These digital tools will save you time and money

1. Customer management with a CRM system

With a Customer Relationship Management system (CRM system), you register all contact moments with your customers. Think about orders, visits to your shop, or complaints that customers submit. By recording all these contact moments, you gain insight into your customer's needs and buying behaviour. You can then use this information to improve your products or services, better target your marketing activities, and serve your customers better.

The bigger your company gets and the more customers you have, the more customer information you process. With a CRM system, you get the most out of this data. For a hairdresser in Brabant, for instance, an automatic appointment reminder via email generated around €300,000 extra turnover per year. So, a CRM system can increase your profits in the long run.

CRM systems cost from €25 per month to thousands of euros per year. Research different CRM systems and ask for a demo.

2. Paperless bookkeeping

Accounting software saves administration. You no longer need to collect your invoices, receipts, and other documents as paper files or in separate folders on your PC, because the accounting software does that for you.

You can link a digital bookkeeping system to other systems, such as your cash register or CRM system. This saves time. Invoices automatically end up with the right customer; you no longer have to create or send them yourself. This is especially handy when your customer numbers grow.

You often pay a subscription for a digital accounting system. The price varies from under €50 to hundreds of euros per year, depending on the options you choose. Read what to look out for when choosing an online accounting programme or consult a KVK adviser about the best choice for your company.

3. Save time on staff administration

Use an HR tool to automate time sheets, leave requests, salary payments, and other staff administration. This not only makes the administration more transparent for you, but also for your employees. With an HR tool, your employees can arrange more things themselves, such as requesting leave or downloading a payslip or annual statement.

Especially as your business grows, you will spend more time on personnel administration. So ask suppliers of different HR tools for a demonstration to help you find out whether their tool will make your personnel administration easier.

4. Streamline your processes with ERP software

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software connects different business processes, such as your financial administration and stock management. ERP software allows different departments within your company to access these processes. That way, employees work more efficiently. For example, a marketer who needs sales figures to create a marketing campaign can use ERP software to see these figures himself. A shop assistant can see for themselves whether certain products are still in stock. They no longer need to ask colleagues in other departments their questions, which saves time.

When your company grows and there are different departments each using various types of software, an ERP package can be a solution. ERP software is customised and looks different for each company. Compare providers and get advice on buying and installing this software.

5. Automate routine work

If you digitise routine work, you and your employees will have more time for customer contact. Routine work can be done by a robot or drone. In a restaurant where a clearing robot carries dirty dishes to the kitchen, staff have more time for personal contact with customers. In a warehouse where a drone counts stock, stock management is faster and fewer mistakes are made.

A robot or drone is expensive. But you can calculate in advance exactly how long it will take you to earn back the investment and whether it is worth it. 

Do you like the idea of using a robot or drone, but do not know whether it is feasible or where to start? Ask your sector association (in Dutch) if fellow entrepreneurs are already using these tools and learn from their experiences.