Many haulers know they will need to change back office and billing solutions over time. They know their processes and systems aren’t scalable.<\/p>\n
Best-in-class haulers can say \u2018yes\u2019 to more customers without adding overhead. Their processes are so streamlined, everyone can focus on their job and not \u2018busy work.\u2019 Information available to everyone who needs it, not locked in someone\u2019s head. They only use paper for drawing doodles or sending thank-you notes. And they rely on self-service tools that make both customers and employees happy.<\/p>\n
But how do you know when it\u2019s time to find a new solution?<\/p>\n
You may already be using general-purpose software from the big brands to manage accounting, billing, and work orders. Is it time to move beyond spreadsheets, email, and a generic accounting package to integrate all operations in a single enterprise management system? Here are six signs to look for in your operations:<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve got business knocking at your door, but you don\u2019t have the capacity to serve them. Being bogged down in paperwork is a poor excuse for not pursuing new business opportunities. Don\u2019t let business stagnate because your systems can\u2019t handle growth.<\/p>\n
If accounting is always blaming your operations team when something doesn\u2019t go right, or the other way around, you can\u2019t just order people to \u2018get along.\u2019 Interpersonal problems often fester when processes are clunky or disconnected. And a lot of time can be wasted fixing little things that are symptoms of bigger issues.<\/p>\n
If building a new spreadsheet is your team\u2019s answer to a new business process, you may want to consider it a cry for help. You can admire their take-charge ingenuity, but it\u2019s the twenty-first century and your team doesn\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel. The build-or-buy\u00a0 decision is much easier now that purpose-built all-in-one enterprise management solutions are available for the waste industry.<\/p>\n
If your people aren\u2019t able to input information directly into the system without passing notes, Post-its, or emails, that\u2019s a sign that your systems are either disconnected or too complex for ordinary users. Paper and email is also more prone to misinterpretation and delay.<\/p>\n
If the vendors for your current software can\u2019t support the product to your satisfaction, or if they don\u2019t have waste-industry knowledge, you\u2019re not getting full value out of the product. Support is an important component of a software subscription that makes sure you\u2019re investing in a solution that provides the kind of productivity you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n
In the same way excessive paper is a sign of inefficiency, heavy reliance on radio communications also indicates a need for better systems. Verbal communications are disruptive, imprecise, and often don\u2019t get documented. With digital work orders, your drivers, mechanics, and service personnel can better organize their work and follow through on expectations.<\/p>\n
When you can\u2019t handle customer complaints and inquiries promptly, your drivers are spending too much time (and fuel) on go-backs, and you don\u2019t have verifiable insights into how different drivers run their routes, you\u2019re ready for an enterprise system with integrated onboard computers and cameras, too.<\/p>\n
Think of an enterprise management system as the neural network that ties your operations together. A system that\u2019s interconnected and industry-specific provides benefits to your team and to the bottom line. More efficient processes don\u2019t just help everyone do more, they empower your team to serve customers better.<\/p>\n
If you identify with any of these signs, your business has outgrown your existing system. When this is the case, business growth will be held back by systems rather than by market demand. Changing can be simpler than you think, and the transition cost is often dwarfed by the administrative and opportunity costs of not making a change.<\/p>\n