Managing Your Business on the Go
If you work in a job that requires you to travel – whether that’s from job to job around a small area, around the country or around the world – you’ll understand the importance of managing your business on the go. Unlike people that work in an office, you don’t always have access to high-tech equipment, a store cupboard or filing cabinets so it’s essential that you have equipment, paperwork and your finances on hand, wherever you are. Thankfully, there are loads of helpful apps and tools that make it easier to manage your business, people and projects on the go and these are our favourite suggestions.
Mobile banking
Nowadays, most people use mobile banking instead of receiving paper statements or visiting branches in person. Whichever bank you register your business with, you can download their app and simply manage your finances on the move. You can easily manage multiple accounts, check statements, transfer or receive money at the tap of a button and much more. Despite what people might think, it’s very safe and secure as you can add complex passwords and extra security measures, such as text or phone calls to confirm your identity. More recently, you can use biometric data which is where you use your unique fingerprint to unlock and protect your accounts.
Finance apps
Technology has made managing your money a lot easier. As well as mobile banking, there are tonnes of specialist apps to help you with invoicing, expenses, budgeting and generally keeping on top of the company finances. Unlike mobile banking, specialist finance apps usually come at a cost but when they work well, they can replace the need for a traditional accountant or financial advisor. However, there are free options which are ideal for smaller businesses who are at the beginning of their journey and would prefer a quick and easy option.
Fuel cards
When you travel long distances, perhaps your biggest business outgoing is fuel. That’s why it makes sense to invest in a company fuel card so that you can save time and money. Some fuel cards are free and are especially helpful if you have a fleet of vehicles and multiple employees as there is no need for them to use their personal cash or card to cover company mileage. With a fuel card you can often save money per litre, collect loyalty points at petrol stations and set spending limits to suit your business. Choose a fuel card where you can manage your account online or with an app that sends invoices directly to your phone so that you can monitor usage, costs and easily claim back VAT.
Mobile readers
When you need to take payment for jobs or sales on the go, you need an easy and cost-effective way to do it. If you don’t work in a shop or restaurant where you can have a permanent card machine, till or point of sale system you can try a mobile card reader. Mobile card readers can often work with or without an app, are more affordable than traditional card machines and are easy to obtain which makes them very suitable for SMEs. For businesses who are just starting out, it’s good to choose a mobile card reader that isn’t too expensive to buy and comes with a fixed rate per transaction instead of a monthly fee. Plus, there are plenty of user-friendly and stylish readers that work on WIFI, 3G or Bluetooth which accept both chip and PIN or contactless.
Instant messaging apps
When you’re managing multiple employees, you need to be able to get in touch with them quickly, conveniently and easily on the go. Instant messaging apps have been around for decades but there are also more professional platforms, specifically designed for businesses. Apps allow you to chat in real-time with individual colleagues or groups via your mobile phone, laptop or desktop. You can also set up channels for different projects to keep track of progress, quickly ask any questions and send important files. Creating a social channel is a nice way to boost employee wellbeing and enhance the relationships between colleagues which is particularly important if you are working from different places.
Navigation tools and software
It might seem obvious, but if you’re travelling, it’s vitally important you know exactly where you’re going and the best way to get there to save time, effort and money. It’s a good idea to keep a traditional road map or A-Z in the car in case you get lost, but you might need another way to navigate as using a map requires time to plan your journey in advance. It’s important to have alternative route options in case there is a traffic accident or roadworks, so digital navigation software or an app which picks up incidents in real time is beneficial. You can choose a vehicle with a built-in satnav, buy one to attach to your dashboard or use a navigation app on your mobile to direct you.
Resources:
Fuel Cards for Small Business - LaunchoraBusiness Fuel Card - Oregon State UniversityBest Fuel Card - PostachFuel Card - SlidesFuel Cards UK - SpheroFuel Card Companies - TechsiteBest Fuel Cards - Vingle