your team.

Find out more at Nudge-global.com

Learn the finer points of the art world

(Smith & Partner)

Why can’t investing be beautiful? The art world has no shortage of incomparable, one-of-a-kind assets, old masters and fresh works from exciting talents working at the cutting edge of their field. If you want to get involved, but don’t have much experience, the art world can seem impenetrable. That’s where Smith & Partner can help. A seasoned investment firm specialising in art, Smith & Company is your guide to the thrilling world of art investment. Join fellow investors like Kingsman actor Geoff Bell and discover Smith & Company’s peerless pursuit of excellence by contacting an advisor today at info@smithandpartner.co.uk or visit smithandpartner.co.uk.

Find out more at Smithandpartner.co.uk

Help your people thrive the smart way

(Survey Solutions)

Maintaining quality relationships with the people in your business is of critical importance, especially in this era of high turnover and “quiet quitting”. But how do you really know what they’re thinking? Survey Solutions can help you understand exactly what’s on the minds of your employees, through anonymous staff surveys expertly designed to highlight issues.

Harnessing the power of honest feedback, with intuitive online tools and sophisticated data analysis to help you drill into the data and identify trends, the team at Survey Solutions can help you explore issues and develop strategies and resolutions before problems happen. It also offers expert advice and insights from experienced researchers so you’re not left with piles of data to work through. Most importantly, however, it can keep your people happy – after all, it’s proven that companies with a reputation for being great workplaces find it easy to attract staff.  Check in on your team now; contact Survey Solutions on 020 8943 1445 or via surveysolutions.co.uk.

Find out more about staff surveys at Surveysolutions.co.uk

Make finding your next office hassle-free

(Love Mondays Office Space )

Save time and money when searching for a coworking, flexible or serviced office space. Love Mondays Office Space has access to thousands of office locations across the UK, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Leeds. The company provides businesses with a tailored report, highlighting the top options for your specific requirements, while also arranging viewings and assisting with price negotiations free of charge. For help with finding the perfect space for your needs, call 020 8050 6864 or email info@lovemondaysofficespace.com today.

Find out more at Lovemondaysofficespace.com

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