Like my blog? Sign-Up for a FREE newsletter! OR Give a ‘Like’ to my FaceBook Page
There’s been a lot of talk about flexible working in the run up to those Games. The civil service are at it, as are many businesses across London and the South East. The dry run (or not so dry as it turned out) that London recently held, also known as the Jubilee, proved that the capital’s infrastructure may not be quiet ready to host the visitors to the games. The biggest complaints related to delays on transport and difficulties in getting around London. Many firms large and small have begun to look at the possibilities that flexible working can offer – but do you need to be the size of the civil service to implement it?
Finding Flexibility
Flexible working is often a reality for the smallest of businesses – the self-employed individual. There are two meanings to this – one being the need to work evenings and weekends to keep up with the paperwork and the second being the need to become an expert in a range of areas from IT to accounting. The recent developments in cloud computing have made much of this easier for the small businessman, or woman, about town. Cloud computing solutions mean that nearly every task involved in managing your business can be done on the go, when you have the time. For medium firms, introducing cloud computing systems can offer a great deal of flexibility in terms of staffing and productivity. Two key functions for small businesses, which are often not their areas of expertise, are accounting and IT. The administrative tasks of running a business aren’t always huge but if there is only one of you they can feel like Olympic events. Cloud computing solutions, such as online accounting software and document sharing, can help to make marathon tasks seem more like a walk in the park.
A Host of Administrators?
If you’re firm is large enough to need an office, the costs involved can be daunting. This isn’t a problem for those of us who can work from a cupboard under the stairs, but for firms needing a number of support staff, finding space for them can be costly. Cloud computing offers the opportunity to not only host software services remotely, but host your staff remotely too! Admin support can be employed who work from home; if you arrange this on a freelance or self-employed basis they can supply their own computing equipment, while being able to access all the necessary documents via the cloud, without worries over software conflicts.
Paperwork of Accounts?
Online accounting software makes the whole money management business much more straightforward whatever size of firm you run. Basic software will offer a range of functions, such as cash flow reporting, and it’s also possible to add invoicing software to produce professional invoices. The fact that all of this is accessed via the web means that you, or your staff, can work on accounting tasks wherever they happen to be. Accounting work has, in the past, been one of those jobs that the self-employed have had to fit in at the end of a busy day, or over the weekend. With cloud computing you can complete essential tasks when you have time during the day and free up some valuable me-time at the end of the working week.
Forecasts of Growth
For both administrative work and accounting work, cloud computing can offer small businesses the same benefits that large businesses (and the civil service) have had access to for many years. Cutting back on time spent on accounts and the need to ‘host’ administrative staff in your premises, you can save time and money and concentrate on running your business and creating the conditions for it to grow.
Author bio: Carlo Pandian is a freelance writer based in UK and is specialized in cloud computing. With the Olympics threatening to cripple London’s infrastructure businesses of every size are looking to find ways in which to work smarter. From online accounting software to remote admin staff, cloud computing can help your firm to stay on the move.