3 ways to streamline admin for busy tradespeople

In response to this research, we have found 3 easy ways that anyone from sole traders to business owners can use to streamline their processes and free up some time to focus on other priorities.

1.     Digitise your invoices

There are a number of benefits when it comes to moving your invoicing process to a digital platform, including the ability to process invoices at a much quicker rate, which not only saves you the trouble of a laborious manual task, but will in turn prove to suppliers and customers that you run an efficient business and that you value punctuality.

A digitised process can also drastically reduce the chance of human error, whether it be reducing the chance of invoices being lost, or making mistakes when filling out invoices. It can also provide important reassurance to a customer or supplier, knowing that they have a record of a transaction almost instantly that can be easily retrieved when needed.

Another benefit to making the switch, is the drastic reduction in paper use, which not only frees up space, but also means that your business will be contributing to reducing carbon emissions.

2.     Streamline your ordering

It is common practice in the construction industry to order supplies and materials daily via a purchase requisition. While this does reduce the need for excess storage space, ordering this way can result in several issues that can make things more difficult.

Adopting an ordering method which involves arranging deliveries according to the projects you have scheduled will reduce the need for daily supply chain admin, as well as processing late fees to customers and suppliers if stock is delayed due to supply chain issues, as well as eliminating the very common issue of material wastage.

3.     Make quotes easy

An integral part of the construction trade is creating quotes for jobs and projects, but many tradespeople find this process very tedious. With a couple of simple implementations, you can make this process a lot easier.

Firstly, start by creating a template form for filling out quotes that is designed to cater for your specific business, so that customers can provide all necessary information regarding the job, and your time quoting up jobs is significantly reduced.

Then, when putting these templated forms in to practice, make sure to communicate clearly with your clients a list of information you need in order to complete the quote, to save yourself unnecessary back and forth.

What we can do to help

Here at IronmongeryDirect, we offer a number of options that can help make many aspects of your admin process smoother and more efficient, including:

·         Ordering up until 9pm for next day delivery – and the ability to have supplies delivered directly to site, if last minute supplies are needed

·         Various features in our online accounts  - including making previous supply orders and invoices easy to view and keeping them all in one place digitally

·         The ability to schedule deliveries – meaning you can order supplies and materials on a by project basis

Although admin is a task that most of us try to avoid, it is a vital part of the daily workings of a successful business. So whether you’re a sole trader or a small business, these simple tips can bring you a step closer to making the admin side of your business practically stress free.