Systems for Startups: Scale your Business from Day 1

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.