You probably don’t think about what will happen if a disaster should hit, because the likelihood of that disaster hitting is probably low. I’m not talking about a meteor striking Earth or anything far-fetched. But what if you were to lose power for days on end? As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in a coffee shop because I’ve been without power for 5 days now (yes FIVE days!) so I am speaking from experience.
During this lengthy power outage, I have been fully operational as a business. My phone service forwards to my cell phone; I have been living with family who has Internet access; I have a laptop computer; and I have an online file backup system that allows me to access both my laptop and desktop files from anywhere anytime. I’m able to reach out to my team by phone or email to make sure that client projects continue to move forward despite the circumstances. And I’m personally able to work. Knowing where around town I can access wi-fi also helps!
Bear in mind, this flexibility may not fit every size business, but it should make you think about the ability for your team to work when disaster does strike. If you cannot access your phone line when the power is out, and you cannot forward your calls to another phone, you may want to consider if you are using the right phone provider for your business.
Technology can be your friend if you let it (and either know what to do or hire the right people that know what to do). Below is a checklist of five things to think about implementing in your organization for the “what if” moments.
- Online file storage/backup
- Redundant servers online
- Cloud servers (instead of in-house)
- VOIP (Voice Over IP) Phone Systems/Service
- Call Forwarding/Find Me features
- Web-based software applications (if you are using Cloud Servers, this may not be necessary)
DISCLAIMER: DB Pros does not provide or recommend these services, but uses many of them. We have strategic partners that handle many of the above options, so if you are interested, contact us and we will connect you with one of our preferred providers.
Read moreCRM Proves Beneficial Against Status Quo
Written by: Kendra Von Achen on September 6, 2011 @ 11:16 AM
CRM just seems expensive and a waste of time. Isn’t it better if I just use some manual processes instead? Working with small businesses, I hear this question, or a variation of it, all the time. As a consultant, I can’t force a business owner/company to use CRM, but I can show them the benefits [...]
Tags: cost, CRM, efficiency, proof, savings, status quo
Catogories: CRM Implementation, CRM SystemsRead more
Creating Drop-down Menus in Excel
Written by: Kendra Von Achen on July 12, 2011 @ 11:03 AM
Did you know that you can create drop-down menus in Excel, making your data entry easier and consistent? Watch this video to learn how! For more tips and tricks on using Microsoft Office programs, continue checking in on this blog under the “Did You Know?” section, as well as our social media feeds on Twitter, [...]
Catogories: Did You Know?Read more
5 Signs You’ve Outgrown Outlook
Written by: Kendra Von Achen on March 23, 2011 @ 12:01 PM
I was recently asked to do a presentation on using Microsoft Outlook to manage your business. Normally I’d push back and say “but you can’t effectively manage your business just using Outlook”. In preparing, I really thought about how a start-up business can survive on Outlook, as long as they knew some of the different [...]
Tags: calendar, categories, contact, CRM, Outlook, pipeline
Catogories: CRM General, data toolsRead more
Auto-type with Auto-Correct in Word
Written by: Kendra Von Achen on February 2, 2011 @ 4:38 PM
Did you know that Microsoft Word has an Auto-Correct feature? Most of the time this is used to fix typos in your document as you type. But in addition to typos, it can also be a time-saver for you. You can add your own options to the auto-correct menu. For example, if I wanted to [...]
Tags: did you know, Microsoft Word, shortcuts
Catogories: Did You Know?Read more