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Systems for Startups: Scale your Business from Day 1

Sudhakar Kandanala • January 19, 2022

The 9 key business processes


Here is the blueprint that Sliver Business Services calls "Systems for Startups".


Jump-start your business and scale it by defining and developing systems!

 

How do we define a Startup and a Scale-up?

 

A startup is a business or venture that is primarily focused on bringing a unique product or service to the market. A scale-up is a business that has demonstrated its feasibility and now plans to take things to the next level with a new product or market. It is an existing company with a new product or venturing into a new market for its existing product.

 

 

What is a System?

 

There are various ways to define a system. Still, for an enterprise, it could be defined as the collection of operations specific to a business that, when carried out, produces records for the company. A system is a structured process and associated tools that enables a company to meet its objectives. In most circumstances, a business system includes a technology platform, executable business processes, and people or staff to execute the processes.

 

Why does a Startup/Scale-up need an Integrated System?


Problem

  • Their systems are not built to scale
  • Processes born as sticky notes on a white-board become complex as the records grow
  • Then there are shiny objects (a multitude of software applications that do not talk to each other)

 

Solution

  • Build and implement systems for your business, not buy shiny objects
  • Start small
  • Make it operational from Day 1 of the launch
  • Add more systems as the business scales

 

What do Start-Up and Scale-Up need that a System can provide?


Marketing and Sales

A well-defined system can offer effective marketing. It is one of the essential needs and factors on how a business becomes successful. Marketing catches the attention of the market and informs them about a product or service. Generally speaking, marketing informs, sustains, engages, sells, and grows.

 

Tips: 

  1. Instead of thinking of contact list or email marketing or Facebook/Google, consider platforms that are more customized and established for business marketing.  Look for platforms that have integrated CRM, Digital Marketing, and Social Media management tools.
  2. Think about the process first and do research.
  3. Be familiar with the tools needed for sales & marketing such as CRM databases, Website / Social Media Pages, Unified Communication tools, Content Creation Tools, etc.

 

The system can also help the business to grow and maximize its sales leading to cash. Sales are not just the number of the sold products and services, but it determines the success of the whole business. It tracks the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the company's plan, staff, and production. Sales equal revenue, and revenue pays expenses. Sales also support, sustain, and expand the business.


Operations and Support

A business needs smooth operations, and a system can offer that. Operations are a business' internal management or customer-facing projects. Organized operations will be helpful to manage, process, and fulfill orders most efficiently.  An effective operation also results in fast restocking and backup of the products and/or services.

 

Tips: Custom applications can uniquely process the business operations effectively. Tools commonly needed are ·Project Management tool, Unified Communications, Service Desk, and Digital File Storage.


The support team focuses on the field support requests across channels. They also resolve problems quickly as they handle issues using proper processes. And most importantly, the support team's goal is to improve customer satisfaction.

 

Tips: The best tool to use for a support system is a unified communication tool. It is helpful to address all main channels of communication of the support team. Compared to using a desk phone, a cell phone, a zoom account, SMS or chat, etc., a unified communication tool can integrate all their functions in one — simpler the support system, lesser the confusion for the customers.


Accounting and HR

Another business department that needs proper organization is accounting, and having a system will make the life of a small business owner very easy. It organizes the flow of a company's money, banking, credit, investments, assets, and liabilities. Accounting also tracks payables or the company's debts. It overviews, summarizes, analyzes, and reports all transactions.

 
Human Resource is one of the key elements in any business. The HR Management sets the processes of recruitment for staff for available positions. This department focuses on recruitment and empowers employees, and manages payroll processing and other benefits.


Tips:
The company's business bank may provide some of the tools for payment processing, employee payroll processing, such as:

  1. Books
  2. Payment Processor
  3. Employee Database / Time Tracker
  4. Payroll System
  5. Collaboration tools

 

 

How does System work for Start-Ups and Scale-ups?


Process

Listed below are the basic steps/guidelines for tailoring business needs. This covers key processes in our system for startups and scale-ups.

 

  1. Incorporate to Dissolve: system could be seen as a master system within which all other business systems fit in.
  2. Concept to Launch: system define, design, and develop the product or service and then launch it.
  3. Procure to Pay: system selects and pays for raw materials, tools, or services for product and service.
  4. Marketing to Lead: system markets what the business offers and generates leads.
  5. Lead to Cash: system convinces the customer to place, order, and pay for the business offering.
  6. Sustain and Retain: system fulfills the customer order, stays engaged if it is a long-term contract, and helps make sure to get repeat business, renew the contract, and retain the customer.
  7. Issue to Resolve: system tracks and resolves the issue and reports it back to the customer.
  8. Hire to Retire: system onboards employees, manages them, does their appraisals, and finally retires or exits them as the case may be.
  9. Record to Report: system, also known as financial system, maintains accounts, records transactions, and reports them in the form of financial statements and tax returns.

 

Platform

The processes are needed to be executed with a Business Management Suite like Zoho.  Zoho is an integrated cloud-based Software-as-a-Service platform that can automate all parts of business activities.  It provides software applications for Customer Relationship Management, Email Marketing, Social Media Management, Project Management, Book-keeping, People management, website building, support desk, digital storage, communication, collaboration, and 30+ more applications.

 

People

Virtual Assistants help and assist the executives of the company in accomplishing their responsibilities. From their title, these assistants communicate and work with the executives online or virtually.


Project managers plan and manage projects to ensure they are executed on time and within budget. Project managers organize and allocate project resources, create budgets, track progress, and keep stakeholders updated throughout the process.

 


How do we help?

 

Sliver Business Services helps startups and scaleups in developing business systems. We typically serve small and medium-sized businesses, groups, and non-profit organizations implement a comprehensive, integrated business suite in alignment with their long-term IT Strategy and enable processes that execute with minimum friction.

 

At Sliver, we use Zoho applications to achieve the fastest implementation time for Record-to-Report systems, which is 50% faster than the industry average. Our full-service consulting and professional services help map out a company's particular implementation requirements, whether it's a small business, an enterprise, or something in between.  We integrate sales, marketing, and product and service departments on one platform improving drastically the customer experience. 


 

For more information visit us at https://www.sliverusa.com/systems-for-startups.  You can also email us at info@sliverusa.com or call us at +1 331.888.2627.




 


By Sudhakar Kandanala November 9, 2024
In today’s digital world, your startup’s online presence can make or break your success. Whether you’re just starting or trying to scale, having a strong, consistent brand presence across social media platforms is critical. Sliver Business Services understands the unique challenges startups face in building visibility online, which is why we’ve incorporated Zoho Social into our Marketing-to-Lead process. This powerful social media management tool helps startups maximize their reach, engage with their audience, and convert followers into qualified leads. The Power of Social Media for Startups For startups, social media is one of the most cost-effective ways to grow a brand, engage with customers, and promote products or services. With the right tools and strategy, social media can quickly become your primary driver for generating leads. But it requires consistent management and monitoring, which can be overwhelming for growing businesses. Zoho Social changes the game by simplifying the way startups manage their social media accounts, allowing for more effective marketing campaigns with minimal effort. How Zoho Social Fits into the Marketing-to-Lead Process At Sliver Business Services, our Marketing-to-Lead process is designed to optimize every step of your customer acquisition funnel. Here’s how Zoho Social fits into that process: 1. Streamlined Social Media Management Managing multiple social media accounts is challenging for any business. With Zoho Social, you can control all your profiles from a single platform. Whether you’re posting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Google My Business, Zoho Social lets you schedule and publish posts across all channels in one place. For startups, this is invaluable. Instead of logging into multiple accounts and posting manually in each, Zoho Social lets you save time and ensure consistent messaging across platforms. This streamlined approach helps to increase brand awareness and maintain an active presence online, which is essential for lead generation. 2. Real-Time Monitoring & Engagement In today’s fast-paced digital environment, customers expect quick responses to their inquiries and comments. Zoho Social’s real-time monitoring feature enables you to keep track of all interactions on your posts across different platforms. You can reply to comments, engage with followers, and monitor brand mentions—everything you need to keep your audience engaged. At Sliver Business Services, we use this real-time engagement to foster relationships with potential leads. Social media is no longer just about broadcasting content; it’s about having meaningful conversations that help move prospects down the sales funnel. 3. Data-Driven Insights One of the biggest challenges startups face is knowing what’s working and what’s not. Zoho Social provides detailed analytics and reports, showing you which posts are driving the most engagement, which platforms are performing the best, and how your audience is responding. This data allows you to make informed decisions about your social media strategy. For Sliver Business Services, this information is essential in optimizing our clients’ Marketing-to-Lead process. By analyzing the performance of social campaigns, we can adjust our messaging and targeting to ensure we’re generating the highest-quality leads. 4. Collaboration Across Teams Many startups operate with small teams where marketing tasks are shared across members. Zoho Social’s collaboration tools make it easy for teams to work together on social media management. You can assign roles, review posts, and collaborate on content, ensuring that every piece of communication aligns with your brand’s overall strategy. For businesses working with Sliver Business Services, we ensure that social media management fits seamlessly into their broader marketing efforts, aligning with email marketing, SEO, and other lead generation activities. Why Zoho Social Is Ideal for Startups Zoho Social is particularly well-suited for startups due to its affordability, ease of use, and scalability. Startups need marketing tools that don’t just meet their needs today but can grow with them as their audience and customer base expand. Zoho Social delivers this by offering features that range from basic social media management to advanced analytics and automation, all in one place. Key Benefits for Startups: • Cost-Effective: Affordable pricing options for growing businesses. • Time-Saving: Manage multiple platforms from one dashboard. • Scalable: Advanced features that grow with your business. • Data-Driven: Insights that help you optimize performance and results. At Sliver Business Services, we’ve seen firsthand how Zoho Social can elevate a startup’s online presence and integrate into a broader Marketing-to-Lead strategy that drives growth and success. The best part about Zoho Social is that it is part of the comprehensive business management suite: Zoho One . Zoho One is a set of fully integrate suite of 50+ business applications under one affordable subscription that any startup or business would need to operate and scale up efficiently. How we Help? In today’s competitive landscape, a strong online presence is critical for startups aiming to stand out and generate leads. Zoho Social provides the tools you need to manage and optimize your social media channels effectively, saving time and improving engagement with potential customers. At Sliver Business Services, we incorporate Zoho Social into our Marketing-to-Lead process to ensure that startups can reach their audience, engage meaningfully, and turn followers into leads. With the right strategy and tools like Zoho Social, your startup’s online presence can be a powerful asset in achieving long-term success. For more information visit us at www.sliverusa.com to learn more about how we can help you implement Zoho Social to optimize your marketing strategies and fuel your business growth. For more information visit us at https://www.sliverusa.com/systems-for-startups. You can also email us at info@sliverusa.com or call us at +1 331.888.2627. 
Marketing to Lead: Zoho Campaigns for Startup Success Optimization
By Sudhakar Kandanala October 12, 2024
This blog outlines the importance of leveraging Zoho Campaigns for startups and highlights how Sliver Business Services integrates it into their Marketing-to-Lead process for maximum efficiency and success.
By Sudhakar Kandanala December 15, 2023
Key Marketing Assets That Every Business Needs To Convey Their Story
Sustain and Retain
By Sudhakar Kandanala February 5, 2022
Sustain and Retain refers to the ongoing management of customer contacts in order to keep their attention and get repeat business from them.
Procure to Pay
By Sudhakar Kandanala February 5, 2022
To develop your product and service, you'll require raw materials, tools, or services. You obtain some of these raw ingredients and tools. After that, you must reimburse your vendors for the items or services they provided. Procure to Pay is a system that streamlines vendor management and helps turn your vendors into business advocates.
Systems for Startups: Incorporate to Dissolve
By Sudhakar Kandanala February 5, 2022
Startups must establish a system to manage the legalese. Incorporate to Dissolve system helps manage the lifecycle of a business from incorporation to dissolution.
Hire to Retire
By Sudhakar Kandanala February 5, 2022
Hire to Retire system helps the business with finding and hire the right employees. It also helps onboard them, manage them, appraise them, and finally retire or exit them.
Issue to Resolve
By Sudhakar Kandanala February 5, 2022
The Issue to Resolve system is about providing customer support using an issue resolution system. It provides the needed tools for problem logging, assignment, tracking, and reporting.
Record to Report
By Sudhakar Kandanala February 4, 2022
Record to Report system is about taming financials using an integrated cash-in and cash-out process. It helps maintain company accounts and report them in the form of financial statements and tax returns.
Lead to Cash
By Sudhakar Kandanala February 4, 2022
Lead to Cash is a process that integrates marketing, CRM, project management, and financial books. A lead is just a lead. The lead needs to become interested and then become an opportunity. The business needs to convince the customer to place an order for its offering. Finally, the customer needs to pay for the service/product and the business be able to collect the payment.
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