How Rapid-Cycle Innovation Enhances Business Process Optimization

Posted on September 25, 2024 (September 25, 2024) by smartboost

Introduction: In today’s business world, Rapid-Cycle Innovation (RCI) has emerged as a crucial approach for organizations aiming to stay competitive and agile. RCI involves the rapid development and testing of ideas to drive innovation at a much faster pace. As businesses increasingly face disruptive technologies and evolving market demands, the importance of RCI continues to grow. One of the key areas where RCI proves invaluable is Business Process Optimization (BPO). By integrating RCI into BPO efforts, businesses can streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction in real-time. At Trinity, business process optimization is at the core of what we do, and we have helped hundreds of businesses improve their RCI and BPO. This blog will discuss how Rapid-Cycle Innovation (RCI) and Business Process Optimization (BPO) work together to create faster, more adaptable business processes. In this post, we’ll break down the basics of Rapid-Cycle Innovation (RCI), explain how it improves business processes, and share practical steps for companies to start using RCI to boost their operations. Understanding Rapid-Cycle Innovation Definition and Core Principles of Rapid-Cycle Innovation RCI is a strategy of identifying and addressing quick ways to improve processes and yield rapid results. The core ideas of RCI are speed, testing, and continuous improvement. This means businesses should quickly develop ideas, test them in real-time, and keep refining them based on feedback to improve efficiency. This cycle enables businesses to adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs. In today’s business world, where disruption and evolving trends are the norm, these principles are crucial. Companies that use Rapid-Cycle Innovation (RCI) gain a competitive edge, make better decisions with less risk, and create more efficient, impactful improvements in their operations. The Role of Rapid-Cycle Innovation in Modern Business Rapid-Cycle Innovation (RCI) is a key driver of continuous improvement and flexibility in business processes. Rapid-Cycle Innovation (RCI) helps companies improve processes quickly by testing, refining, and adjusting, allowing them to adapt faster to changes in the market. This agilityis especially beneficial in data driven industries that face constant disruption, such as telecom, healthcare, and supply chain. For instance, telecom companies use RCI to automate tasks, while the healthcare industry applies it to cut inefficiencies to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the supply chain industry leverages RCI to decrease costs from overstock, prevent theft, leading to operational efficiency, accurate data, and improving customer satisfaction. How Rapid-Cycle Innovation Drives Business Process Optimization Identifying Opportunities for Process Optimization RCI is a powerful tool for businesses looking to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks in their processes. RCI encourages fast testing and prototyping, making it easier for companies to spot slowdowns or issues in their operations. Instead of waiting for long data collection or analysis, businesses can make small, quick changes, see the effects right away, and adjust as needed. This cycle actively identifies hidden inefficiencies and reveals new opportunities for business process improvement that people may have overlooked. For example, quickly testing new workflows in production lines or service systems can expose issues like gaps, overly complicated steps, resource waste, or unnecessary actions. Each iteration leads to a deeper understanding of the process, allowing businesses to fine-tune their operations constantly. Ultimately, RCI fosters proactive problem-solving, enabling businesses to remain agile, improve performance, and sustain long-term growth through incremental and iterative improvements. To read more about business process innovation, click here. Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Costs RCI streamlines business processes by removing unnecessary steps and enhancing efficiency, resulting in significant cost reductions. Through continuous iteration and testing, businesses can optimize workflows, reduce resource waste, and lower operational costs. For example, in a recent case study, Trinity assisted with RCI for a company in the Supply Chain industry by creating a custom “Buying Module” that allows the team to more efficiently and accurately build purchase orders across dozens of vendors based upon upcoming order needs. To read more about it visit: Trinity Case Study – Willow Run. Improving Flexibility and Responsiveness Rapid-Cycle Innovation (RCI) allows businesses to quickly adjust their operations to changing markets and customer needs. RCI allows companies to respond to external changes faster than traditional methods. This flexibility is important because consumer preferences and market conditions can change rapidly. You can read more about these shifts in this Forbes article. Businesses that use RCI can constantly improve their operations to handle new challenges, staying ahead of competitors that rely on slower, less flexible processes. In this way, flexibility through RCI becomes a critical factor in maintaining a long-term competitive edge and improving business process management. Key Strategies for Implementing Rapid-Cycle Innovation in Business Process Optimization Establishing a Culture of Continuous Improvement Building a culture that embraces change and ongoing improvement is essential for businesses looking to optimize their operations in today’s data-focused world. Embracing innovation and data-backed decision-making encourages teams to stay adaptable and constantly seek efficiency. A helpful approach for guiding businesses through structured improvements is the DMAIC framework, which stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. To build this culture, leaders should promote open communication, encourage data-driven experimentation, and reward problem-solving. Empowering employees at all levels to identify and address inefficiencies fosters ownership and engagement. Regular training on data analytics and process optimization reinforces this mindset. Transparency in sharing both successful and unsuccessful results help teams learn and adapt quickly. Leadership must model this behavior and celebrate small wins to maintain momentum. Organizations that focus on ongoing improvement using data-driven methods like the DMAIC framework will not only boost business performance but also stay competitive in changing markets. Leveraging Technology and Data Analytics Businesses can leverage technology and data analytics to enhance RCI and Business Process Optimization (BPO) efforts, driving greater process efficiency and streamlined operations. By integrating data-driven insights, companies can identify inefficiencies more effectively, enabling continuous optimization efforts. Tools like business process automation (BPA) platforms can speed up improvements by automating repetitive tasks, cutting down on manual mistakes, and freeing up resources for more important work. Trinity helps businesses create applications that automate everyday tasks and offer real-time insights to […]

5 Reasons to Re-Evaluate Your Business Tools in 2022

Posted on August 15, 2022 by smartboost

The applications and systems utilized by companies to maintain operational agility have a profound impact on their overall business strategies. Businesses that want to get the most out of their software and hardware infrastructure should do continuous evaluations to upgrade and improve their capabilities. Getting more done with less effort means investing in the right systems and strategies. With the right management tools, businesses can maintain their competitive advantages by saving time, money, and resources. How Can the Right Tools Improve Business? Productivity is vital for business success. This requirement means having tools and software that can increase efficiency. Data analytics, reporting, and project collaboration can all be simplified by defining problems and deploying custom solutions. No matter the industry, organizations can reap the benefits of custom-made applications. The best business tools will inspire an organization’s innovation, growth, and resilience. Better Innovation Users can unleash their creativity significantly when they can do things they usually couldn’t. Companies that want to improve performance on all levels should consider how their digital technologies enable their workforce to continuously adapt and find unique solutions to ongoing problems. A barcode scanning system, for instance, will improve supply chains with asset and inventory management. Business tools should promote innovation by giving users what they need to look forward to the future. By focusing on their workforce and fostering creativity, businesses will have all they need to improve their services and customer experiences. Faster Growth Because businesses have to compete, the right tools will inevitably make or break their capacity for growth. Organizations that can’t adopt better strategies and improved efficiencies will quickly be left behind and unable to keep up with their competition. With the right tools, growing your business is more seamless. Business tools offer organizations a way to radically transform their business processes with little overhead and time constraints. Investing in exemplary architecture will improve growth targets without risking core operations. This approach allows businesses to maintain a competitive advantage no matter what industry they’re in. Greater Resilience Continuous delivery of products and services is essential to any successful business strategy. Companies are better equipped to deal with long-term problems when they can maintain operations regardless of circumstances. Empowering employees with workflows that support their daily activities will make them more productive and happier with their positions. These employees will also make fewer mistakes, leading to a more resilient environment. Quickbase outlines these themes in their whitepaper on empowering digital transformation in business. What Re-evaluating Your Business Tools Can Accomplish Although many powerful applications are available to companies, these applications may not be the most efficient options available. Custom-built business tools have a great deal of potential. However, a few barriers keep organizations from taking full advantage of these strengths. With around 44% of businesses currently offering services to non-IT-related clients, and the rest likely to soon follow, leaders need to understand the power custom business tools provide. 1. Powerful Transformations Within most companies, there is a separation between different human assets. Employees, managers, and partners are often given conflicting information, funding, and knowledge. This siloed approach creates a huge barrier to success for many organizations. Nearly half of businesses see the importance of improving their interactions with digital tools and software. Fewer silos mean better collaboration and unique solutions to ongoing problems. This strategy makes it easier for businesses to see and respond to potential risks. A better relationship between companies and IT creates powerful opportunities for transformation. 2. Practical Automation While most daily operations are still manual, automation can benefit many tasks. This tactic leads to reduced lead times, increased output, and improved return on investment. With automation, you can dramatically improve efficiencies alongside employee engagement and satisfaction. A cloud-based appointment scheduler, for example, allows users to easily create, share, and edit schedules in a single unified location. Your staff can do the same with file sharing. Only 8% of companies have fully automated their workflows. Businesses that take the necessary steps will have a competitive advantage. Organizations can mitigate waste and reduce potential errors by augmenting productivity with automation. This approach leads to a more competitive workforce. 3. Accessible Solutions Most businesses are still held back by a lack of available applications and technologies that enable them to do their jobs quickly and effectively. Companies need to understand that they play a role in developing their IT assets. For perspective, not even half of IT professionals believe that non-IT users are effective in deploying strong solutions. Few thought that users had all they needed to complete their tasks successfully. With custom business tools, organizations can create specialized solutions that give employees everything they need to do their jobs. 4. Modern Solutions As companies build their IT infrastructures and business tools, they often deal with unforeseen or unexpected circumstances. This blindness often results in an IT ecosystem filled with outdated and inefficient architecture. Companies that want to maintain their capacity to offer service should consider how their legacy business tools hold them back. In 32% of the cases surveyed by Harvard Business Review, legacy systems and software was an obstacle to success. This result suggests that there is still room for growth when building new solutions that integrate with existing IT infrastructure. Re-evaluating business tools gives organizations an idea of which systems still have value and can be improved. 5. Managed Progress Progress means improved finances, loyal customers, and greater competitiveness for businesses. The wrong tools can make it challenging to make positive advances in these areas. While many businesses have yet to make the transition, organizations are becoming aware of the need to re-evaluate their business tools for defining and assessing their stated goals over time. Getting organized and taking action should be a core function of modern business tools. However, prebuilt solutions often lack essential functionality or have too many features for everyday users. Some 67% of businesses and IT workers believe that they have what they need to create their own custom app solutions. By re-evaluating their […]

The Age of Operational Agility in 2021

Posted on December 15, 2021 by smartboost

In the ultra-competitive modern marketplace, the companies that thrive have mastered the art of operational agility. Conversely, those organizations that fade into obscurity have a static business model and rigid internal structure. These businesses cannot adapt to the changing economic tides or unpredictable market conditions. These hard truths were highly evident during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. While thousands of businesses learned some tough lessons during 2020, these challenges paved the way for 2021 to become the age of operational agility. With that being said, you must understand how agile operations work to prepare your organization to remain competitive in the future. Below, we’ll discuss the core aspects of operational agility and agile working methods. Here is what you’ll learn: What is Operational Agility? Benefits of Operational Agility Operational Agility vs. Business Agility Dr. John Kotter’s Dual Operating Systems Methods of Agile Leadership Emerging Software Preparing for 2022 What is Operational Agility? Generally speaking, operational agility refers to an organization’s ability to adapt and evolve due to changing circumstances or expectations. Agility may include reacting to market pressures, technological advancements, changing customer demands, and more. An agile company in operations management will be more resilient to external market factors. While agile operations are always essential to a company’s overall financial health, it is imperative in strained economic times. This is because organizations must contend with their competitors and unpredictable operational disruptions across every industry. Operational Agility During COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant disruptions to the U.S. and global economy ever encountered. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’ Economic Research, the Index of Industrial Production demonstrated a 17% drop between February and April of 2020. The decrease was the single steepest two-month decline in the history of the IP, which was created in 1919. The severe economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic caused many leading organizations to reevaluate their level of agile operations readiness. According to a Harvard Business Review report, a staggering 91% of organizations altered their existing operating models in response to COVID-19. Despite these widespread disruptions, the most successful organizations effectively adapted during the pandemic’s height. Based on the same HBR analysis, only 27% of companies stated that their strategies were “very effective” both before and after the start of the pandemic. This means that roughly 73% of organizations were at least partially unprepared to pivot their current business operations in response to COVID-19 related disruptions. While both the U.S. and the overall global economy are on the mend, businesses should not forget the lessons learned during the pandemic. Instead, companies should take a proactive approach to long-term operational agility. By evolving your current business model, you can ensure your company is better prepared for the next event that changes how they interact with consumers. Benefits of Operational Agility In addition to making a company more fiscally viable in the unpredictable modern marketplace, a high level of operational agility offers several other benefits, including: Improvements in Efficiency Agile operations will inherently become more efficient, as well. Each improvement that an organization makes to its current organizational structures will reduce waste and expedite internal processes. Agile teams across various departments will share information more effectively and collaborate with ease with this approach. Operational agility will allow them to develop new solutions to emerging problems rapidly. Enhanced Technological Resources Organizations that deploy an agile operating model will make a concerted effort to obtain the latest digital technologies and products. While reassessing their current practices, many businesses find that the technologies they rely on are due for an upgrade. With an agile approach, they will seek new technologies that allow greater employee responsiveness. Quality Improvements The modern consumer has lofty expectations regarding the products and services they pay for. This same trend has arisen in the B2B industry, as well. Therefore, all organizations must become responsive to changing client demands. If a company fails to make regular quality improvements, it may lose loyal customers to its local competitors. By achieving a high level of agile operations readiness, companies can ensure that they provide their clients with the ideal mix of quality and value. Increased Collaboration Collaboration is essential as organizations face new and unprecedented challenges. However, companies that lack operational agility will not have the processes to facilitate this collaboration. Conversely, companies that have struck the perfect balance between efficiency, communication, and flexibility by deploying the latest solutions will facilitate a high level of collaboration. Better Brand Image Ultimately, a company’s ability to exhibit operational agility will directly impact the experience of its end users. Organizations that have invested in new technologies and solutions to increase their agility will provide their clients with a high-quality experience. In turn, this will benefit their brand image and forge a strong sense of loyalty among consumers. Brand loyalty is essential to a company’s survival, especially during times of economic turmoil. Fuels Innovation In addition, operational agility gives team members the tools they need to devise creative solutions to new problems. This freedom to collaborate, share data, and think outside of the box will fuel innovation. With an agile approach, companies will address short-term concerns and craft long-lasting initiatives simultaneously. They will be better positioned to stay competitive both now and in the future. Operational Agility vs. Business Agility Often, the terms operational agility and business agility are mistakenly used interchangeably. While these two terms are closely linked, they are not the same. According to the Agile Business Consortium, “business agility is concerned with adopting and evolving values, behaviors, and capabilities. These enable businesses and individuals to be more adaptive, creative, and resilient when dealing with complexity, uncertainty, and change leading to improved well-being and better outcomes.” While business agility focuses on the values and culture, operational agility is more concerned with the strategic deployment of technology to capitalize on new opportunities. Agile operations fall under the larger umbrella of business agility. Both concepts are designed to help make a business more resilient to unpredictable […]

How to Use BPI in Customer Service Strategies

Posted on May 7, 2021 by smartboost

Your organization’s customer experience strategy is inextricably linked to business process improvement (BPI). Customers mean success, after all, and creating opportunities for retention is essential for an organization’s long-term growth. A focus on creating ways for BPI and customer service to link more organically is just smart business sense. We’ll explain why BPI is vital to the customer experience and how to use it with CRM in mind. What is Business Process Improvement (BPI)? So what is BPI? BPI is meant to encourage continuous improvement. For example, improving functions at a company to make products, customer service, and business operations better. That can often mean identifying inefficiencies, creating ways for operations to run more smoothly, and improving company workflow. Customer-focused BPI can mean identifying barriers that may hamper company growth down the line—also, strategizing for meaningful customer interactions. How to Embrace Customer-Focused BPI There’s a lot a business has to consider when making operational changes. Before making a change, consider the impact on: Compliance with local regulations. The company’s overall goals. Whether changes even make sense in an organization. To enhance customer experience strategies using BPI, start with creating a customer-focused culture. A Customized Approach Create a customer relationship management strategy that anticipates their needs, meets customer expectations and recognizes the value in the customer experience. Companies can use BPI in customer service to create data-based strategies and follow any changes on the customer experience side. Your strategy will require some flexibility and a willingness to act when improvements need to be made. Stay Flexible Over the last year, businesses that focused on innovative solutions were able to thrive. Their success emphasizes why companies need to adapt to challenges within the market landscape quickly. Companies should undoubtedly have stated goals in mind when pursuing any business process improvements. Management should evaluate actions that move an organization away from those goals. Lastly, a company’s customer experience strategy should always be focused on data-based decisions and improvements. Monitor Incoming Data So you’ve made changes based on information available at the time, but where is the company now? Where are customer preferences today? It’s important to monitor and adjust for additional BPI as needed. After all, customer needs change, and a company’s strategies should change alongside those needs to remain competitive. Companies should also measure their return on investment no matter how small the change. Did widespread changes make sense, creating a more profitable environment at an organization? Ideally, improvements on the customer service end would mean additional profits for a company. It’s essential to monitor any investments, however, even the small ones, to ensure they remain a boost to an organization. Innovation Within Optimization Companies that innovate are future-thinking, with long-term goals behind any decisions made on the BPI side. A focus on innovation, however, requires a high degree of operational agility. Technologies are ever-changing, and choosing the paths forward that is right for a company can be challenging. With a focus on the customer service side, innovation and the adoption of available tools and technologies can become more manageable. Innovative tools that make your business more efficient can also create pathways for more meaningful interaction with the customer base. That can be as simple as enhancing a customer’s interactions with a company by improving the mobile customer experience. Choose Tools That Make Sense Companies should use existing technologies to define workflows better and make remote work easier. Keep teams in sync to avoid miscommunication down the line that could negatively affect the customer experience. The Quickbase platform is a solution that streamlines business processes that are unique to your organization. Communication is improved along the way, a key component of strong customer engagement. Explore BPI with Trinity At Trinity, our focus always begins with BPI. Only with an exceptional understanding of our client’s unique needs and long-term business process goals can robust, customized solutions be developed. With this approach, Trinity can provide your business with a solution that enables growth within your organization and increased customer satisfaction. […]

Artificial Intelligence in Business: How AI Will Transform Operational Agility

Posted on April 23, 2021 by smartboost

Resilience and quick thinking during the Covid-19 pandemic have led to data-based solutions and business process innovations we have never seen before. Artificial intelligence has been at the forefront of these improvements and a critical component of company solvency. Why? AI tools identify areas for improvement and secure remote workplace solutions, which have been essential to business success. On the whole, artificial intelligence can improve your operations at a rapid pace while remaining agile over time. Automated processes can transform your operational agility. Both are about long-term solutions, not only as a response to current crises. Artificial intelligence in business facilitates growth in agile companies. Let’s explore how AI can transform your operational agility. How AI Promotes Operational Agility Companies struggling to address operational inefficiencies have found that artificial intelligence can be a viable replacement for manual processes. As technology changes, so do AI programs. Businesses are motivated to familiarize themselves with technology that solves problems. Today’s AI solutions continue to be adapted for use in unique ways. Businesses that use AI to their advantage are better equipped to handle obstacles in their workflow. Let’s examine the advancements AI can make: 1. Data-Driven Decision-Making Companies that have embraced artificial intelligence are better able to make decisions based on data. Artificial intelligence tools can test various scenarios before committing to a product or solution, making businesses more flexible in their responses to unfamiliar circumstances. Predictive analytics from machine learning allows company employees to see trends and problem spots they may have missed otherwise. Teams will be better able to strategize responses to potential scenarios and find fresh data opportunities for significant new ideas. A driver for business agility in 2021 is a company’s ability to respond to customer interactions and concerns as they happen. AI will improve those interactions’ timeliness and use collected customer data to drive future, more marketable decisions. 2. Improved Connections Processes propped up by artificial intelligence allow for work company-wide to be more collaborative. AI can prevent teams that are working independently from missing steps due to the Silo Effect. AI allows businesses to answer essential questions, like “how do we improve our workflow?” The solution can be something as simple as scheduling tools that make planning easier. Also, artificial intelligence in business can enhance your plan for future growth by identifying gaps in its operational agility. 3. A Focus on Fresh Skill Sets The future of work doesn’t have to mean that machine learning replaces the work of employees. It does mean that those already on staff will benefit significantly from additional professional development while using new tools to improve company-wide processes. Companies likely won’t be moving backward once they add AI tools to their business management. So, the task will be preparing businesses for the transition promoting AI as an efficient tool that molds business needs. Artificial intelligence allows room for more time spent on creativity, innovation, and collaboration when used appropriately. Automation enables focus on long-term growth rather than daily tasks or formerly paper-based processes. Teaching employees to use tools that improve efficiency and enable free thinking allows businesses to look toward the future. 4. Continuous Improvement As machine learning tools improve, businesses will become more comfortable and confident with implementing AI to improve business processes and operational agility. Confidence in AI leads to trust in the marketplace, as well. Consumers want to see businesses on constant responsiveness and improvement paths. This adaptability translates to a better experience for those consumers. Happier customers and confidence in a business’s operations translate to higher profits overall, improving its bottom line. How to Implement AI in Your Business Implementing artificial intelligence at a business from the ground up is not a simple undertaking. Fortunately, businesses can use outside support to integrate AI solutions company-wide and train staff on machine learning and digital tools. At Trinity, we have the expertise to help you implement digital improvements efficiently and in a way that makes sense for your company. Our forward-thinking team works with companies to identify obstacles to growth and develop the tools you need to remain competitive. Contact us today to discuss improvements to your business process and operational agility. Our Quickbase applications simplify obstacles and modernize your workflow. […]

Business Process Automation for 2021

Posted on April 9, 2021 by smartboost

Businesses that have embraced operational agility have fared better over the last year—coming up with flexible solutions to unique challenges while growing their bottom lines. A vital component of their skill is business process automation and identifying where processes would benefit from more efficient systems. As business process automation solutions become more sophisticated, companies with a growth mindset embrace tools to optimize their workflows. What is Business Process Automation? Business process automation uses technology to automate certain operations that a company must otherwise do manually. For example, automation software can replace paper-based accounting to give employees company-wide access to relevant accounts and invoice processing. In this case, it makes invoicing more efficient and more fool-proof, reducing human error and the potential for costly mistakes. An automated business process can simplify tasks that have become cumbersome and overly complex. It can also improve customer service interactions, boost operational agility and cut costs thanks to efficiency gains. Automation is also a key component in reducing compliance issues at an organization. Automating your business process sets the stage for digital transformation and helps your company compete in a changing marketplace. Business Automation Trends in 2021 Business process automation is undoubtedly here to stay, but several key areas will receive more attention in the coming year. Communication & Collaboration As many companies embrace remote work or hybrid models, they will continue looking for ways to improve communication and collaboration virtually. Companies have also invested in automated anonymous reporting of employee questions and concerns where an email may not be appropriate. Improving communication methods at a company improves overall employee satisfaction, reducing turnover at an organization and time-consuming onboarding processes. Document Management Digital signatures are already an essential tool at large companies looking to improve the ease of finalizing contracts. They are secure, efficient and reduce the time it takes to set up an in-person signature on a document. Companies will continue looking for other ways automation software can reduce the need for paper-based tasks and manual data entry. Customer Engagement Over the last year, companies that have thrived have kept customer satisfaction at the top of their priority lists. Automation allows a business to follow up with customers throughout every interaction with a company if needed. Through an automated business process, there is an opportunity to address customer concerns as they arise. You can also collect data from customer interactions, complaints, and positive feedback to improve customer satisfaction. Customized Solutions Business process automation works best when it customizes solutions to a company’s unique needs. For example, a hybrid workplace may focus on software solutions that give employees access to vital information remotely. Companies working with numerous vendors may use automation software to oversee onboarding and compliance with company-wide protocols. Improving the workflow business process begins with identifying where the need is at a company. How to Implement an Automated Business Process Optimizing your business process is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Automated solutions that work for some companies may not work at another. Businesses looking into workflow automation should follow a few steps ahead of implementing an automated business process: Identify Trouble Spots: A company should look at manual or repetitive tasks that take up time and need improvement. Outline Short- and Long-Term Goals: A company should run on a goal-based mindset. With trouble spots in mind, could automation improve processes to meet those goals more efficiently and effectively? Find the Right Tools: Automation software chosen by a company should match what that company is looking to achieve. Consider tools that complement what is already working at a company and any possibilities for integration. Promote Buy-In: Employees should feel that they are a part of the future of a company. Promote training around new tools and define new roles as necessary. Improved processes at a company should allow for more time for innovation and collaboration. Collect Data and Adjust: After automation tools are in place, note any adjustments that need to be made. As technology improves and changes, so should a company’s automation tools. Growth Mindset Solutions to Improve Your Processes Trinity’s business app development provides customized BPA software for businesses looking to identify growth obstacles. Our custom Quickbase applications allow your business to compete in the future of work. Contact us today to learn more about how automation software and optimized business processes can help your company grow. […]

Agile Operations: Key Benefits & Practices of Operational Agility

Posted on February 24, 2021 by smartboost

Operational agility is a critical component of a company’s ability to survive in an ever-changing marketplace. In environments where marketplace conditions are wildly unpredictable, businesses must be willing to adapt and reprioritize to make it to the next quarter. It’s essential to understand how agile operations work within a company, the benefits in a changing world, and how to efficiently and effectively implement operational agility strategies. What Is Operational Agility? Operational agility is a company’s ability to evolve and adapt due to changing expectations around that business. How a business reacts to market pressures, technological advancements, and customer demands defines its resiliency and overall health. Agile operations are that much more important in environments like the current one, where businesses must not only contend with expected demands but unpredictable changes that require constant operational shifts to survive. Key Benefits of Agile Operations Apart from the obvious of a company’s viability in the marketplace, agile operations have several benefits. Efficiency Gains With every improvement made as a response to changing operations, efficiency should be at the top of a company’s list of priorities. Agile processes boost a company’s ability to respond in real-time, make faster decisions, and create teams whose focus is on rapidly developing these flexible solutions. Efficiency gains come from identifying processes that allow for a high level of flexibility to change. Consider ways to streamline processes, perhaps with tools featuring extended reporting functionalities that allow for more efficient sharing and accessing of information. Enhanced Technology With a focus on agile operations, enhanced technology is often a benefit of companies seeking digital solutions. Businesses using existing technologies may reveal a need to invest in new software. New technologies that address changing norms to allow for greater employee responsiveness. For example, linking technology with available data and connecting those two areas of a company in tangible ways is influential in improving a company’s response to needed change. Quality Improvements There is an expectation that companies are keeping up with trends driven by the marketplace and continuously improving their products to meet customer demands. For instance, companies that fall behind on quality improvements will undoubtedly suffer market share loss and reduced profitability. A company must consider how to maintain quality while remaining affordable and valuable for the customer at the same time. Agile operations are a balancing act. A Focus on Collaboration The need to improve at a company rapidly can create additional opportunities for collaboration among employees. Some may be working together that may have not before, using skill sets in different ways to solve problems that can come up in a dynamic marketplace. Collaboration may be virtual in the current environment, with some working remotely and others in a hybrid role. It’s crucial to operational agility to ensure systems will allow for that level of collaboration to happen. A Platform for Innovation On top of maintaining a high level of flexibility, operational agility requires workers to find better solutions to existing processes. For businesses looking to remain successful in the long term, it is important to craft goals around becoming more strategic. It is about responsiveness and timeliness to stay competitive as a company and stand out above the rest. So, how do a company’s refreshed business practices allow them to respond to current customer needs and anticipate future demands? Operational agility should then also be a platform for innovation and an environment where processes are adjusted not only on a micro-level but also on long-lasting initiatives. It takes some risk to focus on innovation. A business can do both by being responsive to the day-to-day operations side and long-term strategic goals. Operational Agility in Practice Agile operations do not happen overnight. They are built over time with processes and systems in place that promote a culture of operational agility. Aside from their ability to adapt to changing demands, companies must also note how their existing operations utilize critical tools to remain responsive in the marketplace. What are the immediate fixes and long-term solutions a company can implement to remain competitive and survive challenging times? Key elements to boost operational agility include: Digital Upgrades: A business must stay on trend regarding how they approach their processes using technology and adopt tools that make sense for their company. Goal-Setting: A company engaging in a goal-based business process is more likely to adopt its responses to a changing marketplace in ways that make sense and prepare its business for success in the long-term. Small Changes for Big Results: What are tweaks to business processes your company can make now that will lead to a bigger payoff down the line? Where can processes be more streamlined and workflows adjusted to boost a company’s flexibility? Not all change needs to happen company-wide; small changes can also benefit in the long-term. Improving Your Operational Agility With over 23 years of experience in coming up with custom solutions and as a provider of the Quickbase low-code business solution, Trinity offers customized solutions for businesses looking to improve not only their operational agility but focus on strategies that promote long-term growth. […]

Business Agility in 2021: 6 Trends to Watch

Posted on January 27, 2021 by smartboost

Business agility took on a new meaning in 2020. Companies were navigating circumstances few could have predicted. As the start of 2021 appears to present with more of the same so far, business leaders hoping that changes were temporary will be looking for more permanent solutions to remain competitive. What is Business Agility? Business agility is a company’s ability to adapt and respond to internal and external factors to thrive and compete in the marketplace. Companies with a high level of business agility recognize the need to consistently innovate, keep an eye on trends, and equip their employees to respond to challenges in a meaningful way. As a result, companies working to improve their business agility report a happier workforce, more meaningful interactions with customers, and company-wide growth. With many companies already struggling with their own level of business agility fluency, it’s essential to be ready for expected change and solidify processes where trends are already coming to fruition. Let’s look at six expected business agility trends that companies may need to build capacity to respond to in 2021. 1. Flexible, Responsive Workplaces Remote work became the norm for many businesses in 2020, with many employees not expecting to return to the office anytime soon. The coming year will find that many employees have developed a preference for working from home, and companies will likely be on board with those preferences. Companies finding that full-time remote work is not sustainable will continue looking into hybrid solutions for the coming year, with employees spending time both working from home and at the office. The burden is then on companies to develop the appropriate technologies and processes to allow for flexible workplaces to continue, perhaps indefinitely. The unique needs of remote and hybrid workplaces could lead to more flexible hiring practices, as companies seeking a more competitive business process will need to diversify their workforce’s skillsets. 2. Rapid Solutions The speed with which companies have responded to challenges during the pandemic has been critical to their success. Teams seeking ways to respond to changes in their company landscapes won’t go away. Finding dynamic solutions will remain vital to their overall prosperity. Improving responsiveness company-wide may require businesses to do a deep dive into processes that are no longer relevant or outdated in favor of solutions that will support long-term growth in the current environment. Responding to changing demands is made more efficient in a culture that keeps up with industry innovations and data-driven problem-solving. 3. Real-Time Tech Solutions & Analytics Flexibility and real-time problem solving are already expected from a company’s IT services. Alongside the increase in remote work, businesses have had to develop reasonable tech solutions to questions around business security and virtual tools for processes typically done in the office. Investments in technology are not only a trend for companies to weather the pandemic and improve remote processes, though. Tech competency is a crucial component of business agility. Improving the tech processes at a company is also about getting rid of technologies that are either redundant or outdated, with regular audits meant to increase efficiency and automate processes wherever possible. The coming year will see tech improvements that allow for a higher level of personalized customer engagement, particularly when customers may be feeling weary, and real-time data analytics to frame how businesses react to rapid changes. 4. Simplified Processes and Operations With companies looking to do more with less in the current environment, identifying inefficiencies within a business will remain an essential tool around ensuring time is spent strategically and toward stated goals. Companies will continue seeking ways to simplify existing processes and operations, finding ways to do more in-house with the right systems and supports in place. The importance of finding ways to do business more efficiently will always be on-trend. 5. Employee-Centered Approaches As companies adapted to a “new normal” over the last year, employee stress became a critical point of concern for businesses looking to maintain a high engagement and productivity level. Studies showed that companies that could offer a more human approach to employee concerns boasted a higher level of satisfaction among their employees, leading to more buy-in for employees into a company’s long-term goals. With 2021 underway and companies working through the same obstacles, maintaining a high morale level among employees will remain a vital tool in viability. Employees want to feel safe, with policies in place that not only respond to the current crisis but prioritize their health and welfare in the long-term. 6. Personalized Customer Experiences People-centered approaches will also apply to a company’s customer base in the coming year. As consumer behaviors and models for reaching customers changed in 2020, companies need to seek ways to engage with those customers in new, innovative ways. Companies will seek more permanent adjustments to services with digital solutions when in-person interactions are not possible. It’s not only employees seeking a sense of security in the coming year. Companies that ensure customers feel a sense of security in working with them, keeping on top of changing privacy and regulatory concerns where relevant, will be more successful. There are ways to meet customer expectations successfully, even in challenging environments. Take Steps to Improve Your Processes If you’re looking for support around navigating a rapidly-changing business environment and optimizing your company with business agility in mind, explore our tools in the customized software and application solutions space. For over 22 years, the experts at Trinity have worked to improve business processes in tangible ways. […]

Want to Increase Your Productivity? Don’t Miss These 10 Business Podcasts

Posted on December 2, 2020 (September 19, 2024) by smartboost

If you’re looking for creative ways to improve workflow and productivity at your business, or on a more personal level as a business leader, consider looking to outside sources to give you some fresh ideas. Business podcasts have become notable tools for learning. The only problem is the number of options out there, with thousands of podcasts on the scene promising everything under the sun. The Best Business Podcasts Some business podcasts are certainly better than others. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of 10 business podcasts you won’t want to miss if your goal is to increase productivity. We know you’re all about maximizing efficiency, after all. The Tim Ferriss Show It wouldn’t be a list of best business podcasts without mentioning The Tim Ferriss Show, typically ranked at the top of most-listened-to offerings in the genre of business podcasts across platforms and a favorite resource among industry leaders. Host Tim Ferriss talks to successful business owners, entrepreneurs, and frequent celebrity guests about routines in both their personal and work lives that have led to a high level of productivity and success. Rise and Grind Host and high-profile entrepreneur Daymond John came to the world of podcasts on the heels of a prominent role on ABC’s Shark Tank and a book by the same name. With guest interviews on topics around increasing productivity and why it’s important to identify goals for our business and opportunities for success, Rise and Grind is one of the best podcasts for business owners out there, particularly those who have found themselves in a bit of a business rut. HBR IdeaCast Those looking for podcasts that are all business will enjoy HBR IdeaCast from the Harvard Business Review. Weekly installments explore productivity and business management strategies employed by successful companies around the world. Guests have included an impressive list of CEOs and political figures offering insights in a just-the-facts manner for listeners looking for actionable strategies. Masters of Scale Entrepreneurs looking to grow a startup business will want to listen to Masters of Scale. Hosted by Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, the podcast examines strategies other startups have used to not only increase revenue but create successful brands. Topics dive into all aspects of business management, from pivoting business plans in order to adapt to changing markets, a sign of business agility, to surviving times of uncertainty. Getting Things Done Popular with listeners looking to boost productivity on a personal level and at the workplace, Getting Things Done uses common barriers to efficiency to offer solutions to, put simply, get things done. Solutions offered by host David Allen, author of the book by the same name, are particularly useful after identifying inefficiencies that get in the way of a higher level of productivity in the workplace. Entrepreneurs on Fire Often listed as one of the best podcasts for business owners, Entrepreneurs on Fire is here to inspire you to come up with actionable steps to meet those business goals. Host John Lee Dumas uses interviews with successful entrepreneurs to gather insights into what it takes to be successful in the world of business today. Tips have included ways to boost your own productivity as a business leader, the importance of individualized goal-setting, and why a good team is invaluable. Back to Work If you’re looking for a business podcast that’s a bit less dry, you should try the Back to Work podcast. On top of in-depth discussions around productivity, choosing the right tools to improve efficiency in workplaces, and what’s on the horizon in the world of business software, humorous asides keep listeners interested in what hosts Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin will come up with next. The Productivityist Podcast Using interviews with business leaders and his own insights, host Mike Vardy offers up weekly tips around improving efficiency and productivity on The Productivityist Podcast. Topics include why it’s important to delegate responsibilities rather than micromanage, the power of business process improvement, and improving communication as a way to increase effectiveness. The Action Catalyst The Action Catalyst, a weekly podcast hosted by Dan Moore, is focused on making the most of your time to reach your business goals. Episodes often include interviews with industry leaders, and topics have included overcoming obstacles to efficiency, starting small to reach your ultimate business goals and habits of successful business leaders. The podcast’s title fits its aim to act as a catalyst for you to attack any obstacles to your goals head-on. Workforce Health Engagement If you’re looking for ways to boost employee engagement, productivity, and company-wide morale, consider the Workforce Health Engagement podcast. Host Jesse Lahey talks to industry experts on topics that have included avoiding workplace burnout, boosting employee motivation, and protecting employees’ health as a way to build an environment of showing employees you care about more than their output. Channel the Inspiration from Your Favorite Business Podcast Now that you have some fresh ideas to increase productivity at your business, or at least avenues for learning how to do so, consider tackling those action items with some support from Trinity. From software solutions to increase productivity to improved business processes, we have the skills and tools you need to craft a customized approach. […]

Does Remote Work Raise Cybersecurity Issues?

Posted on November 18, 2020 (September 19, 2024) by smartboost

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, companies have been working diligently to adapt to a changing landscape, with some even announcing long-term plans for remote work. Employees have risen to the challenge, and companies have certainly come up with out-of-the-box solutions around managing a remote workforce. But even with those efforts, unique challenges have come up, particularly when companies are needing to respond to concerns around cybersecurity. With personal and professional lives are blurred, cybersecurity issues can come up in a few different ways: Home Wi-Fi networks and devices are more susceptible to hacking Companies have less control over corporate structures, and what employees say and do In-person communication is replaced by virtual environments Luckily, there are solutions out there to make remote work safe, secure, and more efficient. Several of these solutions involve convenient products and services available from Trinity. Addressing Potential Cybersecurity Remote Work Risks Below are strategies around addressing cybersecurity issues that may come up with remote work, including services and products we provide that we know will make your workplaces safer as you meet your business goals. Identify Needs Among Your Employees Even companies who aren’t new to remote work may need to do some work around identifying blind spots when it comes to cybersecurity. Often, those blind spots arise in understanding what employees need to turn their home office into a safe, secure, and efficient working environment. We’ll go into this next, but it’s important to identify whether your employees are even set up to work from home. Make sure you’re able to answer these two questions to allow for safe, secure working environments for your employees: Do my employees have the tools, e.g. the appropriate hardware, sufficient bandwidth, network access, or virtual apps for things like online scheduling or virtual meetings to be successful as a remote worker? Do my employees have the skills or necessary training completed to participate in the workplace on a virtual level? Once needs are identified, address those weak spots. Make a plan to equip your employees with what they need to be successful, whether that’s additional hardware to connect to your company’s security systems or training around phishing schemes. Some of this may be uncharted territory for your employees. A pandemic tends to create uncharted territory! There are already plenty of tools out there, by the way, that not only boost your data security but boost productivity among your remote workers, as well. The Trinity Multifile Uploader for Quickbase, for example, allows for efficient file management no matter where your employees are working from. Protect Your Data from Hackers and Phishing Scams It isn’t surprising that a whole host of problems have cropped up from employees using their home networks and personal devices to conduct company business. Home networks just don’t have the same security and maintenance as in-house systems. A company’s IT personnel quickly address any suspicious activity as soon as it happens, keeping breaches and issues to a minimum. Unfortunately, phishing scams (where hackers get into a company’s data systems by sending out emails that may look like they’re from company bosses) have become even more widespread with the extension of remote work. Luckily, high-quality application development platforms like Quickbase meet all security standards to keep your data safe. Coupled with virtual training around available tools and how to spot data breaches and phishing behavior, companies can fight back against hackers. Use Secure Tools When In-Person Communication Isn’t Possible You don’t need to reinvent the wheel when looking for ways to enhance security around remote work, even when you’re looking to do things typically done in-person. If you’re working in any number of industries where in-person communication is needed to sign off on official documents, for example, utilizing a digital signature allows you to maintain those transactions in a safe, secure way. A digital signature like our own TrinitySignature is actually even more secure than the traditional paper variety. Digital signatures, also known as electronic signatures, allow the recipient to see a time stamp on when that document was signed, in effect allowing for an added layer of security on that virtual document. And virtual meetings likely aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, either. Using a video conferencing platform with high marks for safety and security is an important step in not only keeping your company’s data safe, but keeping your employees feeling secure when participating in virtual meetings. Have Plans in Place? Solidify Them The pandemic likely threw a number of companies for a loop as far as preparedness is concerned. Companies needed fresh plans around how to go about handling a changing workplace, crafting long-term remote work policies, and determining what the future of work even looks like even after what could be the new normal. After you retool your processes and come up with solutions to both support that remote workforce and improve your company’s security standards, it’s important to create ways to maintain those new standards. Hopefully, a pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime situation that you’ll only need to create one set of procedures for. Still, companies should also use this time to problem-solve through other kinds of scenarios that may arise unexpectedly. While many government and medical officials saw Covid-19 coming, most businesses did not. Remote Work Can Be Done Safely As tools evolve in a changing world, your company should, too, especially as it relates to cybersecurity and the health of your business. These strategies are a good start in addressing cybersecurity concerns as remote work remains the default for companies for the foreseeable future. Still have questions about how to keep your data and employees safe while working remotely in today’s changing world? Contact Trinity today to learn more about our solutions and how we can help. […]