Essential Office Systems

As I reflect on our own business, I sometimes take for granted the technology that helps us get through the day.  For small business owners, who wear mulitiple hats, it can be even more important.  Our most valuable time is that we spend with our customers and employees, so the availability of telephone systems that can automatically route our customer calls to the approriate staff or voice mail box, security systems that let us know when and who enters our premisis, CCTV systems that let us view our facilities from the comfort of our home, or from any place with an internet connection, become an invaluable tools to manage our business and our time. I know, I know, know, no one likes auto attendants or voice mail, but if a customer can be easily directed to the appropriate mail box, via an auto attendant, and that mailbox can in turn, call the owner play the voice mail, and as a result the mailbox owner can quickly return the customer's call then these can be very beneficial tools.  As for CCTV systems, well everyone thinks about big brother, but there are other useful applications.  For retail, cameras looking in from the main entrance can allow us to look at customer traffic patterns and place or display our products appropriately.   A  business owner or manager responsible for multple locations can view activity at the registers and other spots to make adjustments in staff without the need to personally  vist and be at each location.  Of course there is the security aspects as well.  Cameras can be a deterrant to crime, and can also detect internal theft. Security systems?  Well, protecting your employees and assets are extremely important.  Again, there is more that can be gained from them.  Who came in, who left, what time?  Today's systems can let you know if the environment gets too hot, too cold and can contol lights. I do not advocate buying and installing technology for the sake of having it or because it is the latest and greatest gadget.  I belive that technology should be installed to solve specific business problems, help customer service and save business owners time and money.