4 Beneficial Business Changes To Make Before the New Year

Sophia Belnap

Businesses are never stagnant. No matter how successful your company is, there's always room to improve and grow. So, if you're looking for ideas, here are four beneficial business changes to make before the new year.

1. Utilize More Software

Few things have made a bigger impact on businesses than technology, particularly in the last several years. Having the right tech is often the key to success for modern companies. So, you may want to utilize more software this year. First, consider what programs your business could use. For instance, a restaurant may benefit from ordering software. On the other hand, a quickly growing tech company might want software like Terraform. Once you've found company-specific software, you should then look for more generic options. Try to use basic programs like Microsoft Word and Google Drive. Finally, it may be very helpful to automate basic tasks. Look for options like phone-answering programs that can save time.

2. Go Green

One of the main things businesses are working on this year is going green. After all, the planet is in crisis. While individuals can make some lifestyle adjustments, it's up to organizations to start the important changes. Start by examining your manufacturing or supply chain processes. Is there anything your company does that majorly affects the environment? If so, try to make a plan to slowly change your manufacturing methods. You'll also want to look into the companies you work with. After you've looked at the bigger picture, start to examine the more immediate issues. A great way to begin this is by going paperless. While handing out paper memos and information packets is simple, it can greatly contribute to deforestation. Instead, start storing every document online. In order to truly go paperless, you'll need to learn some specific skills. For instance, being able to get electronic signatures is a must. While this may take time, the environment is certainly worth it.

3. Become More Diverse

Diversity is a must in the modern workplace. So, in order to become a better business this year, it's essential to introduce more diversity into your company. Start by examining your current workforce. Are your employees all alike? Look at race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ableness and other defining characteristics. Something to particularly consider is positions of power. Ideally, you'll have a fair amount of diverse individuals in high positions. Otherwise, you may be making important decisions without hearing a needed point of view. If you're not seeing a lot of diversity, you'll want to inspect your hiring process. Do your hiring ads target a certain demographic? Do you have any systems in place to assist less able workers? Next, start opening your doors to diverse employees. Set up groups that will discuss the company's diversity policies, preferably with you present. Be ready to have some difficult conversations. 

4. Allow Remote Work

As of late, remote work has become highly popular. While this may have started out of necessity, it will likely continue well into the next year. After all, remote work has proven to benefit many companies. For one thing, it allows businesses to hire a multitude of people. Those living overseas can still contribute to your company on a regular basis. This may give you the ability to create a more efficient team. Also, it can save you money. Working in a physical location requires a lot of spending, including rent money, utility bills, necessary supplies, food and drinks. By having a lot of your workers stay home, you can greatly reduce these costs. Remote work may also greatly benefit your employees. Working from home frees up more time to deal with personal issues. If you decide to allow remote work, you'll need to learn some technological basics. Be sure to set up a video messaging system, as well as online versions of your documents. You may also want to set up an e-commerce option on your website. This allows sales to commence without bringing workers in.

While change can be difficult, it's often for the best. Look to the future and stay up to date.